Chapter 12 - The Night Dominic Came for His Daughter
The name was Dr. Marcus Hale.
Carver’s physician.
The man Nadine had trusted with Ada.
The man present at the house when the speaker was planted.
Marcus disappeared before agents reached him.
Then security footage showed his vehicle heading toward Dominic’s estate.
Dominic called Nadine himself.
“He’s here.”
“Why?”
“He says he has evidence.”
“Don’t meet him alone.”
A bitter laugh.
“You giving me security advice now?”
“I’m giving Ada’s father advice.”
Silence.
That changed the tone.
Dominic said, “I’ll wait.”
Nadine, Carver, and federal agents arrived forty minutes later.
Marcus stood inside Dominic’s study.
He surrendered immediately.
No weapon.
No resistance.
“I didn’t work for Gideon,” he said.
“Then explain,” Nadine replied.
Marcus had discovered the copied biometrics after Ada’s birth.
He had planted the speaker to frighten Carver into tightening security.
“Why not tell us?”
“Because Gideon had my son.”
Another hostage.
Another person controlled through someone he loved.
Nadine felt exhausted by the pattern.
Marcus provided the final server location.
It contained transaction records proving Nadine had never controlled the criminal funds.
Her name was cleared.
The account was frozen for restitution.
Dominic’s organization was dismantled through indictments and negotiated cooperation.
Dominic himself faced charges connected to financial crimes.
Not murder.
Not kidnapping.
But enough to end the empire he had believed untouchable.
Before authorities took him, he asked to see Ada.
Nadine hesitated.
Then agreed.
Under her conditions.
Dominic stood several feet from the baby.
He did not pick her up.
“She looks like you.”
“She looks like herself.”
A faint smile.
“Fair.”
He looked at Nadine.
“I’m sorry.”
She had imagined those words many times.
They did not repair anything.
But she was glad he said them.
“I believe you.”
His eyes lifted.
“That doesn’t mean I forgive everything.”
“I know.”
“And it doesn’t mean we’re coming back.”
“I know.”
Nadine allowed him to touch Ada’s tiny hand.
Nothing more.
Dominic cried.
Quietly.
Then he left with the agents.
Carver waited outside.
He never asked what Dominic had said.
That night, Nadine found him on the balcony.
“Our arrangement can end now,” he said.
She looked at him.
“You promised.”
“Yes.”
“The danger is mostly over.”
“Yes.”
“So you want a divorce?”
Carver’s expression tightened.
“What I want isn’t relevant to the promise I made.”
“It’s relevant to me.”
He looked at her.
For the first time, Carver Reigns seemed afraid.
Not of Dominic.
Not of Gideon.
Of answering honestly.
“I don’t want you to leave.”
Nadine’s heart moved strangely.
“But?”
“But I will open the door myself if that’s what you choose.”
Nadine stepped closer.
Then her phone buzzed.
A message from Amber.
NADINE. COME NOW.
Another message arrived immediately.
IT’S ABOUT DAD.
Then a photograph appeared.
May you like
Her father was standing beside a hospital bed.
And inside that bed was a newborn baby Nadine had never seen.
