Page 306 of Phobia
Breathing in her sweet, musky still-lingering scent, I turn my attention to Tommy, who’s still staring at the stairs. That’s the second time he’s looked too long. “Something bothering you?”
Tommy turns, a cheeky grin on his face. “She’s going to bring chaos.”
That makes me laugh because I know exactly what he means. I’m all about control, and even though I made this happen, there’s no guarantee it’ll go smoothly. I may not show it, but that small fact makes me antsy as fuck. Tommy, on the other hand, thrives on the element of doubt, of never quite knowing which way things will go.
“I didn’t get it before,” Tommy says with hesitance. “I mean, I’d go along with it anyway—you know that. But now I get it.”
My body tenses. Is this why he was staring? “I don’t plan on sharing, Tommy.”
“Fuck, no!” He steps forward. “She’s sexy as fuck, but that’s not what I meant.” Tommy pauses, words not being his strong point. “She fits you,” he finally says.
“Fits me?”
“Well, yeah,” he says, stating the obvious. “She’s strong, loyal to a fault, brave-”
“And she hates him,” Frank deadpans.
Tommy and I both turn to Frank, walking towards us with a smug smile on his face.
“But for once, our Tommy has a point,” Frank concedes. “Whether she likes it or not, Naomi’s perfect for you.”
Before I can respond, Billy comes bouncing back up the stairs. “They’ve gone.”
Stepping into my office, I beckon them to follow, locking the door behind us for good measure. It’s just the four of us here, me and the three men I trust the most: Frank, calm and loyal, is an obvious choice, but most people would overlook Tommy and Billy. Billy’s softer than the rest of the men who work for me. That’s why I left him with Naomi that morning. He seems the least threatening—on the outside, at least, but I know what he’s been through—what I saved him from, and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for me.
Tommy’s underestimated for other reasons. Thought to be too unpredictable and bloodthirsty to be trustworthy, but he’s proven to me time again that he’s my ride or die.
Frank gets four glasses and starts filling them with whiskey. Handing me mine first, I take it, inhaling the rich spice.
“You know what we’re dealing with,” I start, and they all listen intently. “To anyone not in this room, Naomi is an insignificant fuck I’ll soon be bored of.” They nod, understanding. It may seem like business as usual, like all the traitors are dead, but there’s a war brewing from within, each side biding its time. If anyone else discovers the truth, Naomi will become leverage—fair game.
Billy stands tall. “You can count on us, Dom. We’ve got your back… and hers.”
The other two murmur the same, and Frank raises his glass, holding my gaze. “To the future.”
“To the future,” Tommy and Billy echo, downing their drinks.
Raising my own, I pause before it meets my lips. “To Naomi.”
Chapter 20
My men leave, and I settle down at my desk, my glass refilled with whiskey. Ron just called to say he dropped Naomi and Ant at her flat, so I switch on my laptop and wait. Five minutes later, the door to Naomi’s flat opens, and she walks in. Ant, who appears to be able to hold himself up now, reluctantly enters behind her.I’m surprised he can fit with the size of the chip on his shoulder.
This has become quite a habit this week: watching.
Frank wasn’t satisfied when he couldn’t find any dirt on Naomi and suggested putting cameras in her flat. Keen to get a glimpse of her, I agreed, but only in the main space, which forms the combined kitchen, dining and living room. I drew the line at watching her sleep—tempting as it is.
Naomi lives a solitary life—likes her routine, desperate to maintain some semblance of control, spending most of her time with Kelly. I think that’s what made Frank easier about this situation, her reservedness. Naomi’s by no means alone in the world, but she’s not surrounded by crowds either.
“What do you need?” Naomi asks Ant, her wobbly voice as clear as day.
“Painkillers,” Ant replies, not even looking at her. I can see exactly how this will play out, and it makes me wish I had been the one to hit him.
Naomi goes from cupboard to cupboard to get what Ant needs, the tension in her body as clear as her shaking hands. “I should get you to the hospital.”
“Well, that would be the second fucking stupid thing you’ve done recently, wouldn’t it!” he snaps, and my blood boils.
“Yeah? What’s the first?” she challenges. “Helping you?”
