Blood and Dresses [Book 4]

Chapter 8

*Dominic's P.O.V.*

Clearing my throat, I decide to be honest with Dalton. "Yes, but Rose knows nothing about it." Well that's almost the truth. "Really?" He pipes up excitedly. "You're serious?" I hum to confirm I am but I focus back on his business.

"You're not scary like normal mafia men," He observes. "I used to be." I tell him, looking back to the laptop. Things change."

"What things changed for you?" Dalton asks, now closing the computer. Internally I scold myself for even telling him because of the consequences that Rose will face.

"I met Mina," I explain, making eye contact. "She changed me for the better." He seems to be confused at first looking slightly to the right, evaluating what I had said.

"I though that only happened in cheesey movies?" Chucking at
Dalton's words, I place my hand on his head, and ruffle his hair.

"How do you know we're not in a movie? Or book?" He laughs lightly, pushing my hand away. "How would we be alive if we were?"

"In someone's imagination, Silly." I state with an amusing tone. Dalton grins, shaking his head. "I'm gonna go, do you need anything before I leave?"

"No, you've already done enough for me. Thank you, Dom." I reach out and gently squeeze his shoulder with a smile on my face. Dalton smiles back then turns to his laptop as I'm already to the door.

"Oh, I'll be grabbing dinner on the way home it should take about thirty minutes or so for the food to make then another fifteen to get back." I say, once again inviting him to dinner. "Do you want to ride with me or drive yourself?" Dalton thinks about it for a few moments.

"I need to change and take a shower so I'll drive there," He says with a soft smile. I nod, leaving the room. As I walk to my car, I think about how calm Dalton was when I zoned out earlier. Is that something his father does often? Or is he just calm in general?

I get into my car, going over the whole thing in my head. I couldn't have been zoned out that long, have I always been that careless? At this age I couldn't think of details about my younger self even if I wanted to.

Pulling into the Chinese place, I order everyone's food at the speaker, then wait at the window to pay. Immediately I regret leaving Mina home alone. She's grieving too, I shouldn't be so selfish.

A young girl about Rose's age comes to the window and tells me how much my order came up to, then she takes my card. While she hands it back she does a double take on me but says nothing.

After getting the food, I drive back home to see Dalton is already here. I see him sitting in the car on his phone, scrolling through some kind of social media. 'Tumbler' I think it's called or maybe 'Tumblr' but that's not even spelled right so I don't know why that would be it.

He hears my engine and looks up, smiling. We both get out at the same time and he opens the passenger door. Dalton hands me some of the bags then grabs the rest. Kick the door shut, I offer for him to go first.

"Is Rose home yet?" Dalton asks, walking to the kitchen without any trouble. "I assume she's in her room," I reply as we set the bags on the island.

"Is there any way I could ask to take her out on a date? I know she's grounded," Dalton and I start removing food from the bags sorting them as I think it over. "I think that'd be fine as long as it isn't a party and there won't be any drugs,"

"I was actually thinking about taking her to that coffee shop we went to that one night," He gathers the bags, tossing them as I grab plates and silverware. "Maybe after school tomorrow?"

"I trust you," I tell Dalton, as we get everyone's food on the plates and table. "Daddy, why is your Lambo out? You never use it." Dalton and I make eye contact as Rose walks in, thinking the same thing: shit.

"Dally?" Rose questions, looking at both of us. "Dalton's car broke down so he's using the Lamborghini for a while." I tell her, trying to cover the real story.

"Why would you let Dally drive it when I'm not allowed to?" Rose crosses her arms, looking between us. Dalton gives me a look begging me not to tell her. "Dalton is paying for any maintenance it may need while he's driving it and he's also paying for the gas. If I were to let you borrow it and you screwed it up, I'd have to pay for it."

Rose rolls her eyes, looking at the food. "I'll go get your mother, you two go ahead and sit down in here until we get back," I tell them leaving the kitchen and giving Dalton a chance to ask Rose out.

Anxiously I rush upstairs to see the love of my life. "Mini bear," I coo, walking in the room. She comes out of the bathroom in a towel and smiles. "I'm sorry that dinner isn't done... I'm not feeling well after this morning." I nod, walking to her. She presses her face in the crook of my neck as I wrap my arms around her.

"If you did make dinner it'd make things a little awkward for me," I chuckle, kissing every piece of skin that I can reach. "What do you mean? Have you already eaten?" She looks up and I smile.

"No, but I did get Chinese and it's on the table." I tell her, catching her lips. "Getting cold?" She squeals, running around go get dressed. "Also Dalton is over. Rose found out he's driving the car, I just told her he's borrowing it because his broke down." Mina seems to run around faster when I say Dalton is here.

"And he's taking her on a date tomorrow after school. To a little coffee shop." I sit on the bed, watching this goddess get dressed. "Can you put up my hair please?" She asks, handing me a hair tie as she sits on my lap. As I fix her hair she pulls on shoes and then puts on modest make up.

"I can't believe I got to marry you," I whisper, watching her look at her appearance in the mirror. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me." I get up and kiss her bare shoulder, pressing my body against hers.

"Back up, you're going to start something and we need to eat." Mina tells me with a wanting look in her eyes. We both go downstairs together, walking to the kitchen. Rose and Dalton are sitting at the table holding hands and talking about their date tomorrow.

"Shall we eat?" I grin, sitting down as my wife does the same. "How's home?" Rose asks Dalton. We all slightly freeze except Rose. "It's good, I haven't seen my dad much since we've both been working. It's pretty normal," He tells her while smiling.

"Maybe after coffee tomorrow I could meet your parents?" She asks. I hum before he can say anything, "I don't think you should being how you're grounded still," I interrupt as Dalton gives me a thankful look.

"Dear, did you not buy anything to drink?" Mina asks, looking over the table. For some reason we all search for something even though very clearly I didn't bring anything home. "Shit, sorry." I tell her, standing. As I make my way to the fridge I kiss her forehead.

Rose gets up and follows me, taking bottles of soda and water to the table with me. "Here, have your pick." I tell everyone as I grab a bottle of water for myself. Rose and Dalton go for soda immediately and after they've gotten theirs Mina reaches for a water.

"Thank you," Everyone says collectively.