Chapter 5 - Eight Years Stolen
Dominic moved in front of Elena.
Cole smiled.
“Still predictable.”
“Let her leave.”
“No.”
“You want me.”
“I wanted your father.”
“He isn't my father.”
Cole laughed.
“Alexander raised you. Biology is overrated.”
“What did he take from you?”
“Everything.”
Cole stepped inside.
“My father built the medical network Alexander stole. When my father threatened to expose him, Alexander destroyed him.”
Dominic understood.
“So you wanted revenge.”
“At first.”
“And Elena?”
“She became useful.”
Elena spoke.
“You forged the second set of records.”
Cole looked at her.
“Yes.”
Dominic turned slightly.
“What second set?”
Elena's expression darkened.
“The records saying you knew Grace was yours.”
Dominic stared.
Cole smiled.
“That was my contribution.”
“Why?”
“Because Alexander wanted you separated. I wanted you to hate each other.”
Dominic's voice became cold.
“You used a child for revenge.”
“No. Alexander did that. I merely made sure his punishment lasted.”
“You're insane.”
“Perhaps.”
Cole raised the weapon.
“Pendant.”
Dominic didn't move.
“What pendant?”
“Don't waste time.”
“I don't have it.”
“But Grace does.”
Cole smiled.
“And that is why this ends at your house.”
Dominic's stomach dropped.
“You went there already.”
“I needed to confirm she had it.”
Cole stepped backward.
“Now we're all going.”
Dominic studied the corridor.
No visible guards.
But Cole wouldn't come alone.
Elena suddenly collapsed.
Dominic caught her.
“Elena?”
Her face had gone pale.
Cole looked irritated.
“She needs dialysis.”
Dominic stared at him.
“You stopped her treatment?”
“I delayed it.”
Dominic wanted to kill him.
Instead, he lifted Elena.
“Hospital first.”
“No.”
“She could die.”
“Then move quickly.”
Elena whispered, “Dominic.”
He looked down.
“Don't give him Grace.”
“I won't.”
“How?”
“I’m working on it.”
Despite everything, she almost smiled.
“That hasn't changed.”
“What?”
“You always make plans after saying something impossible.”
Dominic carried her toward the elevator.
During the drive, Cole sat opposite them with two armed men.
Dominic silently pressed the emergency signal built into his watch.
Nothing.
Jammer.
Elena noticed.
She subtly shook her head.
When they reached the estate, Cole ordered Dominic through the front entrance.
Marcus was waiting.
So was Grace.
Grace saw Elena.
“Mom!”
She ran.
Cole's man raised his weapon.
Dominic stepped between them.
“Don't.”
Grace stopped.
Elena cried openly.
“Baby.”
Grace ran to her when Cole allowed it.
Mother and daughter embraced.
Dominic watched them.
Eight years.
Birthday mornings.
First words.
First steps.
School plays.
Nightmares.
Fevers.
Christmases.
Gone.
He could never recover them.
But he could protect what remained.
Cole pointed at Grace.
“Pendant.”
Grace clutched it.
“No.”
Cole smiled.
“Your mother needs medicine.”
Grace looked at Elena.
“Mom?”
Elena shook her head.
“Don't.”
Cole's smile disappeared.
“Give it to me.”
Grace moved behind Dominic.
“No.”
Dominic felt something unexpected.
Pride.
Cole raised the gun.
Marcus shifted.
“Don't,” Dominic warned him.
Cole extended his hand.
“Grace.”
The girl looked up at Dominic.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Mom told me never to give this necklace to a bad man.”
Cole laughed.
Dominic didn't.
“Your mother is very smart.”
“What do I do?”
Dominic looked at Cole.
“Trust me.”
Grace nodded.
Then removed the necklace.
She placed it in Dominic's hand.
Cole extended his.
Dominic looked at the pendant.
Then threw it into the fireplace.
Cole shouted.
Everyone moved.
Marcus tackled the nearest gunman.
Dominic struck Cole.
Victor emerged from the side corridor with two guards.
The second gunman fired into the ceiling before being disarmed.
Cole scrambled toward the fireplace.
Dominic kicked the gun away.
The pendant lay among the flames.
Cole stared at it.
“You idiot!”
Dominic grabbed him.
“You think Elena hid twenty years of evidence behind something that could be destroyed in a fireplace?”
Cole froze.
Elena smiled weakly.
“The numbers weren't the key.”
Dominic looked at her.
She nodded.
“The numbers identify the file.”
Cole's face changed.
“Where is it?”
Elena looked toward Grace.
Grace smiled.
“Mom told me.”
Cole lunged.
Dominic slammed him to the floor.
Sirens approached outside.
Cole stared at him.
“You called police?”
“No.”
Victor did.
Dominic looked at his uncle.
Victor lowered his phone.
“Some mistakes require more than apologies.”
Federal agents entered minutes later.
Cole was arrested.
But Dominic knew the story wasn't finished.
Alexander remained alive.
The forged evidence needed to be traced.
Elena needed treatment.
And Grace deserved answers.
At the hospital, Elena was stabilized.
Dominic sat beside her.
Grace slept curled in a chair nearby.
“You really threw the pendant into the fire,” Elena said.
“I thought it was dramatic.”
She laughed.
Dominic had forgotten that sound.
Then her smile faded.
“Dominic.”
“What?”
“There’s something I didn't put in the letter.”
He looked at her.
“About Grace?”
“No.”
“About Cole?”
“No.”
Elena looked toward their sleeping daughter.
“About your biological father.”
Dominic became still.
“You know who he is?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Alexander told me.”
“When?”
“Eight years ago.”
Dominic stood.
“Who?”
Before Elena could answer, the hospital door opened.
Victor entered.
He had heard the question.
His face went pale.
Elena looked at him.
Then at Dominic.
“Ask Victor why your mother disappeared the year before Alexander supposedly died.”
Dominic turned toward his uncle.
May you like
Victor slowly closed the door behind him.
And locked it.
