The Dominator (6 page)

“So, I’m told you’re missing a party right now, one that’s important to you,” he said, meeting my eyes with his and stopping directly in front of me. Close to me. Too close. In my personal space, really.

I nodded slightly, feeling my skin heat up under his appraisal. Damn, he was tall, broad, and authoritative. I felt like I was at a huge disadvantage. I was, of course I was; I was standing here in his space. Not just his space, his fricking bedroom.

“Come; I’ll drive you.”

He stepped back and opened the door and then with a sweep of his hand, he motioned for me to go on ahead of him. Confused, I walked ahead of him. When I got to the bottom of the stairs I saw my purse on a table beside a big brass bowl that had multiple sets of keys in it. He grabbed a set of keys and passed me my purse. He reached into his front pants pocket and pulled out my phone and passed it to me, his finger brushing my hand as he did. He gave me a little smile. His eyes were sparkling with what looked like mischief. I swallowed hard.

Once outside, he hit a button on his keychain and one of four garage doors opened. He put his hand on the small of my back and led me toward it. I flinched at the contact but let him lead me there. Then he opened the passenger door to a black convertible sports car for me and closed it after I was in then then got into the driver’s seat and proceeded to back out of the garage, turning around and then driving forward down the driveway, through the now opened gate.

Talk about uncomfortable! He was so nonchalant and I knew this wasn’t a situation that called for nonchalance. The brother had locked me up, took my phone, treated me like a prisoner. The father had threatened me. I’d been surrounded by burly goons up until now. But Ice Cream Parlor Hottie, err Tommy, was being the exact opposite. Even still, I was more uncomfortable than even before because this was him.
This
was the guy who’s going to decide my fate. And he was going to mess with my head; I knew it. He’d already come in to my work and flirted with me, which was obviously no coincidence, and now he was here, with all the power, and dropping me off at my house with my phone, like it was nothing, like it was no big deal.

I just sat there, frozen, with my hands in my lap, absorbing the fact that suddenly the control over my own life had been snatched away from me. He was inches away from me, of course, and I could smell his cologne, which smelled leathery and spicy, a bit musky. He smelled good, not like the guys I knew who practically bathed in Axe. This man wore just a little cologne or aftershave or whatever and just enough. He had this presence, this masculinity and authority I couldn’t put my finger on. I had no idea what to say, where to even start. So I just sat there.

Around fifteen minutes later we were in front of Rose and Cal’s. He finally broke the silence, “Say nothing about any of this to the Crenshaws or anyone else,” he said, leaning over close, uncomfortably close, looking in my eyes, “I’ll pick you up here in 3 hours. And so you know, Tia, obedience is rewarded. Defiance is punished. Remember that.” He winked at me and flashed his watch at me so I’d see what time it was.

I’m sure I must’ve looked at him like he’d lost his mind. I didn’t know what to say so I got out of the car, feeling like something slowly crawled up my spine. I felt his eyes on me, watching me, until I entered the house. I looked back before entering and the way he was staring at me made my blood run cold. Gorgeous or not, he was obviously a very dangerous man and I had no frame of reference for this situation. I needed to think. How could I get a chance to think, though? I had three hours in a house that was a bustle of activity; people everywhere. Kids that live here, graduating kids, their family members, Rose, Cal, the grandparents. I heard my name being shouted. It was Ruby. I couldn’t tell any of them what was going on with me, no way.

“Where were you?!” She cried out, running to me, her dark ringlets bouncing. Rose was behind her, looking expectantly and cautiously at me.

“I’m sorry, I…” I didn’t know how to finish; I almost started to cry.

Rose rushed over and threw her arms around me, “It’s okay darling, come; let’s get something to eat.” She directed me to the dining room table, which was covered with dishes of food, people swarming it.  She just probably assumed my father had disappointed me. She didn’t push for answers. God, but I loved this family. I didn’t know what to say. I had no idea what awaited me in three hours’ time but I knew one thing for sure --- I was afraid.

Mia bounded over to us, “Did you find your hottie and take off on us for a romp?” She and Bethany laughed but Ruby was eyeing me suspiciously. If they only knew.

Tommy Ferrano had come into my work and had checked me out, made himself known to me, had flirted with me, even. How long had this been planned for?  Where was my Dad now? I didn’t even have a phone number to call and ask him what was going on. The look on his face as I pulled away was of defeat but then two seconds later it was as if nothing happened. Drinking coffee, talking on the phone, not looking devastated. Was it all for show? And Mr. Ferrano had acted like the whole marker thing was just a ploy by my Dad. What was the real story here? Who was I dealing with, really?

I excused myself to the bathroom and sent Dad a Facebook message from my phone demanding he call or text me immediately. I wrote,

“Dad! What on earth? These guys say I have to marry the mafia guy’s son to clear your debt. MARRY! And if I don’t do it, we could be dead. And if he doesn’t like me, I still don’t get to go home, they have ‘other’ options. WTF? Please tell me this is a prank, Dad. Write ASAP, come to the house (I’ll be here 3 hrs.) or call my cell! After that I guess I’m back at Tommy Ferrano’s house (but they may take my phone again). It’s on the corner of Jane St. and River Rd.”

I knew after Mom died that Dad had dealings with less than desirables. Maybe he did before, too, I didn’t know, but then again my mom had probably protected me.

I remembered people coming to the door for money after she died. I remembered hiding in my room during the poker games in our apartment when things would sometimes get loud and out of control. More than once I’d seen Dad with bruises on his face and blackened eyes and vividly remembered his jaw being wired shut after one night when he left me alone the whole night and came back in the morning unable to talk. I’d also had guys bust in behind me when coming home from school one day and beat Dad up right in front of me, calling him a lowlife deadbeat. What was I in for here?

Dad had always been fascinated with the mafia. Like, crazy fascinated. He and I used to watch mob movies and he’d tell me facts throughout the movies about real life mobsters, about parallels, add additional facts about code of conduct, about hierarchies, and so forth. He watched mob movies, mob documentaries, and the mafia came up on conversation all the time. All the time. I never got the fascination but remember my Mother getting pissed about him letting me watch The Godfather when I was about 6. She screamed at him for like an hour that night.

I was here but not enjoying my graduation party. Despite the laughter and the fun everyone else was having, I was stuck in my own head, but couldn’t delve deep enough to ponder my fate because the reality might be too difficult to face. I just felt numb and disjointed.

I kept staring at the clock and time was flying. I knew he’d be back for me and I didn’t know what’d be in store for me tonight. How would I tell everyone I wasn’t going to the dance? Tomorrow was the day I was supposed to be moving into Nonno and Nona’s. My room was already almost totally packed.

“You okay, sweetheart?” Cal put his arm around me as Rose served everyone generous slices of the large beautiful cake with our three smiling faces on it.  Susie was smiling at me with a sad look on her face. She probably figured Dad had disappointed me, too.

“Mm hmm.” I tried not to choke up.

“We are so proud of you. You’re always a part of our family, okay?” he kissed my temple and moved away. I nodded. He wasn’t usually the touchy feely sort. My heart sank.  I stepped out onto the porch and saw that Tommy Ferrano was there, parked on the street, waiting for me. I didn’t know if he was just half an hour early or if he hadn’t even left. I didn’t know if I should go to the car or go back inside and enjoy what might be my last thirty minutes of freedom.

“Tia, come; open your graduation gifts!” Ruby called from the family room.

Tommy

Damn that douchebag Greg O’Connor! It pissed me off that he’d do this to his kid.  Pop had already told me that he’d broken the news to Tia that she wasn’t just a marker to be held temporarily, like her father had said. She was now property of the Ferrano family. My property, if I wanted her.

When I’d seen her in my bedroom it took everything in me to not rip her clothes off, throw her on the bed, and take her. She’d been mine from the minute Pop had told me about her and I felt it in my bones. I hadn’t even been with anyone since seeing her face that first time. I had zero desire to touch anyone. Anyone but her.  And because I typically had pussy at my disposal every single day and it’d been weeks, I was on fire for this girl. She was in big trouble if I couldn’t bring this need in me to heel. I thought about taking my frustrations out on someone else, to lock it down, save her from me, but I didn’t want anyone else. I didn’t even think I’d get hard for anyone else because I was looking forward to having her
that
much.

She’d stood there looking surprised, then confused, then a little bit defiant, and I couldn’t wait to get her back to my place, to my bed, where we could explore a variety of her emotions. Fear, submission, satisfaction…

Now she was on the porch of the Crenshaw’s house, staring at me sitting in my car outside. I tilted my seat back to show her I was in no hurry and she disappeared back into the house.

Tia

I told Rose, Cal, and Ruby that I had something to take care of and that I didn’t know when I’d be back. Rose and Cal assumed it was just to do with my Dad and, as usual, gave me space. Ruby pummeled me with questions.

“I can’t, Ruby. I can’t talk about it.”

“When will you be at the party? Nick texted me and he really wants to see you.”

“I don’t know. I’ll try. But if I don’t come, don’t worry.”

“If you don’t come? If you don’t come! This is the last hurrah before you become a grown up. What do you mean if you don’t come?”

She was in hysterics. It was time for me to leave.

“I have to go.” I said, pulling her into a quick hug, “I’ll be back ASAP. Okay?” Mia and Bethany were approaching so I decided to make my exit tout de suite before the questions started coming at me rapid-fire.

Ruby looked so confused. It wasn’t like me to leave her in the dark. I hated to walk away and I hoped she wouldn’t follow me. I just didn’t know what to say. I was confused, myself.

I left the porch and walked toward the car. Tommy brought his seat back upright and stepped out to open the passenger door. I got in and when he closed it, I glanced back over my shoulder at the house and saw Ruby and Rose watching me from the front door with confusion on their faces. Of course they were confused. I was getting into an expensive convertible with a man they’d never met.

I put my seatbelt on. Tommy started to drive. I sat, frozen, numb, not sure what to say or do. Then we approached Nick on the street; he was jaywalking, crossing the street, looking like he was heading toward Rose & Cal’s house. He made eye contact with me and then his jaw dropped because Tommy sped up and then swerved to miss hitting him, barely missing. My eyes shot to Tommy and I gave him a look like he was a crazy man but said nothing. He was staring straight ahead, a devious smirk on his face. Did he know who Nick was to me?

Tommy

When we got back to my house she followed me back upstairs to my bedroom without saying a word. Not until the door was closed. Then she dropped her purse on the floor and her fists balled up. Now she was shooting imaginary daggers at me from her eyes.

“Would you please tell me what’s going on?” she blurted at me, “The story my father told me is very different from what your father told me. And your father didn’t say much! You’ve gotta admit, this is
not
normal!”

I removed my suit jacket, dropped it on the bed, rolled up my sleeves, sat on the sofa that was in front of the bed and propped my arms on the back of it and stared at her, “Sit.”

“I’d rather not,” she said, staring at the ink on my left forearm. She swallowed hard. She was trying not to show me she was intimidated.

Her legs went on for miles in that tight little black dress. She was wearing very high heels and she had a smokin’ body. The temperature in the room rose a little as we sized one another up. I undid my top shirt button and moistened my lips.

“What’s going on here is this.” I leaned forward, resting my forearms on my thighs and looking up at her face, “Your father owed my father something and he’s paid that debt off using you as currency.” That was all I knew, although I did plan to get to the bottom of it.

“Why would anyone pay a debt with a person? And I’m not my father’s property so he had no right to agree to those terms.”

I liked how she was looking me right in the eye. I smiled at her.

“So, your father arranged a marriage?” she continued, “And even more strange, you agreed. And my father agreed to this as well?”