Dominic sat in his study for two hours before he picked up the phone, and dialed Inara’s number. She’d be awake by now, and he closed his eyes as the line rang. She was going to be devastated.“Dominic, this is a nice surprise.” Her voice was light and sweet, innocent like her.“I have some bad news, Inara,” Dominic said gently.“What’s wrong? What happened?” Her voice had taken on a worried note, and Dominic signed.“Someone killed Conrad last night.” Her gasp had him pause, and he could picture her sitting on her bed, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t have all the details yet. Thomas will pick you up soon.”“Okay,” she said through her tears, and Dominic felt like shit for having had to do it over the phone.“I’ll see you soon. I love you, Inara.”“Love you too, Dominic.”Dominic ended the call and took a deep breath. The door to his study opened, and the rest of his siblings walked in. Eris and Faro looked confused at being summoned so early on a Saturday morning.Gage looked
Inara’s homecoming was a tear filled one. She’d gone straight to Hunter, the two sisters hugging and crying together. Inara had been Conrad’s favourite, and he’d never even raised his voice when she was around.Hunter had been his little princess until Inara was born, though he’d never treated Inara better than Hunter, but his eyes never lied. His eyes held more love when he looked at Inara, and Dominic was convinced that Conrad had despised him.“Oh Dominic,” Inara said as fresh tears welled up in her eyes and she flung herself in his arms.“Shh, it’ll be okay, Inara.” Dominic held her against him, her feet dangling in the air. His hand smoothed over her hair, and he closed his eyes.She went to Gage next and whatever he whispered in her ear had her nodding her head and wiping her eyes. She hugged Faro and Eris last, not nearly as long as she’d hugged Dominic, and by that time her tears were under control.“Do we know who did this? Do the police have any leads?” Inara asked.“They do
On Monday morning, Dominic was ready to leave by 8 AM. He had breakfast with Inara and left the house before he strangled Eris. He wasn’t happy with Dominic tending to business during this time. They were supposed to mourn as a family. Dominic had only scoffed at him.“Straight to Winsome Ads?” Ethan asked as he started the SUV.“Yes.”Cooper shifted in his seat and grinned at Hudson. “Did you know that ostriches also have clits?”Hudson frowned as he looked at Cooper. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Why would you even know that?”“It was part of the article I read. Women don’t pee from their clits, did you know that?”“Everyone knows that, Cooper,” Dominic said with a chuckle.“Spotted hyenas do,” Cooper said.“Again … Why are you interested in animal clits? And you call me a sick fuck,” Hudson murmured.“Well since you’re the only one that’s actually taken a girly dick in the ass, I wanted to read up on it,” Cooper said.“I did not take a girly dick in my ass! I’ve taken a finger
Dominic spent the day in various meetings, meeting with investors, and checking up on his businesses. He’d left Isadora at Winsome Ads along with a bookkeeper and an associate lawyer who would go through everything.Dominic wasn’t worried, the company was small in comparison to his other empires, and he’d only bought it so Isadora could have a safe working environment. He had no interest in the company other than her, and now it seemed that even that wasn’t good enough.He hated the fact that she was lying to him. He’d given her enough time. He hated the way he’d fallen hard for her already because even though he knew some of her secrets, he didn’t know them all and he wanted to.He’d fallen in love with a woman he could never fully have. He could never marry her or settle down with her, he could never have children with her, and it was selfish of him to keep her, but he also knew he wasn’t letting go of her until she walked away.Dominic finished his last meeting at seven pm, and by
On Thursday, Dominic, Gage, Faro, Eris, Hunter, and Inara stood in the foyer and welcomed family and friends to their home. They were all clad in black, and Dominic had emptied his conference room to house Conrad’s casket.The bottom half of Conrad’s casket bore the Vittori family crest, just like the mausoleum at the cemetery where they would all be buried one day. The casket gleamed under the lights of the room, and bouquets of lilies, roses, and daisies adorned the surfaces.Tables in the living room were already full of gifts from the mourners gathered together. Fruit baskets, prayer books, beautiful rosaries, cash envelopes, platters of Italian pastries, bottles of wine, candles, and crosses seemed to be in abundance.“Dominic, our condolences to your family.” He was already sick of hearing it, and it would continue throughout the day, until the sun set and they started the vigil. His expression remained solemn, and he nodded his head at each person.People filed in and out of th
Dominic stood in his bathroom, and shaved before getting dressed in another black suit. He’d sat vigil the whole night, remembering odd things about Conrad. They were mostly horrific memories but there were a few good ones, mostly after Hunter and Gage were born and then also Inara.Mist had descended over the countryside. There was no wind, and the mist hung like a bad omen. Dominic’s SUV drove behind the hearse towards the city and the church where the funeral mass would be held.Thunder cracked in the distance and Dominic wondered if it was heaven rejoicing at the death of his father or if it was hell, celebrating that he had finally joined their ranks. Conrad Vittori had breathed his last breath on Friday night.He was surrounded by a sea of grim faces, and he wished the mourners would come to an end so they could finally go inside and get the day over with. It was still early but he knew that he wouldn’t get much rest, not until he’d met with everyone that had a seat of power.“M
The study’s door opened, and Eris sauntered inside followed closely by Faro. They both had dark hair but their eyes were more hazel than Dominic’s dark brown eyes. They were identical twins other than the small cut below Faro’s left eye.Faro had been twelve when he got that cut and Dominic had been fourteen. They’d always gone to private school and only the best was acceptable. The memory slammed into Dominic’s mind and he wondered what the significance of it was.**“Did your mommy think you’re an Egyptian pharaoh, huh, Faro?” He was being taunted by a group of 7th graders and Dominic had burst through the crowd of children gathered around them.“Don’t touch him.” Dominic’s growl could be heard as the crowd quieted.“And if it isn’t Faro’s older sister, Dominic,” the boy taunted again.He held Faro by the shirt with one hand and he pulled his other arm back and slammed his fist into Faro’s face. The golden pinky ring had cut the skin below Faro’s eye and a few droplets of blood ran d
Faro followed Dominic back into his office and he looked at the almost identical scar on Faro’s eyebrow. It wasn’t identical anymore, not after Conrad’s beating in the warehouse. Faro rubbed over the scar absentmindedly and it took Dominic back in time.** Dominic had been summoned to the basement but this time Faro had joined him. His eye was slightly swollen, a blue tinge had appeared just above the cut. They each sat on a wooden chair and waited as Faro fidgeted.Dominic hated that his brother had been marked, that he’d been too late to step in. Dominic was the eldest and therefore he was their protector, their caretaker, and the one that would lead them one day.“Why does Father want us in the basement?” Faro’s eyes held no fear and Dominic wished that he could spare him this.“To talk,” Dominic assured him.Conrad arrived twenty minutes later and Faro straightened in his chair when Dominic did. He sat down in his own chair and watched the two boys closely. Dominic didn’t have a m