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“Don’t worry, little flower,” he said, reaching over to pat my leg. “You’ll get your chance at Daddy’s cock again tonight.”

The worst part was the little flare of anticipation that lit up inside me at his promise.

Because I did… I wanted another chance at Daddy’s cock. Maybe even more than I wanted another chance at freedom.

Chapter Twelve

Tomas

Back in New York. Back in DiNardo territory. And the tension that had followed me from Don Bianco’s house lessened with every mile closer to home. Ivy was trussed up in the seat beside me, totally immobile. The next time I stopped to let her go to the bathroom, I kept her wrists bound in front of her and stood in the doorway and watched her the whole time.

She’d lost the privilege of any semblance of privacy. Especially as we were so close to home. I wasn’t going to lose her right at the very end.

Still, I couldn’t help but relax more and more the closer we got. When we finally reached the city, the buildings growing higher and higher into the sky, I could see her looking around alertly. The sun was starting to go down, creating long shadows across the streets, the sky turning an almost alarming orange-red.

“This is New York?”

I grunted in response. The long silence as we drove hadn’t seemed to bother her, which was good. I didn’t particularly want to gag her, but I would have if I’d needed to.

“Not many plants.” She sounded almost mournful.

Shrugging, I turned the car down another street. There were not many, it was true. I could take her to Hyde Park eventually. When I was sure she wouldn’t run. So that might be a bit.

Even as I relaxed, a different kind of tension gripped me, coming from the center of my chest rather than through my shoulders. I wasn’t sure how the family would react to Ivy’s presence. Hailey had ordered me not to harm any innocents. I knew the don would respect that. I couldn’t see him letting Ivy go though. Marrying one of the family, someone who could keep her under control, was what made the most sense.

I was determined that would be me.

She was far too tricksy for anyone else.

And I’d already had her and I didn’t want to let her go. She was brave. Quiet. Unless I was making her moan and scream with pleasure. But I liked her loud then. I hadn’t met a woman I wanted to marry before, but I would marry Ivy. Be her Daddy.

Give her a far better life than one in a don’s cage.

I pulled up in front of the large mansion where the family would gather. Don DiNardo’s house. He lived here with his wife, and his son and his son’s wife. I had a room here, though I also had my own home. I was by often enough to require a room to sleep in. There were also several guest rooms that could be used.

Ivy looked out the window as the car moved up the driveway.

“Is this the don’s house?”

I nodded.

She seemed almost scared. Mournful. I eyed her.

“What’s wrong?” I asked gruffly.

“Is this where I’m going to die?” The question was soft. Sad. I remembered how defiant she’d been when she thought I was going to kill her before. Now she seemed like she wanted to live, or at least like she would be sad to die.

I took that as a good sign.

“I don’t think so.” I paused as I put the car in park. “Not if I can help it.”

They wouldn’t want to kill her. I was pretty sure. Even if the don wanted to, I thought I could recruit Hailey and Clara, maybe even Aunt Serena, to back me. I would promise to keep her under control.

Then I’d just have to follow through on that promise. Likely, if I couldn’t keep it, I’d have to kill her myself.

So I’d just have to make sure that she didn’t do anything stupid.

Ivy