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My curiosity got the best of me as I finished showering and turned off the water. Letting my hair air dry, I wrapped the towel around my body and padded out of the bathroom. Besides Finley, who was happily burping out bubbles in his tank, our room was empty.
Since the gym would be closed for another hour or so, as it was every weekday afternoon, I sat cross-legged on my bed and unlocked my phone. This siesta-like time provided Frankie and me with a much-needed break before the evening frenzy.
I typed Dominic’s name into the search bar but paused before hitting enter. Did I really want to know what Marissa was referring to? I was never going to see him again, so who he was didn’t matter.
But my curiosity was raring to go, and I wanted to know what she’d meant. Needed to know.
I tapped the search key.
Article after article appeared about the Sato family. My eyes widened as I read about the dragon family that ruled the supernatural underworld with an iron fist. A clawed iron fist. Multiple stories explained how Gifted authorities never had enough evidence to convict any of them.
Dominic’s name and picture flashed across the screen time and again, some writers predicting he’d one day take over the Sato empire, while others were scathing in their judgment of his alleged crimes. He was the grandson of the most powerful, most brutal mob boss this city had ever seen.
He was also a murderer.
My heart thumped wildly as I clicked my phone off and clutched it to my chest.
How had I never known these things before? I glanced at the book next to me. Staying far away from the tabloids and gossip, that’s how. Perhaps to my detriment. Maybe it was time to start paying attention, if only to protect myself and Marissa better.
Wow. I’d dodged a bullet. A dragon-sized bullet. Having him out of my life was definitely the right thing to do.
Ignoring an odd sense of emptiness, I slid off the bed and got dressed.
CHAPTER 14
Bree
After blowing Finley a kiss, I went upstairs to find something to eat. Frankie and Marissa were laughing about something outside the gym’s office.
Grabbing a nearby mop, I stalked over and shoved the handle in my sister’s face. “I’m so glad you’re still here to live up to your end of the deal.”
She gave the handle a look of disgust but accepted it long enough to lean it against the wall. “Fine. But I don’t have long.”
I caught Frankie’s eye and grinned. “Long enough for me to tell you our idea.”
Marissa glanced at us warily. “Why don’t I like the sound of that? Or that look on your faces?”
“The gym needs money to stay afloat,” I explained, slipping past them and into the office. The small fridge here was closer than my boss’s apartment and held the other half of my tuna sub from earlier. I was too hungry to trek upstairs for something else. “Frankie and I came up with a fantastic idea to bring in extra funds.”
The fae woman threw her hands up as she and Marissa followed me into the office. “Oh-ho no, kiddo, this was all your idea.” Her chair creaked as she sat behind her desk. “I couldn’t possibly take credit.”
I stuck out my tongue as I opened the fridge. “Coward.”
“Out with it, Gabrielle.” Marissa just about stomped her foot with each syllable.
Ha! She used my full name. I loved messing with her like this as payback. Her anger was enough to rival a dragon’s.
My heart twisted at the memory of a red dragon spirit swirling around me, but I banished that thought before it gained any traction. I grabbed the wrapped-up sub and closed the fridge. “We’re going to offer massages to the fighters and trainees. Right here at the club, and you, my beautiful, amazing sister, are going to be the masseuse.”
Buttering her up had always worked well in my favor in the past. Hopefully, it would today, too.
Leaning back in her chair, Frankie grinned. Give her a bowl of popcorn, and she’d be ready for the show.
Marissa’s jaw fell open as if her brain short-circuited. Because it probably did.
I rushed on before she could recover enough to argue. “You’ll get your hours in for school, and the gym will crush its debt. Good deeds all around.”
Snapping her mouth closed, she settled for glaring at me. “You are much sneakier than I give you credit for.”
