Chapter 7 - THE TRUTH ABOUT THE NIGHT SOPHIA DIED
Gabriel survived.
Dominic seemed disappointed.
The federal prosecutor did not.
The evidence unfolded quickly once Gabriel was in custody.
Nathan Reed cooperated completely.
Noah testified.
Vincent Vale was arrested in Toronto while attempting to access one of Gabriel’s accounts.
He claimed his father manipulated him.
Maybe.
He still knew the plan involved Dominic’s daughters.
That was enough for me.
Then came Sophia.
Dominic’s late wife.
The mechanic tied to Gabriel finally spoke.
He had altered her brake line five years earlier.
Not to kill her.
According to him.
Only to cause a “minor accident” that would frighten Sophia and convince Dominic that leaving the protected Vale world was dangerous.
Gabriel’s logic.
Cruelty disguised as protection.
The brake failure became catastrophic.
Sophia died.
Dominic received the confession in his office.
I was there because Grace had fallen asleep on my lap while Lily colored at the desk.
He read the report silently.
Then left.
I found him twenty minutes later in the garage.
Standing beside Sophia’s old car.
Dominic had kept it.
Not the wreck.
A second vehicle she used.
Her scarf still hung from the mirror.
“You knew where I was.”
“I asked Julian.”
“Of course.”
He stared at the car.
“I killed her.”
“No.”
“If I had left the business when she asked—”
“No.”
“Gabriel did it to control me.”
“Yes.”
“Because I refused.”
I stepped closer.
“That still makes Gabriel responsible.”
His jaw tightened.
“She died because of my world.”
“That is different from saying you killed her.”
“Does the distinction matter?”
“To your daughters?”
He looked at me.
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“Then yes.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“I don’t know how to tell them.”
“The truth.”
“They’re seven.”
“Then seven-year-old truth.”
“What does that mean?”
“That their mother loved them.”
“Yes.”
“That somebody made a terrible choice.”
His eyes filled.
“That their father didn’t know.”
He looked away.
“And when they’re older?”
“You tell them more.”
He laughed bitterly.
“You make everything sound simple.”
“No.”
I thought of medical debt.
Mom.
Nursing school.
A gun in my face.
“Simple and easy are not the same thing.”
The girls began therapy.
Dominic did too.
That surprised everybody.
Especially Dominic.
His therapist, Dr. Rosen, refused to come to the estate.
Dominic went to her office.
Alone.
The first session lasted thirty-two minutes.
He returned furious.
“She asks too many questions.”
“That is literally her job.”
“I don’t like her.”
“You’re going back.”
He stared.
“You’re very comfortable giving orders.”
“Occupational hazard.”
Grace recovered physically.
Emotionally took longer.
She hated vans.
Closed doors.
Men wearing gray coats.
Lily became obsessed with checking locks.
Every night, she walked through the house checking windows.
One evening, Dominic found her testing the front door for the fifth time.
“Lily.”
“It could open.”
“It’s locked.”
“What if the wolf comes?”
Dominic knelt.
“The wolf is in jail.”
“What if another?”
That question destroyed him.
He looked at me.
I didn’t rescue him.
He needed to answer.
“There may be bad people someday.”
Lily’s eyes filled.
“But you know what changes?”
“What?”
“You tell me when you’re scared.”
She nodded.
“I listen.”
Another nod.
“And if I don’t listen?”
She thought.
“Emily yells at you.”
I laughed.
Dominic did too.
Then Lily hugged him.
A month passed.
I moved back to my apartment.
Dominic hated it.
The girls hated it more.
“You can’t live there,” he said after seeing the broken front buzzer.
“I have lived there four years.”
“Exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’ve seen the stairwell.”
“Very judgmental.”
“I can purchase the building.”
“No.”
“I expected that.”
Instead, he improved nothing without permission.
Also growth.
I returned to Miller’s Corner.
Calvin stared at me.
“You vanished with Dominic Vale.”
“Long story.”
“People say there was a kidnapping.”
“Longer story.”
“You working tonight?”
“Yes.”
He looked offended.
“You’re ridiculous.”
Maybe.
I needed ordinary.
Coffee.
Tips.
Sticky counters.
People complaining about eggs.
But ordinary didn’t fit anymore.
Customers recognized me.
Reporters waited twice.
One night, a man left a five-hundred-dollar tip and whispered, “For saving Vale’s girls.”
I returned it.
Calvin nearly died.
Then Dominic came in.
No security visible.
There was always security visible if you knew where to look.
He sat at the counter.
“What are you doing?”
“Ordering coffee.”
“This coffee is terrible.”
“I’m aware.”
“You own restaurants.”
“Several.”
“And came here?”
“Yes.”
I poured him a cup.
“That’ll be three dollars.”
He placed a five.
I returned two.
He smiled.
“No tip?”
“Your attitude was questionable.”
He drank.
Made a face.
“Terrible.”
“Told you.”
Then he placed an envelope on the counter.
I glared.
“No.”
“It’s not money.”
“Still suspicious.”
“Open it.”
Rush University College of Nursing.
My stomach dropped.
Reactivation approval.
Credits reviewed.
I was eligible to return.
“How?”
“You applied.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You signed the application at the lake house.”
I stared.
“That was an information-release form.”
“It included reinstatement.”
“You tricked me.”
“No.”
He looked almost offended.
“You didn’t read it.”
I closed my eyes.
Fair.
“The foundation scholarship?”
“Available to twelve returning students.”
“Twelve?”
“Yes.”
“Not just me?”
“No.”
I stared at the letter.
Full tuition.
Books.
Clinical fees.
I started crying in the diner.
Horrifying.
Dominic looked panicked.
“I thought you’d be happy.”
“I am.”
“Then why—”
“Stop talking.”
He stopped.
Good man.
I wiped my face.
“What do you want?”
His expression changed.
“Nothing.”
“Dominic.”
“Finish school.”
“That’s all?”
“No.”
There it was.
I waited.
“My daughters want you in their lives.”
My chest tightened.
“I want that too.”
He looked down at his terrible coffee.
“And I…”
For once, Dominic Vale struggled.
“I would like you in mine.”
Silence.
“That sounds dangerously close to asking me on a date.”
“Possibly.”
“Are you?”
He looked at me.
“Yes.”
I leaned against the counter.
“You pointed a gun at me the night we met.”
“I have apologized.”
“Once.”
“Do you require additional apologies?”
“Many.”
He almost smiled.
“Dinner?”
“Maybe.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Maybe?”
“I’m learning from you.”
“When?”
I smiled.
“After my first week of classes.”
He looked genuinely happy.
Then the diner door opened.
Lily and Grace rushed in with Mrs. Alvarez.
“EMILY!”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“You told them?”
“No.”
Lily climbed onto the stool beside him.
“Daddy said he’s asking you on a date.”
I stared at him.
He looked betrayed.
“Julian.”
Apparently his security chief had told the nanny.
May you like
Within two minutes, both girls were planning our wedding.
We had not even eaten dinner.
