Chapter 354: Pretty Girl
*You’re safe, pretty girl. Go back to sleep. – Dom*
Pagan and Shiloh walked into the Shack and quickly gathered the girls up. Once he was sure that his babies were fine, he pulled his sister in for a tight hug. Ciara had been strong for the girls, but once she was in her brother’s arms, she broke down.
“I’m so sorry.” Shiloh whispered over and over.
“It’s okay, mommy.” Alyssa told her as she hugged the woman.
Trigg walked over and clapped Pagan on his back before resting his other hand on Shiloh’s shoulder. She was still on her knees, hugging the girls tight against her as tears streaked down her cheeks.
“I was told to keep you here until Dom gets here.” Trigg told Pagan who nodded.
“Who brought them here?” Pagan asked quietly.
“Some Aranya.” Trigg said. “They’re down in Whip’s other room.”
“How many new friends do I have?” Nessie asked as she smoothed down Shiloh’s hair.
“Several.” Pagan admitted quietly. He was grateful that she did not ask how many had been killed. Or even specify how many Shiloh had killed.
Nessie nodded before she knelt and hugged the other woman. She murmured in Shiloh’s ear, then she stood up and walked away. As she went, she called for her girls to meet her in the much smaller kitchen.
Trigg groaned. “She’s already all over me to send someone to the store. And to redo the kitchen.”
“I wouldn’t object.” His wife, Sid, said as she slid an arm around his waist and his rested on her shoulders.
“You would have to get rid of the majority of the girls here and start over.” Trigg pointed out.
“And?” she asked dryly.
He already knew that his wife would love to get rid of all the club girls here. It had gotten better since Chrissy was kicked out. But Trigg knew it was only a matter of time before another took her place and had their sights set on becoming the next old lady.
As far as he knew, Karan was the only one that done that.
And that was a story in and of itself.
The brothers of Pop’s Place made sure that the family had some space and that the club girls and old ladies stayed far away. That is until Shiloh looked up in a panic.
“Where’s Gertie?”
“I’m here, Shy.” She said forcing her way through the wall of men. Karan was right behind her with a look telling them to piss off.
Shiloh grabbed Gertie’s hand and pulled her down onto the floor with herself and the girls. Her tears were flowing harder as Shiloh cupped the redhead’s cheeks with her hands that had no jewelry on them.
“Are you okay?” Shiloh asked quietly. “They didn’t hurt you or the baby, did they?”
“No, Shy. Nobody touched me. They never even came close to me.” Gertie assured her.
“Actually, they did.” Dom said from where she had silently joined the small group. “Several Aranya have been at the bookstore over the last several days.”
There was a change that happened right in front of her. Shiloh’s back straightened. The small tremor in her hands where she still held her friend. Gertie let out a small gasp and Dom knew that she was seeing the change herself.
The short Italian stood up and turned to face Dom. Before the even saw the other woman’s face, Dom knew she was no longer looking at Shiloh. Sophia was in charge again. She was the only person that Dom knew who truly had a split personality by choice.
“They went after *my* untouchables. They scared my girls. They stalked my family.” Her voice was cold and steady. If Dom had been anyone else, she would be flinching, just as most of the room was now doing.
“What do you want done?” Dom asked calmly.
She had seen both sides of Shiloh. The head of the Giovani family and the fun-loving Goth girl. She had seen when Sophia was a terrified child and a cold-blooded killer of two, now three, stepfathers. She had seen Sophia enter a mental hospital and Shiloh come out.
Even more, Dom had seen when Joe realized that Sophia could lead the family, but she would lose her heart, her soul, her true self. After Nessie had been kidnapped last year, she had told Joe that he was worried about someone and that he only needed to listen, she would tell him what she needed. And he had.
Joe handed her a debit card to an account with over two million dollars in it and told her to go find herself. Go find her happiness. She did not travel or leave the small town an hour outside of Boston. Instead, she bought a funeral home, opened two stores and embraced the side that she usually kept hidden.
But now, her worlds had collided, and Shiloh was having to deal with them. it did not surprise Dom that the younger woman was leaning on the assassin to solve her problem. It was not the first time she had sought out her rescuer. And Dom doubted it would be the last.
“I want every Aranya dead.” Shiloh said quietly. “Every person with the Aranya mark dead. Not a single one lives. Exterminated from the face of the Earth.”
Dom noticed that as Shiloh spoke, she slid the signet ring on her right hand. The request was not coming from the upset wife and mother. The order came from a leader of the Italian mafia.
“You’ll need help.” The Mick told Dom and she nodded. “My boys are at your disposal.”
“Thank you.” Dom said.
The Mick looked at Shiloh. “The Aranya were being funded by your stepfather. He discovered that the skin trade was very profitable.”
“Who else?” Shiloh asked him coldly.
“There are a few others down in Texas. Close to the border.” The Mick said. “I’ll have the information sent to you.”
“Sent it to D.” Shiloh replied. After The Mick agreed, she gathered her family and leaned into Pagan. “We need to go home.”
“Pretty girl,” Dom asked, “do you need me tonight?”
“No. I just need my family tonight. I need you to make the world a safer place.”
“Always, pretty girl.” Dom kissed Shiloh on her forehead and gave a light hug to both girls before she turned and left the building. She was approaching her fifth decade; one she did not think that she would see. Honestly, she still was not certain. Maybe she was getting soft as she got older.
Or maybe it was because she had seen her pretty girl survive hell and find her happiness that she wanted Shiloh to have everything that her heart desired. And right now, her heart desired vengeance. Dom was good at vengeance.
