No Greater Loyalty (2 page)

CHAPTER 2

After Dom hung up with Angel, he sat back and mentally reviewed what he knew about Melania Cruz. Angel had told him the majority of it last night, but after he got home, he'd done a little research on his own. Melania was the head of one of the largest drug cartels in Mexico. After her oldest brother was brutally assassinated by a rival family, her father groomed her to take his place.

The Juarez Cartel flourished under Melania's leadership, becoming wealthier and more powerful than ever. Her legendary status earned her the street moniker
La Princesa de Cocaína
: The Cocaine Princess. Her operation became one of the United States' biggest distributors of cocaine, smuggling massive quantities of the narcotic into the country via boats and planes without being detected.

Melania was known for her violent business practices and ice cold disregard for anyone who got in the way of her running her operation. She'd masterminded and ordered hundreds of murders, a tactic which sent a message of fear to those foolish enough to think about crossing her. Several attempts had been made on her life, and there was a price on her head by both the Mexican mafia as well as the United States government, but no one had been successful in bringing her down.

Dom got up and walked over to his computer on the desk. Tapping a couple of keys, he pulled up a picture of Melania that he'd found on the Internet last night. He stared at it for several moments. She was an attractive woman, no doubt. No one would know that she was one of the most dangerous women in the world just by looking at her. Melania wore her long, dark hair loose, allowing it to flow to the middle of her cinched in waist. With her piercing eyes, pouty lips, and golden tawny skin, Dominick was able to easily spot the resemblance between her and Isabella.

However, there were noticeable differences as well. Both women were undeniably striking, but whereas Bella's dark beauty was soft and feminine, Melania's was hard, calculating, and extremely deadly.

Dom placed his hands, palms down on the desk and peered closer at the picture with chilly eyes. This was the monster that had his son. She was using him like a piece of bait to dangle in front of Dominick's nose in order to lure him out into the open. He couldn't seem to tear his gaze away from the photo. In an instant, this woman had just single handedly turned his previously perfect life upside fucking down.

"You want me, Melania Cruz? Wanted to get my attention? Well, you got it. I'm coming soon, ma. Real soon. Bet on that."

Straightening, he backed up a couple of steps before turning and walking out the room. Feeling a surge of adrenalin rushing through his veins, Dom took the stairs two at a time. He shifted his thoughts away from Melania for a moment so that he could concentrate on the conversation he needed to have with Keisha.

Turning left at the top of the stairs, Dom smiled as he passed his son's room. At eleven months old, Christian was a handful, especially since he'd started walking almost two months ago. With him and Samantha in their lives, Dom and Keisha
’s little family felt complete. His lips slowly lost the smile. Before last night, Dominick would've unequivocally stated without reserve that their world was perfect; there hadn't been anything else he could have asked for that he didn't already have.

But as he said, that was before last night.

Walking into his bedroom, his steps slowed when his eyes fell on Keisha. She'd obviously just gotten out of the shower. With a towel wrapped around her body and her hair hanging in a wet curtain past her shoulders, she stood by the window staring out at something with a small frown. Curious, Dominick walked up behind her and looked over her shoulder to see what she was looking at so hard. He spied it right away.

A shiny black Range Rover, which he knew to be bullet proof, was parked in front of their house, had been since last night. Although they couldn't see the occupants because of the dark, tinted windows, Dominick knew two men were inside, strapped and on alert. Their job was to protect his family at any cost.

"That truck was there when I went out for my run," Keisha commented, still staring at it. "I started over to it, to try and ask if they were looking for someone, and it pulled off. I didn't think anything of it then, but now it's back."

"I know."

Keisha looked up at him, her frown now directed his way. "What do you mean 'you know'?"

"Just that. There's another one parked down the street. They're fine."

"Who is it?"

"Angel sent them here to guard the house."

Keisha's expression was one of disbelief. "What?"

"They're here for our protection."

"Protect..." Understanding crept into her eyes as she realized exactly what he was saying. Dom could tell she was trying to stay calm, but the tone of her voice belied her effort. "It's because of that Melania woman, isn't it? Angel has men posted outside of our house because we're in danger. That's it, isn't it, Dominick?"

Dom slipped his hands in his pockets. "Keisha, it's only a precaution."

"Precaution my ass, Dominick! Don't you dare try and feed me that nonsense!" She let the drapes fall back into place and turned to face him. "It's started, hasn't it?"

Dom knew what she meant and didn
’t pretend otherwise. "Yeah. It's started."

They locked eyes for several moments before Keisha ran her hand through her damp hair. Pacing back and forth, her mind raced as the gravity of their situation finally set in, and once it did, she felt sick. This wasn't their life. Drug cartels, armed guards, threats against their family. Of course she'd known about Angel and the type of world he lived in before she married Dominick, but she didn't think it would ever touch them. Dom had promised her it wouldn't. Apparently, it was a promise he hadn't been able to keep.

"This can't be happening," Keisha stated in a low voice. Swinging around, she cast eyes full of accusation and fear towards Dominick. "What now? Do I have to worry about the children's safety every time we step foot out of the house? Do I have to travel with armed bodyguards wherever I go, always on the alert for anyone who looks suspicious because they might want to blow my fucking head off? Is that what you're saying?"

"Keish..."

Dom wished like hell that he could tell her everything she'd just said was an over exaggeration, but he couldn't. She was right. She didn't need him to gloss over the facts because shit was real. As of twelve hours ago, life as they'd known it was over.

"I don't like this anymore than you do, but for now, we need to be very careful. This is the only way I can make sure my family is safe."

"Oh God," Keisha whispered, turning her back to him.

This can't be happening
, she repeated to herself. Feeling Dom's arms slip around her waist from behind, she thrust them off of her, furious at him, the situation they were in, and hating this Melania Cruz bitch with every bone in her body.

Dominick fought to keep his own frustrated anger in check, but he was fast losing patience. He turned Keisha around to face him. "Baby, I know this is coming at you all at once, and it
’s hard to process, but time is not a luxury we have so I'm just gonna lay it all out in the open. Melania Cruz was going to come after me whether I had a son involved in this or not. Is she dangerous? Yes, extremely so. Am I afraid for my family's safety and well being? Hell yes."

Dom placed his hands loosely on either side of her neck, using his thumbs to gently lift her face to look at him. He needed eye contact, needed to connect with her in a way they hadn't been able to do in some time. "Answer me this, Keisha, have I ever made you feel as if you weren't safe or like you couldn't depend on me?"

Keisha swallowed, becoming lost in the intense flame that burned brightly in his eyes. Her husband had the most beautiful eyes, so emotional. They drew Keisha in and allowed her to glimpse down into his very soul. "No. Never."

And he hadn't. Before Dominick, Keisha hadn't had any other family that she could depend on except for Jerra and Aleesha. The day she met Dominick, she'd felt an instant physical attraction unlike anything she
’d ever experienced. She'd tried to convince herself that it was nothing that great sex wouldn't cure, but the first time they made love, it was clear to both of them that the connection was so much more than that. Keisha had fought it every step of the way, as had Dom, but it was no use. After they finally gave in, nothing and no one had ever been able to come between them.

"I've always taken care of you, Keisha, and I always will. Babe, I need you to trust me the same as you've always done. I understand you're frightened, but I need to know you got my back while I'm gone so that I can concentrate on what I have to do." His eyes searched hers, needing her support more than he would ever admit.

Keisha hesitated before her hand came up to cup the side of his face. "Two things."

His expression guarded, Dom answered slowly. "Okay."

"You'd better not come back with a scratch on you, you understand me, Dominick Spain? I want you back the same way you left."

A hint of a smile lifted the corner of Dom's mouth. He nodded because he knew she was serious. "And the second thing?"

"No matter what you have to do, make sure that bitch never bothers us again."

Pulling her close, he nodded. "I give you my promise."

Keisha lifted her mouth to his as Dom lowered his head. The kiss started off sweet, its intent meant to allay fears and reassure each of them that everything would be okay, but when Keisha's lips softened and her tongue gently wrapped around his, Dom moaned quietly, enjoying the moment of closeness.

"I love you, Dominick," Keisha sighed against his mouth.

Dom's arms tightened, letting her feel his need. He loved this woman so damned much. Hell, without her, there
was
no him. Keisha was his rib, a necessary part of his survival. Dom would do anything in his power to protect her and their family.

Which brought him back to Angel and the conversation they'd just had. He needed to take a shower and get dressed in order to leave on time, but when Keisha's hand trailed down his stomach to stop at the waistband of his sweats he became momentarily distracted. Dom lifted his head a fraction so that his lips hovered over hers. His breathing labored, the muscles in his abs tightened in anticipation as he waited on her touch.

"Keish, baby, I want you so fuckin' bad I ache."

Sensing there was more, Keisha pulled back a little in order to see his face. She raised a dark, sculptured brow.  "But?" she whispered.

"But... I gotta go."

Keisha frowned. "Go? Go where?"

"I'm on my way to Angel's. There's a lot we need to discuss, devise a strategy." His eyes dropped to the towel that had come untucked and slipped down to reveal the rising slope of her breasts. "Otherwise, wild horses couldn't drag me away from this spot. I don't want to start something that I won't be able to finish. Properly, that is," he grinned.

"Oh. Okay." Keisha glanced down and saw the outline of his erection prominently taking up space in the front of his sweats.  She bit down on her lip. "Not even a quickie?"

Dom gave into temptation and pulled the towel down a little. "Keisha Spain, with you there's no such thing as a 'quickie' and you know it." He bent down to scatter teasing kisses along her neck before traveling lower to kiss the top of her left breast.

"Mmm. You smell good." Unable to resist, he captured a pouty nipple between his lips, sucking it briefly then pulling back to watch appreciatively as it stiffened in arousal. "Taste even better."

For a brief second, Dom contemplated whether or not to give them both what they so badly wanted, what they needed, but he meant what he'd told her. If he started now, there was no way in hell he'd be able to stop.

He reluctantly stepped back. "Later. Tonight. I promise."

It was on the tip of Keisha's tongue to point out that he'd made the exact same promise last night after Angel called. Instead, she nodded and forced a smile. "Okay, but I plan on holding you to it."

"Do that," he winked before going to his heavy oak bureau and pulling out a pair of clean boxer briefs.

Keisha sat on the bed as he disappeared into the closet then came out with a pair of black slacks and a white shirt that he laid beside her.

"You talk to Jerra this morning?" he asked.

Samantha and Christian, along with Dillon and Olivia, the kids Marcus and Aleesha were in the process of adopting had spent the night at Darrell and Jerra's house. The previous evening was supposed to have been just the two of them spending some much needed quality time together, but the phone call from Angel had drastically changed their plans.

"No, but I'm getting ready to call her now."

"Okay. I'll be out in a second," Dom called over his shoulder as he headed to the bathroom.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Keisha waited. Once she heard the unmistakable sound of water spraying from the shower, she whipped the towel off and tied it around her wet hair. Hurrying to her closet, which was separate from his, she grabbed a pair of cream-colored pants and a sleeveless aqua blue blouse. After quickly dressing, she ran back to the closet and pulled out a pair of multi-colored shoes that had the same color in them as her blouse and slipped them on.