Page 16 of Murder & Mayhem
My first reaction was to reject it and get up those fucking stairs on my own, on principle. I’d done it before, so I could do it again. But Dominic didn’t say anything. He didn’t look impatient or get annoyed with my hesitation and constantly changing feelings. He waited. I took his hand.
It was warm and solid and felt really good. When was the last time I’d touched someone and it had just felt good? When had touch ever been anything but a terrifying, invasive, and awful thing that had to be avoided at all costs? Even an accidental brush against someone at work could have me on the verge of breaking down, but Dominic’s bigger hand enveloped mine and I felt nothing but calm.
I let him half-lift me up over the steps and onto the most stable part of the porch, very blatantly ignoring the swooping feeling in my gut and Dominic’s eyes on me. He didn’t let go, and I didn’t fight it.
“So what next?” I asked, heart pounding and eyes fixed on a chunk of peeling yellow paint that maybe one day had been the color of bright sunshine, but now looked like a nicotine stain. Dominic finally let go of me and shrugged.
“We knock.”
That was exactly what this motherfucker did. He knocked on the screen door and thentook a step back and waited like we were neighbors in a 50’s sitcom asking for a cup of sugar. No one came.
Dominic tried the screen door, which opened. He knocked directly on the yellow door, this time less friendly neighbor and more bookie demanding his money.
“O’Malley! Open the fucking door.”
When no one came, Dominic drew a gun I hadn’t even noticed, which was kinda terrifying. I prided myself on being aware of my surroundings and I hadn’t seen a fucking pistol. No wonder he’d had no issues giving me the knife.
“Why didn’t you use that earlier?” I asked incredulously.
Dominic shot me a mischievous smile. “I avoid guns when I can. Too loud and too easily traceable. Although, I generally don’t do what I did at Byrne’s either. There’s a reason the cops haven’t caught on to Gid and me yet.” He didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t really want him to. The less I knew about his little business, the better.
Holding the gun like a fucking pro, unlike me, Dominic pushed me behind him and tested the door. It opened, which . . . wasn’t good.
“No . . . ,” I whispered before Dominic could open it. “There are like 6 different locks, ones that you need a key or a passcode for. They always lock the door.” So their toys couldn’t escape.
Dominic didn’t ask how I knew that. “Did you get that, Ari?” he murmured instead. I’d forgotten he was back on with his brother. Then he turned to me. “Stay behind me. If bullets start flying, drop to the floor, understand?”
There was no arguing with that tone, and I didn’t want to. I curled my toes in my beat-up sneakers. “I-I understand.”
Dominic smiled. “Good boy.”
He pushed the door wide and stepped in, weapon leading the way.
When nothing happened, he held up hishand to me. “Wait here.” And then he slipped out of my view, door closing behind him and in my face.
I rocked back on my heels, indignation and indecision warring inside me. He’d left me out here! After he’d said I could go in. But what if he only wanted to make sure the place was clear? Could that be it? Could he be protecting me? Should I go inside anyway, or should I listen to the dude who knew what the fuck he was doing?
The internal battle raged on while I stood paralyzed. I couldn’t see shit—the one and only window on this side of the house was boarded up, and it was eerily quiet. Shouldn’t I be able to hear . . . something? Shooting, yelling? Dominic busting down doors and kicking ass? But there was only silence.
Just as I finally decided I was going in no matter what Dominic said, the door opened. I held the knife in front of me, jumping back another step and nearly falling into that fucking hole.
Dominic leaned against the doorframe, looking like cocky confidence and sex, and I wanted to punch his smug, smirking, sexy face. “Careful there.”
I glared. Dominic smiled.
Finally, his expression turned serious. “You can come in. It’s all clear.”
My heart sank. “No Bailey?”
His expression softened. “No. No O’Malley either. But there’s someone. I’m about to wake their high ass up to get information. Wanna join me?”
Did I? Part of me wanted to avoid the house altogether if Bailey wasn’t there, but that wasn’t fair. First off, I could never be 100% convinced until I saw it with my own eyes, and secondly, this was my problem, not Dominic’s. I already owed him more than I could ever repay. I didn’t care how fucking good I was at giving blow jobs, I’d be on my knees for the restof my life trying to repay him if he changed his mind and demanded payback. I had to be careful and take responsibility.
“Yeah, okay.” I followed the man inside.
The door closed behind me with finality that had me jumping. I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my hand against my chest, trying to ease my racing heart. I was okay. I was safe.
I opened my eyes, taking in the place I’d hoped to never see again, even if I’d blocked most of it out of my mind. It looked the same. The same ratty couch that had probably been tan or white at some point but was so covered in stains you’d never be able to tell. The same cheap Walmart table filled with ashtrays, empty beer bottles, and remnants of drugs I couldn’t even begin to identify. I found myself scanning the filthy carpet, and yup, there it was, the blood stain in the corner against the wall with all the peeling wallpaper. It had come from my nose when I’d been slammed against it. The hole from my face was still there too. I was going to be sick. How had this place not been condemned by now?
