Chapter 9

Dominico I had to drive us to my manor, that’s the only place I believe is so secure right now. With the way everybody was at alert when I walked in, it seems the news of the attack has already been dispersed. Being attacked while on my business isn’t something unfamiliar, I’m unfazed by the sound of gunshots, but what got to me tonight was the fact that I had Josephine in the car with me. I wonder what would have happened if Hide wasn’t an experienced driver, or if my security details weren’t smart enough. Josephine is still under shock, she kept crying and trembling on our way here, I had to tell the doctor to sedate her, that was the only way I could get her to calm down. The door opened and Hide walked into my office with the phone glued to his ear. He barked away orders at the person on the other end. I glared at him, silently offering him to end the damn call. He disconnected the call and muttered an apology. “Any news on the shooters?” f**k! I can’t believe I almost got Josephine and my baby killed on our first public appearance. “I need the names of those fuckers who shot at my goddamn car while my wife is in there!” “Nate is still working on that boss. The plate numbers are fake, so he’s trying to hack into the traffic camera. Maybe we’ll be able to get something from there.” Snatching the whiskey bottle from my desk, I took a swing directly from the bottle. “If you do not have any useful information for me, get the f**k out of my office!” “Jonas has been calling nonstop.” I’m in no mood to deal with Jayden right now. “Why?” He tried to explain but I shut him up with my index finger. “Tell him to go f**k himself.” “He is worried about ma’am. Ever since I told him that she’s spending the night here, he is insisting on hearing her office.” “Or what?” “He’s going to report a case of possible kidnap to the police.” I scoffed, not finding his behaviour amusing in any way. That dude is really getting on my nerves. “I know his case will be considered baseless, but we do not want blue coats at our doorstep, especially now that we’re trying to hide the shoot out from the police.” Pacing in exasperation, I smashed the whiskey bottle on the wall. “Put him on the line.” Where the f**k is Zadok? Hide did as instructed and walked out of the office, giving me some privacy with Jayden. The phone beeped the moment it connected. “Why do you seek my attention Jonas?” “I do not seek you attention Lopez, it’s of no relevance to me.” He bawled. “Where is Josie? Put her on the phone of everything is really okay, I need to hear her say it.” “Josie is asleep on my bed.” I mocked. “What do you want Jonas? I do not have time for this shit.” My door burst open, the hinges threatening to fall out as Zadok raced into my office. His wild eyes searched my office until it found me, and when he saw that I’m really okay, he visibly relaxed. “I’ll tell Josephine you called.” “Do not disc_” I did. Shutting him up. Running my hand through my disheveled hair, I try to remember anything that will serve as a clue in catching those bastards. Zadok who has been watching me prowling round my office called one of the cleaners to handle the mess I created from the broken bottles. “Are you okay?” Concern was evident in his voice, one of the reason father always chastise him. Do not let your emotions show. “Do I not look okay to you?” I hissed, coming to a halt. “Since you’re here, I’m assuming father is here too.” I do not want to deal with his over bearing ass. If he says just one wrong word, I’m walking him out of my house. “He’s with Hide, he really wants to know what happened.” Tugging my tie loose, I regretted smashing the whiskey bottle. Zadok who seems to know me more than I care to admit quickly fixed us a drink. “I’d offer you a stick, but I heard you’ve been taking a lot of that lately.” Josephine has been driving me nuts with her friendship with Jayden. “I need to have a chat with my staffs. My men will never discuss my personal affairs with Zadok, which is why I need to speak with my Female staffs. Just one dimpled smile from him will have them vomiting all he needs to know. “Stay away from my staffs Zadok, I’d hate to reshuffle.” Chuckling, Zadok watched the cleaners leave before he switched to business. “Before I ask you what really went down, I want to know what you were doing on the streets.” He tapped the rim of his glass. “We wished each other good night at the office over two hours ago. You were suppose to be home, what were you doing out there?” Pinching my brows, I glared at him. “You’re insane if you think you can question me.” He frowned. “Give me a break Zadok. What are you? My wife?” “I’m your brother.” He proclaimed. “I have every right to be worried about you.” He gulped his drink and slammed his tumbler on the table. “I searched around for Hugo, but I couldn’t find him, and when I asked Nate, he said he’s keeping watch over Orchard.” “What are you getting at?” “You and I know that Orchard has been empty for as long as I can remember. My question is, why is Hugo guarding an empty house? Why isn’t he here doing his damn job?!” “Zadok!” I growled. “Know your place.” The tone at which her address me right now isn’t appreciated. “I appreciate that you’re worried about me, but that’s not what I need right now. I need my second-in-command, not my brother.” Although engaged with the whole situation, he mellowed down. “So which car was damaged?” I chuckled at his question. “Please do not tell me it’s the Benz…” My silence made his eyes bulge. “f**k! Now I’m upset. I’ve never seen you this upset after a shoot out, I think I get it now.” “I’m not angry about the car Zadok.” The damn cars are replaceable. “I had Josephine in the car with me during the shooting.” He gasped, his eyes popping out. “You had pocki with you in the car?” He cursed under his breath. “Those fuckers are really asking for it! How dare they try to hurt pocki?” That particular word irritates my ear. Ever since I told Zadok that the baby is mine, he formed this silly name for the baby. “What the hell does pocki mean?” He shrugged with a boyish grin. “Like hell if I know. I just came across a cute picture of a puppy on a little boy’s sweater with the name pocki under it, I fell in love with the name instantly.” “Let me get this straight. You named my child after a puppy?” He bellowed in laughter. “When you talk like that, you make it sound bad.” Shaking his head with an amused smile, he muttered words under his breath. “Josephine, how is she? Is she okay?” I hope she is. “I told the doctor to sedate her.” He arched his brow with a displeased frown. “That was the only way I could get her to calm down. She was a mess, and I feared it will affect her and the baby.” The first time I heard the sound of a gunshot at a close range, I didn’t sleep for days. I wonder how long it will take for her to get over this. Zadok understood my fears, he understood my worries. He placed a hand on my knee and squeezed. “She’s going to be fine Dom, she’ll get over it.” How am I going to woo her like this? “This is her first night in New York after her return and I ruined everything.” I scoffed at my apparent failure. “I almost killed her Zadok, I almost got her and the baby killed. I should have just left her with Jayden and Hugo.” “Why is she with Hugo?” Zadok questioned with a confused expression. “Do not tell me she’s staying at Orchard.” I checked my time and wondered what’s keeping Nate. He should be able to hack the cameras by now. “She refused to stay with me, and I can’t have her staying with that fucker so I offered Orchard.” “I do not see the importance of such selfless service,” he jested “considering the fact that you’re both getting married soon.” With this incident, I’m beginning to wonder how soon. Zadok searched my face. “You both are getting married soon right?” “Take your butt of my business Zadok, how many times do I have to tell you that?” How long it takes to get married to Josephine isn’t their business, what matters is that I did get married to her at the end. His eyes widened with surprise, then it tightened with anger. “What the f**k man?! Where is your head at?” I definitely need to smoke before I do something I’ll regret. “You have to get married to her as soon as possible Dom, we do not have much time anymore.” “I never said I’m not going to marry her Zadok, stop being dramatic.” “You think I’m being dramatic?” He huffed. “Wait till papa hears this, then you’ll know the real meaning of being dramatic.” I can handle my father. “But this is real crazy boss man, you were supposed to get married to her as fast as possible so we can move on to next thing on the list. Even nature understands the need for this urgency, hence the reason why she became pregnant.” “Stop.” I warned him. “Your voice is beginning to irritate me.” He raised his hands in surrender, refilled his glass and relaxed back on his seat, watching me from the rim of his glass. “I know what I’m doing Zadok, I’m still following the plan.” “I hope you are Dominico, I really hope you are for the sake of everybody.” Someone knocked on the door, waited a beat before twisting the knob. Nate walked in with Hide and my father, his laptop cradled to his chest. “We’ve found one of the drivers, the camera captured him clearly.” I listened carefully, waiting for him to go on. “The driver is English, his name is Harry Holland. He grew up in England but moved to New York three years ago.” And one of the decisions he made during his stay here is to come after me. I smiled deviously. “Find him and bring him to me alive. He needs to know how grave his sins. Oh…how I’d love torturing him for answers. Nate gave me a small nod before walking out with Hide. Father on the other hand made himself comfortable on the sofa. “How come nobody told me that you’ve succeeded in bringing her back and at the same time almost got her killed.” Too tired for this, I pinched my eyes shut. “What exactly is the question?” “I have no question in regards to that, I understand that I’m no longer in control, hence the reason they won’t report to me.” “If you do not have an actual question, I’d like to go to bed.” Zadok’s smile smiled. “I want to know the date.” Frown lines appeared suddenly. “Date for what?” “For the wedding.”