OWNED by Dominic (Possessed #1) Page 3

  What little she had been able to see of Switzerland from behind the confines of the school was stunning. The small city they were in was surrounded by gorgeous mountains and covered in a variety of full green trees. She couldn’t begin to name them other than to know they were beautiful.

  Lake Lugano bordered the breathtaking city, sharing its eastern shore with northern Italy. That was what she was banking on to be able to exit the country. She’d heard from other girls that had been allowed to leave the school that there were boat taxi’s waiting to take her right into Italy and from there, she could rent a car.

  The only reason she had any money was because her mam had been sending her some as often as she could, and she had saved every euro since she arrived. By her estimation, she had roughly fifty thousand Swiss Francs. Hopefully enough to get her to Ireland and her ma.

  She had to wait on going home, though, because she knew her dad would search for her there. The waiting would be the hard part. Her mam didn’t know she was coming, so she might be worried if he showed up there looking for her, but she couldn’t risk him finding her. Something was going on with him; he’d been checking in more and more of late. It was suspicious.

  *****

  Four months later

  Italy was stunning. The ocean. The sunsets. The villas. It was almost magical, but Deidre’s time was coming to an end. She had stayed longer than anticipated. At one point she even feared her da had found her, but it was her imagination.

  When she first arrived in Italy, Dee had no idea what she was doing or where she was going. She’d rented a car in Milan under a fake identity her mam had sent her two years ago. This had always been the plan, and without her ma’s help, she never would have been able to execute it the way she had.

  Since arriving, she’d been more isolated than ever before, unwilling to risk making friends or being seen very often in town just in case her father’s cronies were out looking for her. She stuck close to the isolated beach she was living on, only leaving if it were necessary.

  When she’d been at the local market one Saturday, she witnessed one of the most heart-breaking scenes of her life: A young woman having a panic attack or a flashback. She still wasn’t sure which. What she did know was that the person, who’s name turned out to be Kennedy, was one of the most broken women she’d ever met. She felt for her. Knew the loneliness that ate away at them both was slowly killing them.

  It hadn’t taken long before they realized they lived right next to each other. The need for isolation had them wary at first, but it wasn’t long before they met up on the beach for early morning walks, watching the sun set, and that soon progressed into having lunch together. They talked about frivolous things or nothing at all. Neither wanting to delve too deeply into who or what they were running from.

  Ken was lucky, though. She had family who cared. Two gorgeous men who came to her rescue at a time when she was ready to give up. Deidre was lonely. So lonely, she had almost risked going home too soon. But first, she had to make sure she was out of her father’s clutches. She was almost home free, too. She’d spoken to her mam that morning and finally got the confirmation that the coast was clear so to speak. That her da’s men had left the area about a week ago, and she could start slowly making her way home. Which was good because she was nearly out of funds.

  Excitement filled Dee at the thought of finally moving back to her native Dublin. She missed the bustle of the city, the congestion that was too many people and not enough homes. The smoky air. The rolling green fields and mountains. She was ready to go home.

  A knock on her door pulled her out of her reverie. Figuring it was Ken coming to check on her, she didn’t bother to see who was there.

  Big mistake.

  *****

  He’d been watching Deedee for a little over two weeks now. She was isolated, kept to herself except for her one neighbor, a cute little redhead around her age. He still couldn’t believe the connection they all had. He’d been kidding in London when he saw the Black twins. He hadn’t actually thought they were all so close together in Italy, let alone for nearly the same reason—to collect a woman.

  Yet here he was ready to call on an old debt. As far as Dominic was concerned, once he brought Dee home to her father in London, she was free to go as she pleased. He wasn’t even certain why Bradshaw wanted to see her, so he’d have to be on his guard while they were there.

  Bradshaw had his hands dipped in more illegal shit now than he had eight years ago. His day was coming. Whether by Dominic’s hand or someone else’s was what remained to be seen. He’d lived too long and seen too much to let the man go, though.

  So much had changed since he’d last seen Dee that fateful night so long ago. It took him a long time to realize just how big a part of his life she had played in such a short amount of time. She brought him light and happiness when he was shrouded in a world of gray.

  After losing her, he’d tracked her down needing to know she was, in fact, still alive, so he didn’t have to unleash the depths of hell on her father for no reason. When he did find Dee in the all-girls school, she’d looked miserable, but they treated her all right, so he’d left her alone. Not wanting to disrupt her life until necessary, he took as many jobs as he could until Brooke...He’d fallen in lust with her so quickly, he still had whiplash.

  Brooke had been the sister to one of his new “bosses”, innocent, sweet, and young. Or so he’d thought. Turns out he was a job to someone else, and she was sent to dupe him. Get him to flip on whatever faction he was working for at the time. What no one seemed to realize was that he never knew exactly who he was working for at any time. Only the job, the pay, and a contact. It was all he needed to know.

  He could admit he’d fucked up. Brooke seduced him. Failed her mission and disappeared.

  Now, here he was four years later with more baggage than he ever thought he’d have at his age.

  He was ready to go home. Retire. Live out the rest of his days before he was marked.

  When the door opened, he knew his plans just flew out the fucking window.

  When did Deedee grow the fuck up? He took in her stunning form.

  “Dominic?” she whispered huskily, throwing herself into his arms in surprise. Shit. He should not be having these feelings for her. When the hell did she become so gorgeous? Or grow into a woman?

  If she kept squeezing him, she was gonna feel something completely inappropriate to their relationship. “Dee, when the fuck you grow up?”

  A blush covered her chest and slowly went up to her cheeks as she pulled away shyly. Tucking some strands of hair behind her ear, she ducked her head and shuffled her feet. “Why are you here?”

  A deep sigh left him, knowing that what he was about to tell her, she wasn’t going to like. “Can I come in and talk?”

  “Oh. Sure.” She stepped back and turned to walk into her small kitchen. He got a good look at her now womanly body and nearly groaned in appreciation. Hourglass figure, tight, toned body only a girl of eighteen could have. Fuuuckkk! Eight-fucking-teen. His brain and heart got the message, his dick not so much. Down you horny fucker. Clearly, three years of abstinence was a bad idea.

  Insecurity and worry were written across her face. Knowing he was the cause didn’t sit well with him and realizing he was about to make it worse, didn’t make him feel any better. “How you been, Dee?”

  “Huh?” She seemed lost. More so than he’d ever seen her before. Granted he hadn’t seen her in over seven years, but a zebra doesn’t change his stripes, and she’d always had a strong personality. “Fine, I guess. Glad to be away from everything.”

  “Princess…?”

  Finally looking at him, she seemed to really see him for the first time. “Where did you go?” Her whispered words nearly broke his heart. “Why did you let him take me away?”

  “Fuck, Princess. There are things you don’t know. Things you might not understand. I didn’t let him take you away; you
better fucking believe that.” He needed her to know he didn’t abandon her. He would never have deserted her.

  “Then why? Do you know what they did to me that night?” The pain and horror on her face, the stark fear that lingered so many years later had him questioning if he’d done the right thing.

  “Tell me.”

  She looked at him like he was straight up nuts. As if he had no right to know why she held so much fear in her.

  “Screw you, Dominic! You lost the right to know anything about me a long fucking time ago!”

  She was pissing him off now. Did she not know she was his now? He was gonna let her go and do with her life as she had pleased, but now? Now, he had this need to own her. To show her just what he could and would do for her. Starting with destroying her father and any other cocksucker who’d ever hurt her.

  “Don’t push me, Princess,” he growled, stepping towards her. She shrunk into herself for a second before remembering just how much she used to love pushing his buttons and fighting back. He was glad to see she still had it in her.

  “Excuse me?” she retorted. A sardonic smile lit his face as she got frustrated with him. Stomping her feet and grumbling.

  She was sexy when she was mad.

  Fuck.

  He had to stop thinking like that.

  Only he couldn’t.

  She was going to be his, and God save anyone that tried to get in his way.

  Three

  He was gorgeous. Anytime Deidre had thought about Dom in the past, it had always been about how much fun she used to have teasing him and trying his patience. Making him really work. Now he was almost beautiful.

  She didn’t have any experience with men, so of course he wouldn’t notice her, but the way he growled at her when she had pissed him off made funny things happen to her body. Things she never thought she’d feel. Her whole life she’d only ever wanted one thing—to be with her mam.

  Now, for the first time ever, she was lusting after a man who was probably fifteen years older than her, and he would only ever think of her as some bratty child he used to protect.

  “Why are you here, Dom?” she asked in exasperation. So ready to go home. Just wanting to go home.

  “I’m here to take you back to your father.”

  Bam. Just like that she saw her entire life exploding before her eyes. If she went back to him, she’d never see the outside world again. Of that she was sure.

  “No.”

  “Deidre!” he snapped at her. She stopped in her tracks as she was about to leave, not caring that it was her house. He’d never called her by her full name unless she was in shit. “You’re coming with me.”

  “No.”

  “Jesus Christ. What are you, a fucking child? You’re coming home with me.”

  “No.” She knew she was pissing him off by repeating the same word, but she didn’t care. She was mad. He had no right to demand anything from her.

  “Goddamnit, Dee, you are. Even if I have to force you!” he screamed at her.

  “Go fuck yourself, Dom! I ain’t doing shit for you! You have no idea what you’re asking by trying to make me go back to that monster.” Her voice was shaky with emotion.

  “Then fucking tell me! I can’t protect you if I don’t know what’s going on, Princess.” His voice softened as he wound down.

  “I can’t. Just leave, Dom. Tell the arse you couldn’t find me and go on with your life.” Turning her back, she was about to walk away when he grabbed her shoulders from behind, pulling her into his chest.

  So this is what heaven feels like. She sagged against him. His muscles rippled against her back with every breath. His thighs encased her legs. His arms held her soft but steady as he whispered, “You’re mine, Princess. I won’t ever let you go.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong,” she whispered half-heartedly.

  Placing one hand under her chin, he turned her head so she was facing him and lowered his mouth until their lips were just a hairsbreadth apart. He whispered, “You’re coming with me, Deedee.” Pissing her off all over again.

  She didn’t know what to expect, but a light kiss was at the top of her list, not for him to demand she go back to her father. That only made her want to kick him in the nuts. “How many times do I have to tell you; I am not going with you! Do I need to dumb it down for you? Lose a few words so your over-inflated steroid brain can understand?” Her words were harsh, she knew. One day she might even regret them, but she was too angry to care at that point.

  Mumbling something she couldn’t hear, he turned towards the door yelling, “It’s time to face your father again, Deidre! You can’t run forever.”

  “Who says I’m running you overgrown jackass!” she spits back.

  As he was about to walk out the door, she heard him snarl, “Who the fuck are you?”

  Storming over, she was about to ask what the hell was going on when she saw Kennedy practically cowering in her doorway. “What’s going on, Ken?”

  “Ken?” he mocked.

  “Yeah, Ken, you jackass. It’s called a nickname. People give them to other people when they care about them. But in order to care, a person must have feelings first. Something you’re lacking. Now fuck off.”

  “What the fuck? Dom? What are you doing here?” Kennedy’s man Creed asked clearly pissed off that she was upset.

  “Well, looks like our business was in the same place after all,” Dom laughed, confusing her. They know each other?

  “Ignore him guys; he’s an ass. An ass who needs to leave now because I’m sick of looking at your perfect face.” Dee growled, frustrated beyond belief with him.

  “Perfect, huh?” He smirked at her.

  “Dom, why are you here?” Creed asked again.

  “Cool your jets, Black. I was hired by Deidre’s father to bring her home, but she ran off here, and I had to find her again.”

  “He’s not my father, and it certainly isn’t home,” Dee told him mutinously.

  “You’re coming with me, Princess. Even if I have to drag you back kicking and screaming,” he warned her, leaning in close to her face.

  “Ahem,” Kennedy cleared her throat, drawing the attention of everyone. “Who exactly are you? And why do you need to bring her to her father? It’s called free will for a reason.”

  Laughing, he shocked them all by replying, “I’m Dominic Slade, and I have to bring her home in order to own her.”

  Uh, say what now?

  Her head was buzzing. She missed some of what they were saying. She shouldn’t be shocked her father would sell her. Yet she was. Completely, irrevocably, stunned.

  “Wait… What?” Confusion laced her words. “What do you mean bring me back so you can own me?”

  “He never told you?” Shaking her head no, he continued, “Fuck sakes. Your father and I had an agreement when you were younger. Once you hit a certain age you were mine, no matter where you were in the world. Only I had to bring you back to him one last time.”

  Shock. Yes, the feeling running through her system was shock. It’s the only possible reason for everyone’s silence at his admission.

  “You mean he sold me to you?” Dee asked quietly.

  “No. He traded you. Your life for his.”

  “I don’t understand.” she couldn’t wrap her mind around it.

  “I was sent to kill him eight years ago, so I had to infiltrate his life. I was your bodyguard until he noticed the attention I was giving you. I treated you like you were a person rather than a thing, and he didn’t like it so you were sent away and I was reassigned. Instead of taking the new job, I used my time wisely and waited for my opportunity to strike. As I was about to, he was in the middle of a deal, and I took advantage.”

  “What kind of deal?” she whispered, terrified of the answer.

  “He was about to sell you to a human trafficker for top dollar. Your eyes are a very unique color; therefore, bringing in the highest bidders. H
e was going to get millions for you. I gave him a choice,” Dom told her softly.

  “My life for his.”

  “Yes.”

  “Sunshine,” Creed called Kennedy. “Let’s go on back home.” He went to reach for her hand, but she pulled back.

  “I won’t leave her like this, and with him! Are you insane?”

  “It’s fine, Ken. I’ll be okay. I have nothing to fear from Dom, never have. Just don’t like his arrogance,” Dee explained to her with a small smile. While it was true, Dom would never hurt her physically, she wasn’t so sure about emotionally.

  “Are you still leaving tonight?” Kenny asked.

  “Yes,” she shot a dirty look to Dom. “But I’m going back home, not to his royal asshole’s.” Laughing at the growl Dom let out, Dee hugged her whispering, “I’ll see you soon. Go home, Kenny. Your folks miss you.”

  “You’ll be okay?” she asked pulling back from the hug.

  Would she? Probably not.

  “It’s time to go home, Kennedy. For both of us.”

  With one last hug and sad smiles shared, Kennedy started to walk away with a warning to Dominic. “You hurt her, and I’ll hunt you down myself, Mr. Slade. Understand?” He looked like he was going to laugh her threat off at first.

  “She’s safe with me; you have my word,” Dom promised.

  The men did their weird fist bump/half hug thing with whispered words neither girl had a chance of hearing before they parted ways.

  *****

  “Fuck!” Slamming his hand against the steering wheel, he was angry. At himself, at her father, at Creed for forcing him to tell Dee before he had a chance to soften the blow. After her friend had left, she’d kicked him out. He tried to stay, but she told him one of them was leaving. He figured if he did, at least he could watch her house until he convinced her to leave with him.

  Fatigue tried to tug at his eyes as he watched her front door. He wouldn’t put it past her to slip out while she thought he was sleeping. A door slamming drew his attention to the rear of her house. He was almost disappointed that she would prove him right.