Page 81 of Dominance

“I’ll see you later?” Gloria reaches for me and I pull away.

Not even a flash of hurt in her eyes.

“Sure, sure. Go blow off steam or whatever. I’ll call you, Adriano.” Dom dismisses me, acting so casual. “Just make sure you make it home tonight to your fiancée. Have to keep up the good work!”

His laugh slaps me across the face.

Gloria’s short, stifled giggle knifes me right through the heart.

Blinding red fills my vision as I bolt from the office, down the stairs.

I can’t stand this. I can’t stand any of this bullshit after what we went through last night. After what we shared.

The roar of the engine blocks out some of the shrieking roar in my ears as I tear out of the parking lot, away from Dom’s house. Autopilot takes me around a few turns, quickly distancing myself from…

All of that.

My dream-come-true.

My nightmare.

A dozen bars slit through my thoughts, where I could go to drown my anger, mute the ache in my chest. Maybe I should head down to the docks.

Pick a fight.

“Fuck!” I slam my hand into the steering wheel, wishing with everything I have that I could talk to my brother, Alessandro.

He’d know what to say to me.

We’d play a few rounds of pool. He’d tease me, get a rise out of me.

We’d go back and forth and get in a shouting match and then hug it out.

But he’s not here.

It’s just me.

Alone.

By the time the rush of adrenaline fades, I realize I’ve parked, sitting with my head in my hands for God knows how long. Looking up I almost chuckle at where I wound up.

It’s been so long since I came to visit my parents.

Stepping out of the car, a breeze kicks up.

The sun from earlier is gone, replaced by overcast, looming clouds. It’s looking to be a rainy summer. At least it’s not too hot yet.

“Flowers?” the vendor interrupts my brooding, proffering me a bundle of vibrant blossoms.

“Uh. Yeah. Thanks.” I hand him a couple of bills, wandering through the wrought iron archway, down a path. A path the four of us used to take every Sunday when we were all here in the city.

The Diamante plot sits on a rise, tucked near the back of the cemetery.

It’s old. One of the earliest spots in the area.

An empire spanning a century under my feet. Makes you wonder…

Setting the bouquet down on my mother’s grave, I wave a cross over my chest, tradition. Habit.

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