Blood and Dresses [Book 4]

Chapter 7

"Dom?" Mina asks, coming closer. She reaches for the paper but I rip it away before she can touch it. "What has gotten into you?" She scolds, reaching for it again. This time I let her snatch it out of my hands, then I go back to the drawer, dumping everything out of it onto the ground. Loads of papers filled with Nick's scandals pour out like a waterfall.

"Oh," Mina gasps in a broken voice. "Oh, Dom." She cries, dropping to the floor next to me. The paper falls away from her delicate hand, into the pile. Her body presses close to mine as I hold her. I quickly let go, standing and helping her up with me. "Let's go home, I have to take Dalton to his house."

She shakes her head, keeping back tears but staring at the paper. "There's nothing we can do about it now, Willamina, come on." I grab her bicep, pulling her along with me. She resists but I get her into the car. "We have to do something, Dom." She pleads.

"They're both dead, what do you want me to do?" I retort, pulling out of the driveway. "Something!" She yells. I roll my eyes, feeling my own pain. She continues to yell at me and my chest only gets tighter and tighter. Finally we get home and I only drop her off before I go somewhere.

I spend the drive deciding where I should go and I decide on the gym. I quickly text Dalton to check out and meet me there. He replies rather quickly saying okay.

I go in using my name, then I change and go to a boxing bag. Within seconds of letting out my anger on it, it falls to the floor with a broken chain and materials falling out of it. I hang another without a problem and do the same to this one. I do this about eight times until someone puts their hand on my shoulder.

"Are you okay, sir?" Dalton's small voice makes me break and I begin to cry. "Can I hug you?" He asks. I pull him into my chest, crying into his hair. His arms are around my waist and one of mine are around his shoulders and the other is pressing  his face to my chest. His body is significantly smaller than mine but he's physically bigger than Mina and Rose.

We stand like that until I stop crying and when I do he still doesn't ask any questions. He pulls away, fixing my hair for me, and smiling. "You're okay, sir. Whatever you're going through will pass."

"I'm sorry for you to see me like a mess," I apologize, running my hands over my face. "We all break down sometimes." He says gently, squeezing my shoulder for encouragement. "How about we get some of my things then we go out to dinner or something?"

I nod, motioning for him to follow me in the locker room. He waits by my locker while I shower and that's when I realize my hands are cut and bloody. I quickly get out, changing into my clothes and I wrap my hands up. "Are you ready?" I question as I put the rest of my things in the locker.

"Yes, sir." I laugh lightly as he calls me sir. "I'm not going to break you out of that, am I?" I ask jokingly. He shakes his head with a small smile, his hair waving and swooshing around as he does so. We go to the counter where I pay for the bags, then we go in separate cars to his hotel.

He jumps into my car then he head to his house. "Are you feeling better?" He asks, looking much like a small child in the seat next to me. "Yes, I am. Thank you." I respond, smiling to myself. "You're welcome, sir." I shake my head at the name sir. "We have to figure something out."

"What do you mean?" He looking up at me. "I don't want you to call me sir, we need to think of something else." I say in a light tone, trying to make sure he doesn't think he's in trouble. "Mr. Gold?" He suggests, I shake my head.

"Call me Dom or Dominic," I decide. "Dominic," He whispers, trying to name on his on lips. "Okay," He says, smiling then looking out of the window. "Where do you wanna eat?" He thinks aloud, mostly trying to start a conversation.

Why was I able to calm down so quickly with him? It's like he's an angel sent from God himself. I've never been able to calm myself down once I was crying or in a rage like that. Not even Mina can help me do it like that. It's like every time I'm near him I become the happiest, most protective person in the world. If my daughter is going to marry a man, I want Dalton to be him.

"Dom, are you listening?" Dalton asks in a quiet voice. When I come back to reality I notice his hand is on the steering wheel and he's looking serious. "What?" I shake my head, glancing over to him. His hand leaves the steering wheel and he shakes his head while smiling.

"You zoned out and started swerving, you almost hit a semi." He informs me. "Holy shit," I begin to internally curse myself. "I'm so sorry, Dalton." I apologize again. By the sound of his laugh he's going to tell me it's fine.

~oOo~

"Is this all you'll need for now?" I ask as I load up Dalton's things. He nods, watching me from the other side of the car. "Well let's go grab lunch before I drop you off, are you coming over for dinner?" I question, getting in the car with him.

"If you want me to, if not I'll just order in my room." He smiles, letting me know either is okay with him. "Yes, I'll grab Chinese food or something to bring home so Mina won't have to cook." I think aloud. He nods again silently.

"You make me feel safe," He states honestly playing with his fingers. "You make me want to keep you safe." I tell him in return. "Why?" He asks quietly. I begin driving and I ask myself the same question. "I don't know." I tell him honestly.

He doesn't say anything back but he smiles to himself. After we get to the hotel and get all of his things in, I stand at the door getting ready to leave but his small voice from the corner of the room stops me. "You're a lot different than I thought you'd be."

I turn to look at him. He's sitting on his bed, still in his school uniform, on his laptop. His eyes peer over the screen at me. "You're a lot different than I thought you would be," I counter, he smiles down at the laptop. "I thought you'd be a stuck up boy who only wanted to get in Rose's pants."

"No," He giggles, reconnecting our eyes. "That's not what I want her for. I want her for love." I nod, smiling. "I'm glad to hear that." I turn back to leave but he stops me again. Not physically or even saying something I just feel the need to stop. "What are you doing?" I question, looking over his concentrated face.

"I'm trying to set up that business that I wanted to start," He explains. "I'm not sure what else I need to do." I walk over, sitting on the bed with him. "May I take a look?" He nods, pushing the laptop over to me. As I read the stats and results I'm very impressed. "You did all of this on your own? This is very promising for a good, strong company."

He nods, looking over the screen with me. "Can I go through and change some things?" He shakes his head, allowing me to change what I think is best.

"You're starting out on clothes?" I ask him as I read the material. "I feel like it's an easy business to break into." He shrugs his shoulders.

"I'm not sure, my family wasn't really into that business." I say honestly. "What did your family do?" I immediately regret bringing my family up to this boy but before I can speak he's saying something else.

"I've heard that your family is the Russian mafia, is that true?"