What Happened to the Bennetts(95)

“Jason, you okay?” Dom asked quietly.

“Yes. How about you?”

“Fine. Don’t worry, we got this.”

“I don’t want anybody to get hurt.”

Dom smiled. “We won’t. They might.”

I couldn’t find a smile. “You think Reilly is dirty?”

“Yes.”

My gut clenched. I had been holding out hope the good guys were coming. “Why?”

“Little things, thinking back. Like, he wanted Wiki to partner with me on this job.”

“I thought Wiki was your partner.”

“No, we switch around for each job. I’ve worked with a couple guys. This time Reilly wanted me to take Wiki. Said he was young, that I could bring him along, all that.” Dom shook his head. “He talked to my ego, and it worked. Anyway. What’s done is done. Milo and his crew’s on the way.”

“And the plan is—”

“Your plan is you stay here. Right in this office.”

“I really can’t help?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Dom, I really think you should reconsider.”

“No.”

We both fell quiet, tacitly agreeing to disagree. I reviewed the plan in my mind. Everyone but me was supposed to take their positions twenty minutes before the expected arrival of Milo and his gang. Tig, Richardson, and Skeet were to wait behind the crane while Dom flagged Milo down. Then on his signal, they were all to rush the car. I was supposed to wait up here and call 911 in case it went south. They had guns; I had Dom’s flip phone.

Dom looked over. “By the way, I want to tell you, I got to know Lucinda. We had some good talks. She told me what happened between you two.”

I felt my cheeks warm. “So you know she cheated? Did Ethan hear?”

“No, he was asleep.”

I breathed a relieved sigh. I didn’t know why it mattered. I didn’t know what mattered and what didn’t anymore.

“I gotta say—” Dom shook his head. “I like her. I admit, I didn’t in the beginning, but I like her now. She didn’t like me in the beginning, either. She told me so. Not that she had to.” He paused. “I’m not getting in the middle between you two, I’m just saying. Things happen.”

My mouth tasted bitter. “She cheated on me with an asshole.”

“It happens, even in a good marriage.” Dom’s tone softened, which struck me.

“Your wife cheated, too?”

“No, I did.” Dom looked over, and though I couldn’t see his features, I could feel his gaze take on a new weight.

“Really.” I didn’t know what else to say. I was surprised. He seemed like such a straight arrow.

“I screwed up, after my partner got killed. That’s no excuse, I know it. I lost my way. I wish I could say it was only one woman, but it wasn’t.” Dom sighed. “But one day we talked, and I came clean. We went to counseling, the whole nine. The thing is, she forgave me. Now it’s behind us, and I’m grateful to her, every day.”

“I don’t know if I can forgive Lucinda. I don’t know how you get past that.”

“That’s your pride talking.”

“Fair enough. My pride has a say.”

“Okay, tell you what I learned from an applicant. The man was a stone-cold killer. Gangster of the highest order. I was best man at his wedding.”

I smiled, intrigued. “Wiki told me that. It was true?”

“Yes. Now, this applicant was no sage philosopher. But I never forgot something he told me. He said, ‘Decide what you want and do what gets it.’?” Dom nodded. “Nothing else matters. No rules, no laws. Not what you should want. Not being right. Not your pride.”

I thought a minute. “That’s sociopathic.”

Dom chuckled. “In the wrong hands, maybe. I take the truth where I find it, regardless of the wrapper. It’s not always easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys.”

“Agree. We’re living that.”

“So here’s what, with Lucinda. Decide what you want. Decide what matters to you the most. Your pride—or your family.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Then it’s not, for you.” Dom shrugged. “But I see what you went through for Lucinda and Ethan. You risked your life. Hell, you’re risking your life tonight. If you forgive her, you get your family back.”

I couldn’t reply.

“She’ll never forget it, ever. In here, I never did.” Dom pointed to his chest. “And I never will.”

We both looked over when Tig clucked under his breath. “Dom?” he said, his tone incredulous. “You really believe that shit?”

Dom laughed. “I thought you were asleep.”

“No, I was just restin’ my eyes.”

“Me, too,” said Richardson.

“I heard every word,” added Skeet.

Dom laughed again, and so did I.

“Excellent,” I said, embarrassed. “To review, my wife cheated on me.”

“So what?” Tig shot back. “Jason. Do you love the woman, yes or no?”

I flashed on that kiss. Wow. “Yes.”