Chapter 2 - The Scar Beneath His Collar
Dominic released my wrist.
“Go to your room.”
“No.”
His eyes hardened.
“That wasn't a request.”
“Then you married the wrong woman.”
He stood.
For the first time, I understood why grown men feared him.
Dominic didn't need to shout.
He simply became still.
“Callie.”
“Dominic.”
“You know nothing about me.”
“I know you're taking pills that shouldn't be mixed with alcohol.”
His face tightened.
“And I know that scar bothers you.”
“Stop.”
“You're protecting it.”
“Stop.”
“Why?”
His fist struck the dresser.
The bottles rattled.
I didn't move.
Dominic stared at me.
Then his anger disappeared almost as quickly as it had come.
“Leave.”
I picked up the supplement packet.
“Who gives you these?”
His eyes shifted toward it.
“Dr. Marcus Vale.”
“Your doctor?”
“For six years.”
“Does he know about the sleeping pills?”
“He prescribed them.”
“And the supplements?”
“Yes.”
I smelled the packet again.
Something was wrong.
“Don't take these tonight.”
Dominic laughed without humor.
“You've been my wife for three hours.”
“And you've been exhausted for much longer.”
He looked at the packet.
Then at me.
“What do you think is in it?”
“I don't know yet.”
That answer surprised him.
“You admit when you don't know something?”
“That's how people avoid dying from stupidity.”
Another almost-smile.
Gone instantly.
Dominic unbuttoned his shirt.
I wasn't prepared for what I saw.
A long scar crossed his upper chest and disappeared toward his shoulder.
Another ran along his ribs.
His body carried the history of violence he'd never discussed.
I touched neither.
“What happened?”
“Ambush.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“Who?”
“My brother.”
I looked up.
Dominic's face had become unreadable.
“Your brother attacked you?”
“My older brother, Vincent, decided he should run the family.”
“What happened to him?”
“He's dead.”
I didn't ask who killed him.
Dominic noticed.
“You're not curious?”
“I know enough.”
“No, you don't.”
He walked toward the window.
“My father put Vincent and me against each other from childhood. Competition made us stronger, he said.”
“That sounds like a good way to destroy a family.”
“It did.”
Dominic touched the scar.
“Vincent arranged the ambush. Two of my men died.”
“And you survived.”
“Unfortunately.”
That word bothered me.
“Don't say that.”
He turned.
“What?”
“Unfortunately.”
“You don't get to tell me how to feel about surviving.”
“No. But I can tell you what I see.”
“And what's that?”
“A man who's been punishing himself because other people died.”
His expression went cold.
“Enough.”
“Dominic—”
“Enough.”
This time I stopped.
He picked up the packet of supplements.
“You think this is hurting me?”
“Yes.”
“Prove it.”
“How?”
“You said you worked at a clinic.”
“I cleaned there.”
“You also said you listened.”
“I did.”
“Then find out.”
He tossed the packet toward me.
I caught it.
“You're giving me permission?”
“I'm giving you twenty-four hours.”
“For what?”
“To prove my doctor is incompetent.”
His eyes darkened.
“Or prove my wife doesn't know nearly as much as she thinks.”
The next morning, I called someone I hadn't spoken to in nearly a year.
Dr. Helen Carter.
She'd worked nights at the clinic where I'd cleaned.
She'd also been one of the few people who never treated me like furniture.
“Callie?”
“Hi, Dr. Carter.”
“Where have you been?”
“Long story.”
“You always have those.”
“I need a favor.”
“What kind?”
I looked toward the kitchen doorway.
One of Dominic's guards stood nearby.
“The quiet kind.”
Two hours later, I met Helen at a small laboratory she trusted.
She examined the powder.
“You're not taking this, are you?”
“No.”
“Who is?”
“Someone I know.”
Helen looked at me.
“Callie.”
“I can't tell you.”
She sighed.
“I'll run it.”
That evening, Dominic was in his office when I entered.
His lieutenant, Luca Romano, immediately blocked me.
“Boss is busy.”
“I need five minutes.”
“No.”
Dominic looked up.
“Let her through.”
Luca stepped aside reluctantly.
I placed the laboratory report on Dominic's desk.
He read it.
His face changed.
“What is this?”
“Your supplement.”
“That's impossible.”
“It contains a compound that can interfere with your medication. In small amounts, you'd feel restless. Irritable. Your hands might shake. Your sleep would get worse.”
Dominic stared at the page.
“And over time?”
I hesitated.
“Your heart could become affected.”
Luca stepped forward.
“Who tested this?”
“Someone qualified.”
Dominic leaned back.
“Marcus has treated me for six years.”
“Then either he made a dangerous mistake...”
I looked directly at him.
“Or somebody wants you sick enough to look unstable.”
Silence filled the office.
Luca reached inside his jacket.
Dominic raised one finger.
Luca stopped.
Then Dominic looked at me.
“You've been in this house less than one day.”
“Yes.”
“And you're telling me someone inside it may be poisoning me.”
“Yes.”
He closed the report.
“Callie?”
“Yes?”
May you like
“Welcome to the Russo family.”
---
