Control

Chapter 35

The three of them stood side by side and watched for the threat coming to destroy their happiness. It turned out to be a Romanian cousin of hers named Andros. He walked up to the three of them with a sad look in his eyes.

“Mikaela.” He nodded his head in greeting.

“Andros.”

He looked at the two men standing at her side and noticed the ring on her finger. “Which one is the father?”

Dom pulled her closer to his side. “I am!” The two men sized each other up. Andros was a big man. His build was the same as Dom’s. He had shoulder length black hair and dark eyes just like Mikaela’s. “How did you know she was pregnant?”

“The hospital informed us. We keep tabs on your health.” His eyes roamed her body. “You’re looking good, Mikaela.” He noticed her tattoos and glanced at her ring again. “When are you getting married?” Dom started to speak and Andros cut him off. “I was not addressing you. Answer me, Mikaela, and maybe we can avoid this unpleasantness.”

“Stop being an asshole, Andros. You are talking tough but I can sense your fear. Did the family think your size alone could possibly beat me?” Mikaela snapped at her cousin and his eyes grew large. “If you want an answer to your question, you will have to speak to my mate! Answer him, Dominic.”

“If it is something that will spare her this trial I will marry her today. I was hoping for something a little more planned out to make it special for her.”

“You took her as a mate. Do you know that comes from our lineage and do you know the ramifications of it?”

“I do.”

“I will give you the time to marry my cousin the way you wish to but I don’t think you will get the same pardon from Sallah.” He hid his fear when he turned back to Mikaela. “I do not wish to fight you. You are the superior warrior and I am not ashamed to admit it. I will be staying to speak with Sallah. Is there a place that I may rest from my trip?”

“These four houses are occupied. You can settle into any of the others. Pussy.” She smirked at him.

He smiled back at her. “Do you still want the challenge? My decision still stands either way.”

“Mick, stop it!” He could feel her instinct to fight lying just below the surface. She was itching to goad her cousin into a confrontation.

“Lover, I can kick his ass.”

He cupped her cheek in his palm and turned her face to him. “Baby, don’t fight if you don’t have to. Mick, think of our son.” Her eyes lost some of their fire when she saw the concern in his.

“You picked yourself a good mate, Mikaela. I think the family will approve of him. Sallah will be more judgmental but he has a chance of beating you.” He smirked at her.

“Andros, it was awfully brave of you to admit your inferiority to me. Perhaps you would like to spar with me and I could teach you a thing or two?”

“Mick!”

Andros held up his hand to deflect Dom’s outrage at Mikaela’s behavior. “She is correct. I could use some practice. I use to spar with her all the time in our youth and now that she is absent I have no one. She also needs to prepare for her next encounter.” He looked at his cousin. “Mikaela, you have lost your manners. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your mate?”

“Andros, this is Dominic Toretto. Dominic, this is my cousin Andros. You two go ahead and chat. I need to grab my sword.” She headed over to the area that she left it in and left the men alone.

“Dominic, do you really know everything about her?”

“Everything.”

“You accept her the way she is? She is difficult with her moods. She never could control them. One minute she is crying and the next she is positively volatile.”

“I accept her just like she is! Her moods are mine and I control her!”

Andros smiled at him. “You bonded with her. You share her gift now. You know Romanians were primarily gypsies. My people were generally precognitive. Mikaela is different. Her power is very strong.”

“Are you talking mentally or physically, cousin?” She came up behind them with a blade behind her neck lying across her shoulders.

“Cousin, you know you are the strongest of our line in both areas and now you found your center. I can only imagine what your children will be like.”

In one fluid motion, she whipped the sword out from behind her head, swung it in an arc, and stopped it just below his chin. “Let me make myself real clear, Andros. My son is not the concern of our fucked up family. If I have my way, none of you will ever set eyes on him.”

“Cousin…”

“Shut up! I have put up with all of them prying and trying to control me my whole life! My father was the only one with that right. I don’t answer to anyone now except my mate! That includes you, grandfather!”

All 3 of the men’s eyes turned to an older man standing behind Mikaela’s back about 10 feet behind them. “Your senses are as sharp as ever, young one.”

“When the lives of my child and my mate are in jeopardy, you can expect nothing less.” The tip of the blade dug into Andros’ neck and she looked at him sideways. “Go. I have a real challenge to face.” He backed up a few paces and nodded his head at Sallah.

“Andros, what decision did you come to regarding this…situation?” Sallah’s eyes never left the back of his favorite grandchild as he spoke.

“She is marrying the father. I gave them time to do it properly so it would be special for Mikaela. I think she deserves that much at least.” His eyes softened on hers and some of her resentment eased off. “Sallah, she has taken a bond mate. She found her center.”

“Did she? Child, face me.” She slowly turned towards her grandfather. He saw the symbols on her chest and looked at the two strangers. His eyes focused on Dom. “You are her bond mate.” It wasn’t a question. “You are her center. I always hoped my little one would find her balance but I cannot abide by Andros’ decision. You defiled my granddaughter.”

He started towards Dom and pulled a sword from his robes. Mikaela ran towards them, flipped and twisted in the air over Sallah’s head, landed between them and their swords met. “You will not touch him! The challenge is mine not his.” Her eyes grew pitch black and she bared her teeth.

“I do not wish you to come to harm, Mikaela.”

“If you kill him, I am still left with his child and you solved nothing! Besides, I will allow no harm to come to him! He has provided me with the only happiness I have ever known.” She cocked her head at her grandfather and narrowed her eyes. “What makes you think you can harm me anyways? I am not the child you taught those many years ago any longer!”

“So be it, child.” They circled each other slowly. Sallah went into some fast swings and thrusts that Mikaela parried with ease. The dance was beautiful to watch but there was no mistaking the deadly nature behind it. She launched forward and faked a thrust. When he moved to block, she ducked under his arm, spun around to his unguarded back and cut him. “Your skills are impressive, child.”

“I learned from the best, grandfather, but you weren’t the only one. I have no wish to hurt you either. Back down and allow me to marry my mate and I will let you live.”

“It is not clear yet if you have become superior to me, Mikaela. Don’t get overconfident.”

“I’m far from overconfident.” She swung from left to right. He brought his sword up to block. When the blades clanged, she spun in a circle right to left and shattered his blade. “I’m desperate. Do you yield?”

“No.”

“Grandfather…I will kill you. Please don’t make me.” Tears formed in her eyes but her face still held her resolve. She pulled back the sword to deliver the killing stroke.

“Mick, stop!” Her grandfather watched her downswing stop at her mate’s command. “Come here.” She turned and walked over to stand in front of him. “Sir. You’ve been waiting for Mikaela to find her control and I am it. Bare your throat, baby.” She obeyed his command and he latched onto her neck.

“Mikaela! I knew you bonded to this man but you let him claim you!” He was stunned that someone had tamed his fiery tempered grandchild. “I’ll give you until this time tomorrow to marry. What is your name, son?”

“Dominic Toretto.”

“Will you abide by my wishes and legitimatize my great-grandchild?”

“Yes.”

Mikaela rolled her eyes and added sarcastically. “If I survive the coming of the Italians.” She looked at Dom and fell into his eyes. “Leon, show Sallah and Andros to the house next to yours. My uncle isn’t due for an hour and I’d like some time alone with my mate.”

“Child.” She glanced at her grandfather. “Well played. I will arrange for the marriage.”

“Leon, get Mia to help with the arrangements. I want it here on the beach and all of us to be wearing white beach wear. If anyone is lacking anything, please tell her to go shopping.”

“Sure, Micki.” Leon led her relatives to the spare house.

“You were beautiful. You beat your first 2 challenges.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and she placed hers on his chest.

“The third should be cake if he doesn’t bring a gun.” He tensed under her hands at the thought. “It’s ok, lover. I still run the family and I dictate the rules. I’m sorry that Sallah wouldn’t give us more time.”

He leaned his forehead against hers and kissed her. “I like what you decided and as long as I get you I’m happy.”

“You already have me but now you need to take me.” He gave her a stunned look and she blushed. “Sorry, love, but I get horny when I fight.” She jumped up into his arms, wrapped her legs around his waist, and kissed him hungrily.

He lowered them to the ground and his hands moved to the knot of her top. He watched the material snap away and his mouth greedily licked and nipped at her flesh. “I’m happy to oblige you, milady.” He grinned at the use of her title.

“You are marrying royalty so that makes you a milord. Or should I call you master?”

“Mmm. They both work for me. We can try out that master/slave thing later.”

“I like the sound of that, milord.” His teeth latched onto her nipple and she thrust her breasts into his face. “Dominic…” He was still suckling her as he pushed her shorts down. “Are you sure about the marriage?”

He pulled his head back and stared into her eyes. “Baby, you are already my wife.” He drove his hardened length into her. “Mick, I don’t ever want you to doubt me and I love you so much for not wanting anyone else.”

“Baby, only you can make me feel like this. I do like Leon joining in from time to time but I don’t want you to feel like you did earlier. I could tell it was killing you. If you ever did decide to share me that way I wouldn’t want either of us to be hurting as a result of it.” She was reeling from his slow, steady thrusts.

“I felt like I was dying when I saw him enter you.” He whispered and clenched his eyes at the feel of her surrounding him.

“Why did you let him?”

“I knew Rob was in him. I don’t know if I felt like I owed him or if I wanted to satisfy both of their lust for you.”

She was breathing heavy and forced her next sentence between gasps. “You’re an asshole.”

“What?”

“You…heard…me. I can’t believe…you…did that! My body…is yours. I’m n-not…meant as…a f-form of payment.”

“I’m sorry, baby. Oh god, Mick. I’m…” He thrust into her faster and they both found their release. When he could form a thought, he kissed her gently. “I think you’ve ruined Leon for other women. He can’t think of anyone but you and I don’t think it was all of Rob’s doing.”

“So you’re saying we might become 2 men, a little lady, and a baby?” She started laughing at the expression on his face.

“I’m not going to share you with him forever!”

“Why not, lover? He is so good at what he does to me.” She kept a straight face trying to make him believe she was serious until she couldn’t hold it anymore and busted out laughing.

“Damn it, Mick. It isn’t funny. He’s obsessed with you. We need to find him a woman. I want mine to myself.”

“I’m all yours, Dominic. I don’t think Rob has left him yet though. He’s still there. I can feel it. He’s angry with me because I rejected him.” She rolled over on top of him and snuggled into his chest.

“Is he going to be a problem?” He stroked her hair and ran his hand down her braid.

“It already is a problem but he won’t hurt me. He loves me.”

“Who wouldn’t, angel? Come on. We need to get ready for the Italians. One battle at a time, baby.”

She rose up off of him and felt the loss of him inside of her immediately. He smiled at her softly when he sensed it. They were becoming more in tune with each other the longer they were together. As they dressed, she thought to him. ‘I can only imagine how much stronger we are going to become with time. It almost frightens me.’

‘Why Mick?’

‘This doesn’t bother you? We are in each other’s heads.’

‘I find it exhilarating and intimate.’ He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to his chest.

“Mikaela!”

She turned in Dom’s arms and faced her grandfather. “Yes.”

“You are mind speaking.” She nodded once. He walked over to them and stared at Dom. “You are the one she has always needed. The arrangements have been made for tomorrow noon for your marriage. Your sister has followed Mikaela’s wishes.” He stared into Mikaela’s eyes. “You and your mate make me happy, child. I wish you both happiness.”

“We are happy, grandfather. I would’ve been happier if none of this had to happen. I did not want to hurt you.” She lowered her eyes to the ground and tears rolled down her face.

He lifted her chin with his palm and smiled. “You did what you had to do to prove to me that he was right for you and he is. Mikaela, do not deprive the family of seeing your son. It would break my heart.”

“She won’t, sir. I’ll make sure of it.”

“You are brave, Dominic, to go against her wishes not to mention claiming her. My granddaughter isn’t easily tamed. You accomplished the impossible.”

Dom could feel her tension at his words of claiming her and taming her. “It wasn’t that difficult, sir. She was made for me and I for her. She will obey me.”

“I can see by the tension in her body that you control her completely. It is something that could not be done before. Mikaela’s anger could not be controlled before now and no one had the ability to claim her. She was too proud to allow it. She would not submit to a man and after that horrible thing happened she did not want anyone near her.”

“Why is Andros so curious about our son?” She was fidgeting in his grasp while she spoke.

“Some abilities pass from parent to child.”

“Stop it! I would not wish this ability on my worst enemy. I don’t want to hear any talk of this touching my child!” She broke free of Dom’s hold and walked to the edge of the water.

Dom started to run after her but Sallah stopped him. “She will calm down.”

“No. It isn’t that. They are here!” They both turned towards Mikaela to warn her but it was too late.

“Hey kiddo.”

She turned her tear filled eyes towards her uncle and a fist caught her on the jaw. She crumbled to the ground and the surf washed over her.