Maid for the Billionaire(51)

Dominic studied the older man sitting next to his mother and said slowly, ―You love her.‖

Thomas and his mother exchanged a meaningful look. ―Yes, but I kept myself away from her for the same reason I kept you away. Your father would never have allowed her to be happy away from him. He had a cruel streak that I couldn‘t risk unleashing on Rosella.‖

Dominic‘s mother laid her hand over Thomas‘ in silent understanding.

Dominic‘s expression twisted painfully as he reflected on Thomas‘ apology. He looked down at Abby and said urgently, ―I‘ve made so many mistakes with you, Abby. To the outside world, I probably do look like I am following in my father‘s footsteps, but I need you to know that if you ever decided to leave me, I would never think of harming you. Hurting you would be like killing a piece of myself. I need you to know that.‖

Abby squeezed his hand. ―As much as you are not your father, Dominic, I am not your mother. I‘m not afraid of you.‖ She smiled because she knew she meant those words and marveled at what a difference a week could make in the way she saw the world. ―Hell, I apparently even have military support at my beck and call. Maybe you should worry about what would happen if you ever tried to leave me.‖

Lill warned from across the room, ―Don‘t even think she‘s kidding, Dominic. You are marrying one tough lady.‖

―Hey,‖ Abby said in amused protest.

Lil‘s eyes were full of love for her sister, even as her words teased. She told her small audience, ―I‘m not sure if all of you know, but Abby raised me after our parents died several years back. She kept me out of trouble and in school while putting herself through college. She‘s the strongest person I know. I‘m proud of her, but I hate to say it because she gets really bossy when she thinks she‘s right.‖

Jake interjected, ―She probably had to be. I‘m sure you were not an easy child to raise.‖

Lill flounced on the chair beside him, ―Unlike you, I suppose? Dominic, was Jake born with a tie on? He never takes it off. Never. I took him bowling and he showed up exactly like this.

People thought I was dating the mafia.‖

Abby couldn‘t help but pounce on that juicy tidbit. ―You two went bowling?‖

Dominic sat back and laughed, ―I would have loved to have seen that.‖

Jake looked adorably defensive. ―It was her idea.‖

Mrs. Duhamel paused behind Dominic‘s seat and gently scolded, ―Don‘t tease Jake, Dominic. Can‘t you tell he really likes her?‖

A slow and deep red flush swept up Jake's neck and face, drawing a mixture of amused and sympathetic laughter from everyone in the group. Lill was the only one who didn‘t find it funny.

She said, ―What he likes is telling people how they should live their lives. He‘s as bad as Abby.‖

―It‘s like trying to advise a wall,‖ Jake grumbled and the group broke into laughter again.

In that moment of shared camaraderie, Dominic‘s mother gushed, ―I wish Nicole were here with us.‖

The room stilled and all eyes turned to Dominic. For once, the mention of his sister didn‘t make him defensive. He said, ―She will be, Mother. We‘ll work it out.‖

Abby hugged her future husband. ―We. I like the sound of that.‖

He looked rather pleased with himself. ―Me, too.‖

Thomas cleared his throat and awkwardly added, ―I know the past few days have been insane for you, Dominic, but there has been a development regarding Nicole that I think you should know about.‖

Dominic leaned forward in his chair; instantly concerned. ―What is it?‖

―She thinks she has found a way to break the will, but I fear she‘s selling her soul to do it,‖

Thomas said with some hesitation.

Dominic stood and walked toward the older man. ―Just say it, Thomas. Don‘t dance around the subject.‖

Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, Thomas announced, ―She is working some deal with Stephan Andrade. She didn‘t give me all the details. Something about prior contracts having to be fulfilled before the terms of the will can be executed.‖

Dominic straightened in fury, appearing to double in size. All traces of the affable man from a few minutes ago disappeared, like a tamed jungle cat reverting back to its instinctive aggressive behavior in response to a threat. The room pulsed with the intensity of his anger. Here was the man dignitaries made way for. Abby didn‘t doubt for a second that this Dominic could have walked away from Corisi Enterprises and clawed his way back to the financial top within years.

He punched his thigh in frustration. ―Of all the asinine things to do. Doesn‘t she know that he‘d love nothing more than to find a way to get to me?‖

Thomas shook his head sadly. ―I tried to tell her, but she wouldn‘t listen to me. She said they were old friends.‖

Dominic ran an angry hand through his hair. ―What the hell does that mean?‖

Thomas responded blandly, ―Your guess is as good as mine, but rumor has it that she has been spending a lot of time at his house outside of New York City.‖

―I‘ll kill him,‖ Dominic growled.

Jake was at his side in an instant. ―Not if I get my hands on him first,‖ he said, looking every bit as furious as his friend.

That gained an appreciative grunt from Dominic and then a sarcastic question, ―I thought you didn‘t do things that could have you hiding in a third world country to escape extradition?‖