Chapter 7
Downstairs, Richie found a room full of men all wearing black suites but he had no problem picking Sonny out. Dominique looked just like him. He quickly crossed the room as Sonny stood and the two men shook hands.
“Mr. Corinthos, it’s nice to meet you again.”
“Please, call me Sonny. You played my club?”
“About five years ago.”
“I remember….you were the one Nikki had such a crush on.”
“She told me.”
“I owe you a great deal for rescuing my daughter.”
“No, you don’t. It was my pleasure.” The two men took a seat facing each other and Richie went on. “Sonny, I’d like your permission to date Dominique. I saw her at the club…where she was forced to dance….and she …. Captured my attention then. And tonight, when she came to me to help her…it was fate that brought her to me. I was headed back to the club to see her and talk to her.”
“I’m not sure she’s ready to get involved, especially with someone who’s in the spotlight.”
“I know that you’re going to want to take her some place safe for a while and I’m willing to wait.”
Sonny
shook his head, “I don’t know what to say.”
From the steps, “Say ‘yes’, Daddy. Please.”
Sonny stood and turned to see his daughter standing at the bottom. In a flash, she was across the room and in his arms. Father and daughter were reunited, both with tears flowing freely.
Richie glanced around the room to see that every ‘tough’ guy there had tears in their eyes as well. She clearly meant a lot to all of them and he understood.
Sonny set Dominique back and put his hand on her cheek. “I’m taking you to the island until I know you’re safe.”
“I figured that but Daddy…you need to answer Richie. I know I’m young and I’ve been through a lot with Santadio but I need to get MY life back. I want to be with Richie.”
Sonny looked at his daughter and then to Richie. “Let me give you some advice. Learn NOW to say ‘no’ to her!”
Dominique wrapped her arms around her father. “Thank you!” she whispered in his ear.
Richie smiled, “I can understand how hard it is to say ‘no’ to her.”
Dominique let go of Sonny and moved to Richie putting her arms around his waist. “Daddy, can you fly Richie to the island on his break?”
“Anything for my little girl. Richie, I’ll give you all the numbers you can use to call her. Sweetheart, are you ready to go?”
“Sorta. I don’t really want to leave Richie but….”
“Where are your clothes?”
“I only have what I’m wearing,” frowned Dominique. “I was wearing something Chris had bought me when I found Richie and I threw all of that stuff away after I showered.”
“I bought her the jeans and gave her a couple of my shirts and my jacket.” Seeing Sonny pulling out his wallet, he said, “Please, I don’t mind.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Looking down at Dominique, “You forgot the dog.”
“Oh…Daddy, I’ll be right back.”
As soon as she’d gone, Sonny said, “She looks pale.”
“She’s not doing good, Sonny. Santadio got her hooked on heroin and coke and right now, she’s hurting for another fix.”
“What else has she told you?”
“Everything…about how he raped her and beat her, locked her in her room, only allowed her one meal a day….forced her to ‘service’ his friends and dance at his club. How she was forced to do a lap dance for Jason. Sonny, she’s been through hell and back.”
“And you still want to be with her?”
“More than I want to go onstage.”
“It’s obvious in your eyes that she’s stolen your heart.” Sonny looked towards the steps. “Santadio was taken with her too and he asked my permission to date her.”
“I take you refused.”
“He’s my age, Richie. I wasn’t about to let my daughter who was only 15 date a man my age. On top of my refusal to work with him and this, he was furious. He told me that he would have her and there was nothing I could do to stop him from having her. The only reason he didn’t kill her after his second attempt to get me to work with him smuggling drugs was because he was so in love with her.”
“She didn’t love him…that’s why he did all those things to her. So, you never agreed to his deal?”
“It was the hardest thing I ever had to do knowing that if I agreed, I could get her back. I knew what he was like and Jason had told me about her dancing in his club.”
“You stuck to your principles…I’m sure that Dominique values that.”
“I hope so. I don’t think I could live with her resenting me for the rest of her life.”
One of Sonny’s men handed Richie a slip of paper. “These are the numbers where you can reach Nikki.”
“Thank you.”
Dominique returned and stopped at Richie’s side.
“Ready to go, Nikki?”
“Can I say good-bye to Richie?”
“Of course. We’ll wait by the elevator. Richie, I’m going to leave one of my men with you. Santadio may try to come after you for helping Nikki.”
“It’s not necessary, Sonny.”
“I don’t want to take any chances. I owe you for saving my baby,” insisted Sonny as he shook Richie’s hand once more. “I look forward to showing you my island.”
“And I look forward to seeing it.” Alone, Richie took Dominique’s face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “Princess, I can’t wait to see you again.”
“When is your break?”
“The last show is February 28th and I have until March 11th.”
“I don’t think I can wait that long,” she pouted.
Richie laughed, “You’ll survive. Your dad will take you to his island and you’ll forget all about me.”
“Never! All my dreams were of you and the island! What about you? All of those beautiful fans who wait for you after the show and give you their room keys and phone numbers!”
“Not one of them can hold a candle to you!” Looking over at Sonny, he saw that he was waiting. “Your dad is waiting, Princess.”
A tear fell, “Promise me you’ll call.”
“Cross my heart.” He leaned in and kissed her. “I’ll call after sound checks tonight. You should be at the island by then. Try to get some sleep.”
“I’ll try.” Dominique cast her eyes down. “I’m scared, Richie.”
Richie let go of her face and wrapped his arms around her pulling her into his chest. “Think about me hugging you close, holding you as you sleep.”
Dominique clung to Richie, memorizing his scent and the feel of his body.
A gentle voice behind her said, “Knick Knack, it’s time to go.”
Her voice muffled by Richie’s chest, “I’m coming, Jas.”
Richie nodded and moved his hand to lift her chin. “I’ll see you in two weeks.”
Dominique’s tears fell freely and Richie wiped them away as she said, “I can’t wait.”
He kissed her once more then let her hand slip from his as he watched her step on the elevator with Jason and Sonny on either side of her. His heart ached for the beautiful woman knowing that she faced a long road to recover from the years she’d spent with Christian Santadio. Two weeks really wouldn’t be that long and he’d see her again.
