Page 112 of Dominance

There’s nothing much to say to make it any easier. But we all feel it. The shift in the air.

And I hope it doesn’t mean that I won’t ever see them again.

I’m about to head toward the hotel when I feel the tingling, instinctive prickle. It’s hard to pinpoint, until I glance down the street, spot the car turning onto a side street.

The same car that’s been following us all over Italy.

It’s funny how that clicks, years of training.

I’ve just been too distracted to realize the hints my mind was noticing as we traveled.

At the edge of the building, I slip between a street vendor, keeping tight to the wall as I make my way quickly down the street, catching the corner of the vehicle parked just around the bend.

In the glare of the late afternoon, I can’t see the driver, but from this angle. They probably can’t see me either.

And they made a mistake parking on a vacant street.

Rushing up to the side of the vehicle, I draw my gun, tap the window sharply.

“Get out of the vehicle now. Make any sudden moves and you’re fucking dead.”

22

GLORIA

Idefinitely should not have come to Italy.

“Get out of the vehicle now. Make any sudden moves and you’re fucking dead.”

The barrel of the gun flashes in my periphery, right outside the window of the rental car. My spine locks up, my legs start to shake. I haven’t been mugged like this since my first year in college.

My hands shaking, I let go of the wheel, reaching slowly for the handle.

It seems like I haven’t stopped shaking since I got here.

The barrel of the gun is all I can see in the glare of the sun clipping over the top of the building across the street, blinding me from seeing the approach or the face of my assailant.

Just stay calm.

There are too many people around.

There’s no way that he would try something out in public.

Maybe someone will call the police. I need to wait until I can get away, call for help.

“Hands up. Nice and slow.”

My eyes widen as I step out of the car, the growling voice somehow familiar. It isn’t until he steps in close, taking my keys and pushing my door shut while I stare down the street away from him that it clicks.

That scent.

It sends shivers down my spine, usually in the best way.

“Adri?”

“What the—Gloria? What the hell are you doing here?” I almost spin around, but something in his tone stops me. Or maybe it’s the gun still pressing into my back.

“Uh, I-I, Dad said you were just coming here for a vacation, like a bachelor party. I wanted to surprise you. I thought?—”

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