Behind the Mask

Chapter 60

Dominic's POV

As I listened to her story I wanted to murder someone. I saw the way her men watched her every move, the doctor kept physical contact with her at all times. He must be the child's father. I sensed my own men fighting to restrain their anger as well. "So the police are claiming the documents are real and Jackson is your husband," I asked for clarification.

"Yes," she whispered, "and then with the doctor's office..." Her eyes were rimmed with tears, but cold and hard when she continued. "I'm afraid he will kidnap me again and falsify the child's paternity. To be honest, I'm actually surprised my father is still in jail with all his connections."

"As am I," I admitted. "From what I've initially found, he may be staying put for safety issues. The Academy is ruthless. If they feel he is a potential leak, they will silence him long before the courts deal with him." I didn't say it, but I feared the same for her. I knew all these men were former Academy, but were they really prepared for what was to come? "Marissa, what exactly are you asking of me?" I would gladly kill the lot of them if she asked.

"Information. Every move we make seems to get shut down for reasons that simply don't make sense," she said. "I think my engagement and pregnancy announcement triggered Jackson's behavior, but if he has the Academy backing him, I need to know. I have to know what and who I'm fighting."

I reached my hand out to her and she took mine. "Flower, this is a fight you might not be able to win," I said quietly. "The family would offer you sanctuary - all of you," I heard Raven huff. "Even you, Russian. We will not turn away from her."

"But you said you were not here on behalf of your family, so how could you offer this?" Kota asked me.

"Because she is family," I said flatly. "She and Winston became family the minute they entered our lives, and that doesn't stop no matter the distance or time." I saw her eyes widen and she blinked.

"Told you," the doctor softly whispered in her ear. She groaned and gave him an eye roll. I noticed the artist, Gabriel, held up one finger and she clamped her mouth shut. I smirked and coughed to cover my laugh. Flower was going to get punished for that I'm sure.

"I will start doing some digging for now and be in touch," I told her, straightening up.

She stood and came to stand before me. "Thank you, Dominic. Any help you can offer is appreciated. Just so you know, I'm planning to head to Texas for my father's trial after the first of the year."

"Are you sure that's wise?" I asked. I'd prefer she stayed as far away from all of this as possible.

"Good luck keeping her away. When Ris sets her mind to something, no one is changing it," North snorted.

I laughed, "I'm well aware of that. Ask her about Trevi Fountain sometime."

She scowled and slapped my arm, "Hush!"

I leaned down near her ear, "What happened to no secrets, Flower? I'm sure you're men would love to hear of your wild younger days. I know the Tomas are well-versed in your carefree spirit."

She let out a small growl sound that made me chuckle and stomped, "Okay, meeting over."

"Oh mia bella regina, you will be telling us that story this evening," Owen told her with a glint in his eyes. "Perhaps, I'll even verify the details with Mr. Giovanni just to be sure." Her eyes went wide as she looked between him and I. He handed me a card, "Here is our contact information. The address is on the back." I took it and gave her a smirk.

"Shit," she muttered and Gabe held up a second finger. She began to play with the long necklace she wore and clamped her mouth shut again. I watched as she moved toward the door with Gabriel and Sean flanking her.

I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder and tensed. "Get it out of your head, Giovanni," Raven said in his heavy Russian accent. "She is taken."

"I'm well aware of that fact, Yevgeny," I said to him, knowing how he loathed his first name. "If you know nothing else of me, know that I would never betray her - not her." He nodded and headed to follow the others who had already left except Axel and Corey. "Gentlemen, please understand that if needed, I'll do that which she will never ask."

They all nodded and Axel added, "As will we." I bowed my head to him, knowing full well what he was capable of and had already done for her once before. They may not like me, but the Tomas most definitely had earned my respect.

****

I called my father to update him as requested when we reached our hotel. "Dominic, my boy, what is the story?" His gravelly voice echoed through the phone.

"It's just as bad as we feared, Father," I told him. "From what Marissa can tell the Academy is deeply involved now. Not only did he kidnap and rape her but the forged documents are being upheld and Porter is actively trying to locate her now." I gave a deep sigh, "She's pregnant."

"Con il figlio di quel bastardo? (With that bastard's child?)" he yelled.

"No, with one of the Blackbourne men - Dr. Green, but she fears Porter will try to forge tests and claim paternity. I think her concerns are reasonable. If the Academy is trying to make sure she stays married to him, there has to be a bigger story here. I'm going to start looking into this with our contacts."

"Sì, sì, bene, use the family name as needed. La nostra principessa will have anything she needs," he said vehemently.

"Depending on what I find, I may travel to Texas with them as well. Marissa is adamant she must attend her father's trial. She feels she owes it to her mother," I explained.

"Sì, I'll come if needed as well," he said. I was a bit shocked at his offer. Then again, he was rather disappointed when she and Winston left. I think my father had envisioned a poly marriage for me as well. I can't say it hadn't crossed my mind, but that was a lifetime ago now.

"If it comes to that, I'll let you know Father," I said and ended the call. "Luca, we need to reach out to our American contacts about recent Academy contracts. Let them think we are shopping." I told my best man.

"Sì Dom, anything else?" he asked.

"Extend the hotel reservations through the end of the month just in case, and find me a shooting range. I need to blow off some steam," I growled.

Author's Notes: So what do you think of Dominic?