Control

Chapter 51

The couples were sitting in their seats trying to unwind from the few horrific hours they spent in Romania. The shock of it all was finally catching up to them.

Brian was holding Mia trying to comfort her. She was shaking from the close call of almost losing her brother, her friend and sister-in-law, and her unborn nephew. “Shhh. Everything is okay, baby.”

“Is it, Brian? We have no idea if they are okay. We don’t know if there will be any lasting repercussions.”

“Mia, they are both strong. Together they are invincible. Look at how they survived their pasts, found each other in the present, and made a future. They were destined for each other. We won’t lose them after all of that.”

She looked at them asleep in each other’s arms and snuggled deeper into Brian’s. “I hope you’re right.”

Vince was staring out the window trying desperately to calm down. “You’re pissed, aren’t you?”

He turned to look at Letty’s concerned face. “How can you tell?” She pointed at his hands that were balled into fists.

“Vince, let it go. It’s over.”

“I can’t.”

“Why, baby?”

“I’ve never felt so helpless before. I had to sit there and watch them fight for their lives.” He gritted the words out of clenched teeth.

She touched the side of his face and smiled sadly. “I know a little something about sitting back and watching her fight but it was for my life.”

He leaned into her touch and closed his eyes. “I owe them both so much. If he hadn’t met her, I’d still be in jail. I wouldn’t have my family, my life, or you.” He looked into her dark eyes with uncertainty in his. “He saved her and she saved us all.”

“It’s poetic, isn’t it? This strange loops of saved souls that is us. All of us were running when we met and we found security and love in each other.” She kissed him lightly and smiled lovingly at him. “I love you, Vince.”

His eyes widened and the fear left them. “I love you too, Let. I can’t believe how lucky I am because of her.” He pulled her into a deep kiss. When they parted, she was left breathless and he was grinning. “I will make it my mission in life to keep you safe and watch over her.”

She laughed softly. “That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. V, you need to be careful not to make the same mistake the others made with her. She is quite capable of taking care of herself. However, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to watch out for her.”

“For both of them.” They huddled together and watched the couple sleep away their pains and injuries.

Janna was also looking out the window but for a different reason. She had never been in a plane before. Leon had his eyes fixed on Mikaela.

She was making small jerking movements in her sleep. He looked around at the emotions the others were exhibiting and realized they were feeding into her dreams. He could tell they were troubled.

He could feel fear, sorrow, anger, and resentment in her. He could only read her so he guessed by the others demeanor what emotion was coming from whom. The fear and sorrow came from everyone. The anger from Vince and Brian. He turned to Janna and whispered. “Do you resent Mikaela?”

“What?”

“She feels resentment. Is it coming from you?”

“Did it ever occur to you that she might resent me because she does not want to share you?”

“No.” He answered simply. “She is jealous but she doesn’t resent you. Baby, I told you I love you. I’m taking you home with me so we can be together. What more do you want?”

“Sole possession of your heart! Is that too much to ask of the man I love?”

He looked at Mikaela’s eyes moving rapidly beneath her lids. He turned to Janna and knew his answer would hurt her and Micki. “I can’t give you that. A part of my heart will always be hers but I do love you.”

Richard was listening to all the conversations around him and kept an eye on his friend from his vantage point on the floor. The dogs lay around him and he petted each one in turn. Her head was tossing about more quickly now and Dom’s brow furrowed in pain.

He was about to say something to the others when her eyes snapped open and she sat upright. They all started at her abrupt movement and kept their tongues when she shot an angry gaze at each of them. Richard smiled and continued to lavish attention on the dogs.

“Are you people trying to drive me insane?” She growled out the words and her breath came in deep gasps. She squinted her eyes and brought a hand to her temple. “Shit! You are giving me a fucking migraine.”

Brian moved to go to her and she raised her other hand to wave him off. “Stay away from me.” He settled back and looked at Mia with a hint of fear in his eyes.

“I thought we settled all this shit before we left but apparently you need some re-education.” She opened her eyes and looked at her husband. She could feel his suffering as he remained in a deep sleep. “Normally I would feed off of Dominic to filter your emotions from my own.” She turned her black eyes back to them and sighed heavily. “As you can see, my husband is not in top form right now and I can’t do that without weakening him further.”

She got up and walked the aisle. “So let’s hash this out now so I can get some sleep.” She stopped in front of Vince and he stared straight into her eyes. She gave him a smirk and shook her head. “You make me proud. Not many people have the nerve to look me in the eyes.” She bent down until they were face to face. “Especially when I’m pissed! Which is coming from you and Brian.”

“I can’t help it.”

“Yes you can.”

He looked at her with a defeated face. “You don’t understand.”

“What don’t I understand? The feeling of helplessness. I have suffered that torment my whole life! So don’t lecture me on what I do or don’t understand.”

She stood up and turned to Brian. “I found my salvation the day I met Dominic. I do not need my own family feeding a fire that will never extinguish. Am I clear?”

She didn’t wait for their response and focused on Mia. “Baby girl. You had the most to lose than anyone here and I understand your fear.” She knelt in front of her and took her hands. “I need you to trust me. I won’t allow anyone to break up this family and that includes me.”

Mia gave her a watery smile and pulled her into a tight hug. “I was so scared. I almost lost all 3 of you. I think somewhere in my mind I feel like we wouldn’t make it without you.”

Mikaela drew back and shook her head. “You put too much faith in me, Mia. You were a family before me and will be without me.”

“You’re wrong!”

She stood quickly and turned towards Leon. His sharp tone took her by surprise. “Don’t.” She shook her head and waved her hand at him trying to ward off his temper.

He stalked up to her and grabbed her shoulders. “Don’t what? Get mad at the thought of living without you!”

She was dead tired and began to cry when his anger flowed into her. Her weakened condition left her vulnerable to the influx of emotion. Especially his. “Stop. I beg you.” She whispered hoping to halt his wrath from becoming hers.

Richard stayed put waiting for the inevitable. Vince shot up and Letty had to restrain him. “Calm yourself or you will add to the problem.”

He nodded at her and worked past the anger of seeing Leon manhandle Mikaela. “Let her go. You’re hurting her. Is that what you want?”

It was too late. Mikaela stood up straight and slowly raised her black eyes to meet his. “This is exactly the reason I sought solitude my whole life.” Her forearms snapped up and broke his hold on her. She quickly put all her anger behind both palms and slammed them into his chest. He flew back and slid up the aisle.

Janna was about to intervene until her cousin’s stare stopped her dead in her tracks. “Sit down and don’t say a word.” She did and swallowed hard as Mikaela whispered in her ear. “Try to interfere in something that is NONE of your business and you will regret it!”

Mikaela walked down the aisle and paused in front of Richard. “You could try not to look so smug.”

“I could.” He smiled up at her. “But where is the fun in that?” She heard him laugh as she continued down the aisle.

“Get up.” He rolled over and got to his feet. “Aside from Dominic, you are the only one here that can cause me so much pain. We are caught in the fuck or fight routine and you still have no concept of how much power you hold over me.”

“I’m beginning to.” He said defiantly.

“Really? Then why are you acting like a fucking child?” He slapped her hard across the face and snapped her head back. She gave him a bloody grin and wiped her mouth. “Enjoy that one because it will be the last. I don’t get hit anymore! I do the hitting!” She head-butted him and drove a knee into his gut.

He stumbled back into the wall and saw her fist come at his face only to stop just short of contact. “Mick, stop it.” Dom’s hand held her fist as she tried to push it forward. He forcibly turned her away from Leon to face him.

Her rage dissipated the instant she met his eyes. “Dominic…” Her exhaustion hit her ten-fold and she collapsed to the floor.

He could barely stand and didn’t have the strength to pick her up. “Leon, if you are finished making an ass of yourself, will you please carry her into the back compartment?”

“Dom…”

“Vince, they have unfinished business they need to tend to.” Leon picked her up and cradled her gently in his arms. As he walked past Dom, he felt a hand grab his shoulder to stop him. “Hurt my wife again and I’ll throw you out of the fucking airlock.”

He moved towards the cabin, Brian opened the door, and closed it behind him. “Dom, what are you thinking? You know what he wants from her! You know how he feels about her!”

“I know exactly how he feels for her! It is just short of how I feel and I know what she feels for him. As for what he wants…she said it was fuck or fight.” He looked at the crying cousin of his mate and sympathized with her. “Janna, I wish I could tell you this is going to get easier but I can’t. I made a mistake that bound them together and she tried – they tried – to break it but it didn’t work.”

Her eyes cleared and she tilted her head in curiosity. “They both tried to sever the bond?” He nodded. “Then it should be broken. One of them did not want it to be.” Dom’s eyes went blacker and he turned his senses on his mate.

He placed her on the small bed and sat beside her. “I’m sorry I hurt you. That is the last thing I want to do to you.”

“What do you want to do to me?” She mumbled sleepily. “Besides torment me.”

He laid down beside her and dug his fingers into her hair at her temple. He leaned forward until they were nose to nose and looked in her tear-filled eyes. “I just want to love you.” He whispered.

“We already love each other.”

“Not the way I want.” He took her lips in a hesitant kiss. He pulled back slightly and took in her flustered face.

“I…told you we…we can’t.” He silenced her protests with another kiss and his tongue found entrance into her mouth. When he felt her tongue glide along his, he could feel her desire. “Why are you doing this to me?” She cried and shook her head. “Why can’t I resist you?”

“You don’t want to.” He cupped her breast in his palm and skimmed his thumb over her nipple. It hardened at his touch. His other hand snaked into her shorts. His fingers danced over her slit and darted into her wet center. “You want me too.”

Her hips bucked as he slid them in and out of her core. “Leon…please…”

“Please what, baby?” He mumbled as he placed a kiss on her neck.

“Stop…I don’t…ahhh!” She fought her arousal with every ounce of willpower she had and failed horribly. Her tears flowed freely and she stopped fighting him. “I give up.” She sobbed quietly.

He stopped kissing her neck and looked in her eyes. He saw defeat and an indescribable sadness. “Are you giving yourself to me?”

“No. I’m just letting you have my body.”

His eyes focused on her heaving breasts and his hands moved to unbutton her top. He pulled her upright, slipped it off her, and lowered her onto her back. She stayed motionless staring at the ceiling as he pulled her shorts down her legs and nudged them apart.

His mouth dove between her legs and gave her a long lick from bottom to top. She moaned in the back of her throat. He pushed her knees to her shoulders and his mouth latched onto her clit. She had to bite her bottom lip to keep from crying out. His tongue delved into her dripping pussy and licked her inner walls. “You taste as fantastic as I remember.” He grinned, leaned forward, and slid his tongue into her ass. She squirmed so hard that he had to tighten his grip to keep her still. “All of you tastes good, baby.”

“Don’t call…me…baby.”

He released her legs and crawled up her body. He took her face between his hands and tried to catch her eyes. “Look at me. I want to see this.”

She looked at him in frustration. “You want to see what?” Her eyes widened when she felt him enter her fully. They both had tears in their eyes and their bodies shook from their joining. He stayed perfectly still savoring the feeling of her surrounding warmth. “Do it.” He looked at her sad eyes curiously.

“I can tell you want me.” He pulled out of her quickly and pushed back in hard. She cried out and her eyes rolled up in her head. “I know you love me so why does it have to be like this?”

She looked into his loving eyes and told him the hard truth. “Because I want Dominic more. I love Dominic more and I am betraying him by taking you into my body. So just fuck me and get it over with!”

The anger flashed briefly in his eyes before he masked it and returned her sad stare. “Have it your way.” He started to pound into her furiously.

‘Dominic…forgive…me.’

‘I do.’

She cried out frantically with each thrust of his hard shaft. Her eyes clenched when his hand grabbed her breast, squeezed the blood to her nipple and his teeth bit the tip. She arched her back and screamed at the sweet pain.

“You’re must like that cuz you’re offering the other one to me. Does it want the same, Micki?” He grabbed her other breast and started the milking motion. “Do you?”

“Fuck…you. Yessss!” He thrust into her harder and bit down on the engorged peak. She screamed as her orgasm ripped through her. He pulled out of her quickly and shot all over her breasts and stomach.

He collapsed beside her and gasped for breath. “Don’t tell me that did not feel good. Don’t tell me you didn’t love it. I did.” He went into the restroom and came back with a wet cloth. He gently cleaned his semen off her skin and wiped her own juices from between her legs.

“It felt just like I thought it would. Heaven and hell.” She whispered and stared up at the ceiling again. “I just cheated on my husband…with my best friend…while I carry my husband’s child.” Tears fell from her eyes and her voice hitched as she began to sob. She slowly got to her feet, picked up her clothes, and put them on.

“Micki…” He reached out to her and she pulled away.

“Don’t.” She laid back down on the bed. “Leave me alone and get out of my head.”

“Baby, stop crying.”

“I want Dominic and I want to stop feeling these things for you.” She curled up in the fetal position. “Why won’t they stop?”

“Because he lied to me when he said he’d release you.”

“Dominic…” She rocked herself and shook uncontrollably. “I’m sorry, my love. Please forgive me.”

He sat beside her and she scampered into his arms. “I don’t blame you, baby. You’re beaten, exhausted, and emotionally raw. Not to mention someone is in your head pushing you along. I love you.”

“Dom…”

“I told you what I’d do if you hurt my wife again. Get out! You should count yourself lucky that Sallah wants to deal with you.” Leon quickly left the room.

“My grandfather?”

“Yeah, baby. We’re fixing to touchdown in Cairo now.”

“Dominic…why didn’t you stop this? Why aren’t you furious?” She whispered.

He chuckled and curled up next to her. “I am furious…but not with you.”

“I’m furious with me!” She stopped when she heard the ruckus and felt the anger return. “Shit. I had a better chance of survival against the Italians and Romanians.” She got up and ran out to the main compartment.

Brian was beating Leon on the floor of the aisle. “Who would’ve thought the greatest threat to our family lies within? You son of a bitch! Why did you do that to them?”

“Stop.” They ignored her and continued to wrestle around on the floor.

“THAT’S ENOUGH!” They all froze at Dom’s booming voice. “Brian, let him go! Baby, wait for me in there.” He moved her into the back compartment and started to shut the door.

“Please forgive me. Yell at me. Something.” She choked out in a ragged breath.

He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes and shook his head. “Never gonna happen.” He shut the door and leaned his forehead against it. “Leon, what possessed you to lie to me?”

“She did.”

Dom laughed and banged his head on the door. “I know what you mean. She possesses me too.” He turned quickly and a large fist caught Leon on the chin. “The difference is she’s mine! You defiled my wife!” Mikaela heard him yell and slid to the floor in misery.

The ramp descended and 4 men escorted Sallah into the jet. He indicated Leon to them and they picked him up and carried him away. “Dominic, I was hoping for a pleasant visit but I can see that is not to be. Are the 2 of you alright?”

Dom clutched his stomach and slid to the floor. “No, grandfather. We are not okay.” He held his hand up in front of his face and saw the blood.

“Gentlemen, get him to my vehicle immediately!” Brian, Vince, and Anton gently helped him to his feet and started down the aisle.

“Wait. I need Mick.” Dom turned and yelled over his shoulder. “Baby!”

She opened the door and stood there sobbing. She saw the blood soaking his shirt, clenched her eyes, and shook her head no. ‘This is all my fault.’

He could feel her own guilt, fear, sorrow, and anger and it frightened him to the core of his being. “Baby, come here.” She shook her head no. “Mick, I need you.”

“Grandfather.”

“Yes, child?”

“I assume you’re taking him home.”

“I’m taking all of you home.”

“Guys, get Dominic to the car.” Her eyes went to the floor to avoid his questioning stare.

“Mick, what are you thinking? I need you with me.”

She ignored him again. “I need you to break my bonds, Sallah. Now.”

“Child?”

“I was not meant to be. I am unnatural.” She walked down the aisle towards the hatch. Richard and the dogs were behind her.

Dom caught her arm as she tried to walk by. Her head lowered in shame. “Mikaela!” She stiffened at his sharp tone but did not raise her head. “I need my wife!”

“You need a faithful wife that does not cause her husband pain and misery.” She pulled free of his grasp. “I am not that wife.” She choked out and ran down the ramp.