.13.

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"I have to meet your dad so I have to go now, okay?" Amari said, bent to Paris's level. She tied Paris's ribbon properly on her head and hugged her before straightening.

The little girl nodded and looked down at herself, her mouth in a slight pout.

Zendi stood with her at the entrance of the door.

"Let her go, and I’ll get you a ride on your bike,"  Zendi whispered, but not low enough.

Zendi had bought a bike for her, and each time she tries to ride it; she always fell off, so Amari never wanted to see her on it again.

Paris got impatient as she wait for her mother to go.

"I promise I'll behave myself, bye now mommy, bye," She said cheerfully.

"Just nuh mek she drop," Amari said, she waved and walked out into the nightcold. The dusk was setting and the street lights were on. The moon  gives a faint glow of moonlight. She hugged her leather jacket closely and held down the flowing dress.

She walked around the side of the house and Zendi- Opened the garage for her. She started Cals car and waited until the gate automatically opened before she drives out. Honking the horn, she then left the area.

Out of all her friends, Zendi lived the farthest from Cals house and it would take about twenty minutes drive to reach there.

She wonders what it would be like, if she would feel welcome like she had been living there. 'Would it feel the same?' She asked herself.

A home isn't just a place, it's a place where you can go and feel at home. To feel safe, and loved; that is a home.

It's been a while she haven't felt like that. She hoped it would, because if it doesn't, she might as well, move out and stay at her old  apartment.

She drove on the lonely highway and she felt as if she's going for an exam results knowing she failed. A feeling of sadness comes over and she held the steering and cried.

Approaching a mall area, she pulls over and stops the car. She kills the engine and leans her head down. Unaware of her surroundings, she was shocked to see a black Porsche pulls up next to her.

A pounding goes off on her window and she lift her head. She blinked furiously, but the image of a man was still standing there. The person walked over to his car, leaned and crossed his legs. She could barely see his face, but his body built. He fold his arms and waited.

She wined the window down and a swift scent of expensive perfume enters her nostrils. Her heart did a leap since she could Recognize that scent from anywhere.

It was Dominic. Ever since she got the new car, she haven't seen him yet.

Curiosity got the best of her and she put the window up and got out.

A breeze lift and she hugs herself.

He wears a black suit with a black T-shirt underneath, but she could imagine the nakedness she had seen before.

"I would say you look beautiful, Princesspa, but you look like hell," His voice came out, deep and husky.

"Gee, thanks, just what I wanted to hear. What are you doing? Where is my car? Why did you send a new one in replacement?"

When she got the message saying that a new car was delivered for her; she went to get it and drove it to her old apartment instead of Zendi's place. She haven't told them about it, and they haven't asked. Everyone was distracted by their personal matters they missed the fact that she came over in a taxi, and whenever she would pick up Paris from school; she would use one of Zendi's car. Zendi got a man to go for Brie's car, so she borrowed it a few times.

"Why were you crying?" He asked. He turned to her and she could see the structure of his face under the faint Moonlight.

"It ain't got nothin' to do with you. Matter fact, why you stop Cals' car? Why you pull over here? How the hell you even know his car?"

She wiped at her tears and watched him. She needed answers and he wasn't giving her any; which makes her more frustrated than before.

"How long are you going to stay with this man, Amari?"

The first name basis caught her off guard and she leaned her head to the side. He sounded so sure of himself when he asked.

"Is there something I don't know about?"

"What you should know is that, I know when a human is hurting. A woman is hurting is like an animal in pain, you can see it. How long are you planning on staying with him? How much years of your life are you going to give this man?"

She held her hand her hands up in surrender and raises them up.

"Hol’ up, hol’ the fuck up. What you know ‘bout me? Matter fact, how you sound so damn sure of yaself? And why the hell you—"

"He followed me. I know he would, so I waited hours for him before I left Jamaica. What am not surprised about is that he didn't tell you anything. I know he drives fast and not slow."

"Wait what? No, you are lying," She chuckled humorouslly and was about to walk back to the car; He pulls her arm and shoves her against the car. Her back touches the coldness and he invaded in her personal space.

He steps closer to her and uses a index finger to lift her chin.

"Am many things, but liar is not one of them. Am going to ask you, why did you let him pull you back into the same bullshit?"

Her jaw tightens. "You don't know what you are talking about."

"I know what am talking about. You let him pull you back in didn't you?"

"It ain't that simple," She said shaking her head. She felt as if her life was open in a table, looking at her.

"No, Amari, it is, you just don't want to face it," He steps back and run his hands through his hair and she breathe the breaths that she was holding back.

"He's willing to do better, he is sorry. He wants us together for Paris. He's trying for me and for his daughter. My daughter need us together."

"And you believe him? Have you ever asked yourself, how many times has he said sorry? Wait, is this what you want? A man who only wants you when's loosing you?" He turns back and looks at her. She looks like a damsel in distress. "Che stronzo!" (What an asshole!)

"I want to," She said softly. A car passed and the tear stains became obvious. Her brain felt as if everything was been rubbed into her face. She was forced to face everything coming from Dominic's mouth.

"Wanting something doesn't make it real. I've learned that over the years. It doesn't matter how much time you give to something, if it's not there it's just not there. What's so different about this time? Do you really think keeping your family together means letting him disrespecting you?"

Amari finally snaps at him, "And what you ‘spect me to do, huh? Jus’ throw everything ‘way? I gave that man years of my life!"

She stabs her chest with her hand as frustration runs through her.

He walks back into her space with his hand in his pockets.

He leans in and his voice came out, low and sharp, "Everything? What exactly is 'everything,' Amari? A man who gaslights you? A man who plays with your head? That is not a family, that is Prison."

"Dominic, please."

"Please what? Everytime I see you, you have tears running down your cheeks. Please stand by and let him ruin you? From where am standing it looks as if you are scared to admit you are wasting your time."

"I just wants what's best for Paris. I just need to do what's right." Amari frowns and started to space. She could feel his eyes on her as she passes him. She then smelled the air and realizes they were next to a beach. A boat was further to the left from them.

"And Staying with a man who disrespects her mother is right?" He walked up to her, stands behind her and asked.

She frowned and hugged herself.

"She needs both parents," She said, swallowing hard.

"No, Amari, she needs a mother, who doesn't break herself to keep a man."

"How dare you, huh? You think this shit easy? Who da hell is you to tell me what to fight for? Who is you, Mr. Romano? You wanna control me, tell me what to do and what not to do wit' my fucked-up life?"

She swings around and shoots bullets at him with her eyes.

"Non farmi perdere la pazienza!"  (Don’t make me lose my patience!)

She rolls her eyes and he muttered,

" Don't make me loose my patience."

He leans down, voice calm, but dangerous and said,"I don't want to control you, Princesspa, not like this. I want you to stop destroying yourself for a man who doesn't deserve you, you need to want that for yourself."

His words was meant with the intention of knowledge, but instead sexual tension arises between them. It's like a wet wire of electricity that they've been skipping since he shoves her on the car earlier. She steps back and glared at him.

"I just want what's best for Paris," She repeats the mantra in her head.

"Then stop showing her a love that looks like this," His voice came out soft and more gentle. He waves his hand around her face, where tears continues to flow.

She blinks hard and swallows hard.

"You are just teaching her how to settle for pain, not to love, kids are smarter than you think. She's watching every mistake you make, she's watching you take the bare minimum."

She turns her back to him again and inhale. She have met someone to hit her where it hurts. It's not coming from her mother but from a man she barely knows. A man who sees her tears, not many people sees the rivers she cries.

She felt as if someone slaps her.

"I want you know that am always here for you."

There wasn't a lie in his statement, because even his presence makes her feel safe.

"But, if I see you, with tears again, because of him...I will break his fucking face."

She turns to look at him and he has removed his jacket. He drapes it around her shoulders. His touch against her body is like a perfect combination.

"Dominic, stop," Her voice shakes.

He steps closer to her and Lower his head, looking down at her.

"You want me to stop? Then stop giving me a reason to be this angry."

He pulls her closer to him and wipes her tears. His hands warm against her skin and he removes a strand of her hair from her face. She could feel his heat and sexual hormones became tuned up. She wanted to taste him. His eyes glances to her lips, almost touching.

"Mi fai impazzire," He muttered.

(You drive me crazy)

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Thoughts-? I love me some Dominic.

He's strong, he's sexy, he's so much, but liar is not one of them 😫🤤 lol.

I think this now my favorite chapter.

Princesspa- (Princess, which is Dominic's main name for calling Amari.)

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