Say Yes To The Fake Date (How To Win At Love #3)

22. Dominic

22

DOMINIC

I let my head rest in my hands. I promised myself that I would never go back to jail, but here I sit. They still haven’t given me a phone call. It seems they’re stalling to see what Ray’s injuries are. I don’t know what came over me, but as soon as I saw him with his hands on Lucy, I saw red. I lost all control of myself, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing. If nothing else, Ray will never raise a hand to Lucy again.

“Dominic Evans. Let’s go.”

I stand up and walk over as the guard opens the cell. I hold out my arms, expecting him to shackle me again, but he waves his hands. “You’re free to go.”

“But— ”

He gestures toward the front of the jail. “It helps when you have the right friends.”

Walker is standing at the door, hands in his front pockets.

I walk over to him, rubbing my wrists. “Thanks.”

He shrugs. “I didn’t have to do much. Lucky for you I had all the proof on Ray and all the laws he’s broken. He has about five warrants for his arrest.”

I sigh and follow Walker through the door to the front of the station. There’s a guard that hands me my wallet and phone, and we’re out the door.

“How’d you know I was here?”

“Luciana called me.”

I get into the passenger side of Walker’s SUV. “Is she okay?”

“Stubborn. That’s what she is. I had to convince her not to come down here. I didn’t know what I’d be dealing with once I got here, so I told her you’d want her to stay at home and wait for you. But she’s fine.”

He drives me across town. “Can you take me over to Lucy’s mom’s house? That’s where my truck is.”

He nods. I don’t even have to give him an address; he just knows where to go. I’ve quit questioning how Walker knows things because he seems to know anything and everything that happens in Whiskey Run.

“Look, you may be questioned about this. If so, you don’t talk to anyone without my attorney with you. Just call me, and I’ll send him over.”

“Why are you doing this, Walker?”

He laughs. “We’re friends, Dom. I know that’s a weird concept for you. You think the world is against you because of your past, but that’s not the case. I know you're a good man… plus I don’t like a man that hits a woman. I’m now on a mission to make sure that scumbag ends up in jail.”

“Thank you,” I tell him.

“Sure thing.”

We’re silent the rest of the way to Lucy’s mom’s house. When he pulls into the driveway and parks, I thank him again.

“No worries. Just call if you’re questioned. I’m serious. You don’t talk to anyone without an attorney.”

I nod. “Got it. Thanks, Walker.”

I shut the door and then run up the steps to the house. Instead of barging in this time, I knock on the door and then wait for someone to answer.

I’m holding my breath when the door opens. “ Dominic, you’re out,” Ms. Raven exclaims. She backs into the house, holding the door open. “Come on in.”

I walk into the house and look around. “Where’s Lucy?”

“She left.”

It’s like a punch to the gut. “Is she okay?”

She nods. “Oh yeah, she’s strong. She’s going to be okay… thanks to you.”

I blink in surprise at her, and she continues, “I’m sorry, Dominic. I’m sorry for misjudging you. I’m sorry for earlier at the hospital, and I’m sorry for how I treated you all those years ago.”

“You were protecting your daughter. It’s okay—”

She shakes her head. “No, you were protecting my daughter. I know Frank came to see you in jail. My husband thought he was doing the right thing. I know he told you that Lucy deserves better than you, but he was wrong. I was wrong. My daughter has never been happier than she is when she’s with you.”

I’m yearning to see her. “I love your daughter, Ms. Raven. And I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

She nods. “I know you don’t need it, but you’re a good man, Dominic. I wish I saw it all that time ago. But you have my blessing.”

I let out a sigh of relief. I had decided that Lucy was going to be mine no matter what, but it does make it easier that her mom is not going to stand in the way. “Do you know where Lucy went?”

She nods. “Yeah, she went to your place. She was going crazy sitting here, doing nothing. She wanted to be close to you, and that’s the only way she could.”

I’m about to turn and leave when she points at my hand. “You need to have your hands treated.”

I look at the dried blood on my knuckles. “Yeah, I will. But I need to see Lucy first.”

She smiles at that. “I understand that. Thank you for taking care of Lucy.”

I reach for her, and she hugs me tightly. “Thanks for calling me, Ms. Raven. Anytime you need anything, call me, okay?”

She nods and pulls back. “You can call me Kathy.”

My voice is thick with emotion. “Thanks, Kathy. I’m going to go see Lucy.”

She nods and stands in the doorway while I walk out to my truck, and she watches me as I drive away .

The drive to the garage has my mind going a thousand miles a minute. I park outside the garage and walk in the side door. “Lucy!” I holler as I walk in. She’s not in the bay or in the office. I lock up and walk upstairs and push open the door. “Lucy!”

She walks out of the bedroom with red swollen eyes. She’s staring at me in awe. “I’m so sorry, Dom.”

“Oh baby.” I open my arms, and she runs toward me. I catch her against my chest, and as soon as she’s in my arms, I let the emotion of tonight roll through me. We hold on to each other, and I never want to let her go.

“It’s okay. I’m okay, Lucky. We’re okay.”

She pulls away, wiping at the tears on her face, and it kills me to see her like this. I cup her face. “Did he hurt you?”

She shakes her head. “No, you walked in right as he grabbed me. I wasn’t hurt.”

I let out a sigh and hold her to me. “Fuck, I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I should have—”

“Dom, what’s going to happen to you? Are you in trouble?”

I cup her face in my hands and soothe my thumb across her cheek. “Thanks for calling Walker. He got me out. He’s taking care of it. ”

“But—” she starts.

I shake my head to stop her. “No buts. It doesn’t matter, Lucky. He can’t get away with touching you.”

She nods, but the tears keep coming. “I’m so sorry.”

I pull her to the couch, sit down, and then pull her to my lap. I cup her face. “Don’t cry. You have nothing to be sorry for, baby.”

She sniffles and shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have brought this to you. I shouldn’t have gotten you involved.”

She’s nearly inconsolable, and I hate seeing her like this. “I love you, Lucy.”

Her tears slow, and she wipes at her eyes. “I love you too, Dom.”

I tilt her chin up to look at me. “I still think you deserve better than me, but I know that no one will love you the way I love you. I can’t let you go this time.”

She swats at my chest. “Ha! The joke’s on you. If you tried to push me away again, I wouldn’t go. I love you, Dom, and the only time I’m truly happy is when I’m with you. I’m not going anywhere.”

She reaches up and covers her hand with mine. I wince, and she pulls back to look at my hands. “Oh my God, you’re hurt.”

I try to shake her off. “I’m fine. It’s just a few cuts.”

She jumps from my lap. “Stay right here. Where’s your first aid kit?”

I shake my head. “I’m fine, Lucy.”

She puts a hand on her hip. “Where is the first aid kid, Dominic?”

I point to the bathroom. “Under the sink, bottom shelf.”

She disappears into the bathroom and comes back in a few seconds, carrying the red box. She sits down on the coffee table and starts cleaning out the cuts on my hand. Silent tears roll down her face as she inspects each one.

“Honey, I can’t take it. You’re breaking my heart. Please don’t cry. It doesn’t even hurt.”

She gently holds my hand. “You really do love me, don’t you?”

I blink at her because she seems to be in awe over the fact that I love her. “Fuck yeah, I love you. Forever, Lucy.”

She finishes cleaning my hand, and I flex my fingers. “See, good as new. Thanks, baby.”

She rolls her eyes and then gets up to put away the kit. I follow her and am standing outside of the bathroom when she comes out. I put my hand out, and she holds on to me. I lead her into the bedroom and stop next to the bed. I take my time undressing her, and when she’s naked, I quickly remove my clothes and lie down next to her. I hold her to me, wrapping my arms and legs around her.

“You okay?”

She kisses my chest. “I need you, Dom.”

I tense for just a second. “I want you, you have to know that, but I know today was a lot. If you need a second to breathe—”

She interrupts me. “I need you, Dom.”

I push her to her back and hover over her. “I’m yours.” I kiss her until I’m breathless, and when I pull away, I whisper to her, “I love you, Luciana Raven.”

I spend the rest of the night showing her how much.