BlackHeart

Chapter 39

        Elio tried talking with me but he gave me bullshit run around answers telling me he didn't want me involved in the business, therefore he didn't want to tell me details about it. That felt like a cop out. "Do you kill people?" I asked outright. Dom had just been glaring at me and Elio kept huffing in frustration. "It's not like that," is all he said. Isn't it though? When Elio was exasperated enough his friend stepped in. "Mia, all you need to know is that we're businessmen. What our business is doesn't concern you. Elio's still your brother and I'm still your brother's friend. Nothing's changed," Dom laid down the line. 

"I don't know who you people are," I snorted sardonically. "I need some air. I'm going out," I told them.

"No you aren't. I'm not letting you wander New York in the middle of the night because you're upset," Elio shut that down. "Fine!! I'll go for a swim then!" I tried stomping off. This building has a massive heated pool. If I have to stay in this building, then it's going to be somewhere other than my apartment or the damn penthouse. 

"It's closed at this time," Elio called after me. I growled in frustration, but Dom's deep voice cut in. "The penthouse has 24 hour access. The cards upstairs," he sorted it out before I got anymore flustered. He walked off to grab the card, so at least I know he won't try to stop me from getting away from them. 

        Elio followed me into my closet while I dug around for my bikini, which I haven't touched since LA. "Listen, I'm sorry I lied to you, alright? It's not really the type of news you drop on your baby sister a month after her returning to your life. I'm here to take care of you, Mia. I told you that," he tried to soften up to me. I just looked at him. "By doing bad things? That's how you are going to take care of me?" I almost laughed, but not out of humor. 

"I didn't talk shit to you about being a fucking stripper for a year. You really wanna be a dick to me about my life choices? I have enough money to take care of us both. It's what I wanted and I got it done," he started to raise his voice at me. My jaw dropped. 

"You're going to compare being a stripper for a year to being a mobster for five years?! Are you shitting me, Elio?! How dare you even bring that up," I shoved him out of my closet. I heard him hit something and stomp off. Once I changed and threw a cover all on I went out of my room, and reached for the key from Dom. Elio was in his room. He was pissed at me now.

        Instead of handing me the card Dom lifted it out of my reach. "After you blow off steam we're talking," he warned me. I shook my head at him. "Elio's my family. I have to accept him in some ways. You...I don't need to accept the fact that A) you've lied to me about your whole life and who you are, and B) that you're a dangerous criminal. I do not need to accept those facts about you," I told him outright. I saw fire flicker in Dom's eyes in a whole new way from anything I've ever seen from him. Dom grabbed the fabric of my cover dress and pulled me to him. 

Strongly enough to make me stumble forward, as he was already taking a step in my direction. Our body's collided. "I've always been dangerous. How does that change anything related to knowing me and the time you've spent in my presence?" His tone was so deep and angry it was almost baritone. I shivered at the contact and his consuming presence looming over me.

"Please give me the key," my voice came out small and weak. It made him flare his nostrils and release me. Whatever he saw in my eyes made him surrender the key to me without another word. I didn't waste time. I rushed off to the pool and was relieved to have the place to myself.

-

        To blow off steam I swam laps until my lungs were on fire. Then I just let myself float, so I could feel weightless at a time when everything rested so heavily in my chest. I only opened my eyes when I heard the doors opening. The place is supposed to be locked. The large figure approaching me was an impatient Domani De Luca. "Well, you've had your swim. Now get out and face me," he ordered me. "No!" I swam closer to the middle. "Mia," he barked at me. His voice echoed through the large open room. "I want you to look at me while I'm talking to you," he snapped at me again. I refused to look at him. I wanted him to leave.