Page 45 of Abducted By the Mafia Don
“Don’t listen to that discount sperm bank reject,” Granny says.
“Is this true?” I turn and ask Dom faintly. Why didn’t he tell me?
“Taggie—” he begins, voice full of regret.
“Is it true?” I demand loudly.
Dom swallows.
“Just go, and live your life,” Granny insists.
“He’s been lying to you, Agatha,” Thaxted says. “He’s using you to get at me.”
That can’t be right. It can’t.
“You’re part of his pathetic revenge attempt. He seduced you. He’s been manipulating you.” Thaxted is smug now.
“No.” Dom’s single word is low and certain.
And maybe if my insecurities were a smidge more, I’d fall for this. What Thaxted is saying is so plausible. Except for one thing.
Dom stalked me, I already knew that. And yes, our marriage is fake.
But the seduction? Worst seduction ever.
There was nothing conniving in what Dom did, even if it was morally... Well. I’d say grey. But it’s not. It’s black.
Coming to my room. Jerking off. But it was me who pushed him further. It was me who lay, naked, and let him assume I was fast asleep. Who left my door open.
I invited him, because I wanted him. He’s a mafia boss, and he told me not to leave my door unlocked. And I don’t think without my encouragement we’d ever have gone further than sweet kisses in public and him satisfying his needs with his hand while I slept.
He’s red flag bunting. But in his own fucked-up way, I believe that Dom was trying to be honourable. Trying to save me from his overpowering desire.
“You’re a pawn in his game, Agatha,” says Thaxted. “Don’t you want to be an Essex princess?”
“Get out, Taggie,” Granny sounds panicked now, pleading.
I don’t think I’m a pawn to Dom.
Those nights... I’m not expendable to him. That sort of obsession isn’t faked.
“You’re my queen,” Dom says softly. “He ignored youfor twenty years, Taggie. I couldn’t stay away from you for even one night. You’re my soul. My compass.”
“A green flag to your red,” I add, and reach out my hand.
Dom’s takes it immediately, his eyebrows furrowed like he has no idea what I mean. Which, fair. He probably doesn’t spend as much time watching videos on the internet as I do.
“Anything, Taggie,” he says hoarsely and grips my fingers as though I might tumble into a ravine unless he keeps his grip on me. “I’ll do anything.”
“Then I’m staying with you,” I say.
He holds my gaze for a long moment, and even though we haven’t communicated as well as we should have until now, I see him understand. Enact the plan. He told me how he had Harrison in place in Thaxted’s inner circle, and how he’d schemed to make Thaxted suffer losses to his family for years more, but that he’d give that up for me.
“You choose for your granny to die, then,” Thaxted drawls as he strides over then reaches down to grasp Granny’s hair, dragging her backwards.
“No!” I can’t help but shriek, and lunge towards her instinctively. Granny cries out, but then goes silent, her face creased with pain.
Thaxted grins and shoves her away brutally, hitting the concrete since her hands are tied. “Better choice. Bring the girl to me.”
