Genius at Heart

Dominic:

His mother was right. Shit! Maman was always right. Though he loathed the tongue lashing he received earlier this evening, everything made sense.

Leaving his detka last night seemed like the most sensible thing to do. He was so fucking mad; he didn't want to be in the same room with her. He wanted to be with her, but he didn't want the risk of hurting her with his words or touch.

He will never hurt his baby. That was one rule he will never break, no matter how much he wanted to kill the fucking bastards last night, Beau will never be an outlet for his anger. She was that precious to him.

Spending the night instead of at the bar, thinking, getting drunk. No clear answer came up when he woke up. Just a stupid headache and a hangover. Until his father sat with him the entire ride back home. His father, again, recounted his love and hate story with his mother before they finally succumbed to married bliss. An eye-opener it had been.

Beau wouldn't have left him if he gave her what she wanted in the first place.

The former mafia king was right. Again. Fuck!

An apology and a verbal declaration. The idea alone should have scared him. To surrender was never a part of his genes. He was a mafia leader born and bred. He bowed to no one. Fuck it! He was about to do it for Beau. Expose himself and be vulnerable.

The anticipation of seeing her tonight spurred him on. Talk to her, make love, and fall asleep in her arms. That's more like it. He was not particular about which came first.

Did she eat the dinner he sent to her? He hoped so. She will need the energy. Glancing at the grandfather clock in the library, his lips twisted in annoyance, it was almost midnight. Beau could be asleep by now. He growled. Damn, paperwork. Leaving his desk and the pile of work, he stretched, his stiff muscles protested. Making a mental note to hit the gym in the morning, he strode to the door and exited his domain.

He went perfectly still. Surprised. Finding his detka seated at the grand staircase, in the dark, and in the middle of the night, his protectiveness towards her came to life.

Hearing her groan, in pain, made him stroll to where she was right away. His brows furrowed. Was it her bullet wound? Fuck! How could he forget?

Dominic reached her just in time. Cupping her face gently, he looked down. Surveying the beautiful face tilted towards him, he gritted his teeth, her eyes were clenched shut and she was so pale. "Dominic," she whispered without opening her eyes. Almost inaudible. But he heard her plea.

"Detka," He had missed her so fucking much. Sensing her weight plastered to him firmly, he panicked. Hefting her firmly in his arms, he climbed the grand staircase.

"Alec!"

His roar thundered through the stillness of the night. He could hear his household frantically waking up. Doors slamming, guns cocking, and hurried footsteps were running towards his voice.

A few minutes later, his general and Dr. Hope appeared.

"What happened, Mr. Vasiliy?" The doctor asked. With Beau still in his arms, he entered their bedroom and laid his precious detka on the bed.

He hovered while Dr. Hope checked her vital signs. Glancing around the room, he spied the food tray on the bedside table. Fuck! It was untouched.

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"I want to know what happened to her. Was she like this during your stay at Anaheim?" Did she skip meals? Lizzie understood what he meant by glancing at the table.

"No, tzar. Beau ate what she wanted. She didn't starve at all. I will need to run some blood tests to know more." Her patient fainted and Lizzie had a suspicion. She had been observing her friend for a few days now. "As of the moment, her vitals are ok. She should come in a few minutes." She took a sample of blood. In an hour or two they will know for sure. The medical lab in this mansion was a brilliant idea. "I will take this to the clinic. Make sure to give her plenty of fluids and ask her what she prefers to eat."

He nodded. His darkened grays never left Beau's angelic features.

"Report to me right away if you find anything." Dominic watched the doctor leave the master suite with his general.

The faint sound on the bed brought his attention back to its occupant. "Moya lyubov?" He sat beside her and took her lax hand gently. The color was returning to her cheeks and her eyes fluttered.

"Dominic?" She tried to get up, but he shook his head. Gently, settling her body amidst the feather-soft pillows instead. "Thank you."

Why so fucking formal? He frowned. "How are you feeling, moya lyubov?"

He moved closer and gathered her in his arms. With a sigh, she came readily. Looking down at her upturned face, he waited for her to speak. "We need to talk. You just can't keep on avoiding me." Her brown depths narrowed in warning. He bit his cheek, trying to suppress his smile. This was his detka on her attempt to scold him. Glad she was back.

"I know, baby. I'm not going anywhere." He squeezed her gently. Savoring her supple curves on his harder frame. Heart thudding because of her closeness, he placed a tight rein on his libido. They really need to talk and end this lover's spat.

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He took a deep breath. Courage. Fuck! He was the mafia king, a hardened criminal, yet he had never been afraid in his life. She was the one thing he held dearly and he would not lose her. "I love you. I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. That's why I want to marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, have babies with you, take care of you. Don't think for one minute I will ever let you go. I will keep you chained to this bed if I have to. I will never allow you to leave me, Beauty Grace. Not ever."

Motherfucker! He finally said it. Peering down at her to gauge her reaction, he waited, breath bated. He saw her lips twitch, and her beautiful chocolate brown depths twinkled.

"You love me, huh?" she murmured.

He nodded, waiting.

"I told you I used to work for dangerous people, Dominic. What if I put you and your family in danger?"

One thing he loved about her. She was selfless. "Do you love me?" He knew. A woman like her wouldn't just give herself to a man like him if she was not as enthralled as him. They shared a bond the moment their eyes met. Beau ducked her head and nodded. "I do. I love you." She looked up to search his eyes.

His forehead dropped to hers. Grateful for her honesty. It was time to bare it all. "I am the mafia king."