Chapter 7 - The Boy Dominic Never Expected
Elena had spent years trying not to speak Derek's name.
The marriage had begun normally.
That was the part people never understood.
Cruel men did not introduce themselves as cruel.
Derek had been charming.
Funny.
Restless.
He bought flowers without reasons and apologized beautifully.
By the time apologies became more common than flowers, Elena was pregnant.
Control arrived gradually.
Who are you texting?
Why are you wearing that?
Why did you take so long?
Why are you always making me angry?
By Noah's fourth birthday, Elena understood something that terrified her.
Her son was learning what love looked like by watching them.
She left three weeks later.
Derek vanished from their lives after a final custody dispute and a stack of unpaid support orders.
Elena believed the chapter was closed.
Until her phone rang the morning after Marcus's call.
“Elena.”
She recognized the voice instantly.
Her stomach dropped.
“Derek.”
A small laugh.
“You still remember.”
“What do you want?”
“Can't a father ask about his kid?”
“You haven't asked about him in four years.”
“I've been busy.”
“You're done.”
“Elena, wait.”
She almost hung up.
Then he said, “You should be careful who you're spending time with.”
Her hand froze.
“What did you say?”
“You heard me.”
Elena looked toward Dominic.
He was standing by the windows with Gabriel.
Both noticed her expression.
“Who contacted you?” Elena asked.
Derek laughed.
“So there is someone.”
“Who?”
“A businessman.”
Marcus.
Elena felt sick.
“What did you tell him?”
“Nothing important.”
“How much?”
Silence.
“How much did he pay you?”
“Elena, don't act superior.”
“How much?”
“Twenty grand.”
She closed her eyes.
Twenty thousand dollars.
For access to his own son.
“You stay away from Noah.”
“He's my child too.”
“No. He's the child you abandoned.”
Derek's tone changed.
“You always loved saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
“Marcus says you're in trouble.”
Hearing Marcus's first name from Derek confirmed everything.
Elena hung up.
Dominic crossed the room.
“Who?”
“Noah's father.”
Dominic's face hardened.
“Marcus contacted him.”
“Yes.”
“What does he know?”
“Our routines. Mrs. Patterson. Noah's school.”
Dominic took his jacket.
Gabriel stopped him.
“Where are you going?”
“To move the boy.”
Elena immediately shook her head.
“No.”
“Elena.”
“No strangers take Noah anywhere.”
“You're coming.”
She hesitated.
“Marcus expects you to protect him.”
“That isn't an argument against doing it.”
Dominic was right.
Thirty minutes later, a black sedan stopped behind Mrs. Patterson's building.
Elena went upstairs first.
Noah opened the door.
“Mom!”
He threw himself into her arms.
Elena held him longer than usual.
Then Noah looked past her.
Dominic stood in the hall.
He had shaved.
Changed clothes.
Dark sweater.
Black coat.
His injuries were hidden.
Noah stared.
“Who's that?”
Elena hadn't prepared an answer.
“A friend.”
Dominic looked surprised.
Noah examined him.
“You look like the guy on TV.”
Elena closed her eyes.
Of course.
Dominic crouched slightly.
“What guy?”
“The rich missing guy.”
Dominic glanced at Elena.
She fought a smile.
Noah continued.
“My friend Caleb said you were dead.”
“Caleb has unreliable sources.”
Noah grinned.
“I knew it.”
Dominic blinked.
“You knew I wasn't dead?”
“No.”
“Then what did you know?”
“That Caleb makes stuff up.”
For the first time Elena saw Dominic completely disarmed by another human being.
Noah held out his hand.
“I'm Noah.”
Dominic looked at the small hand.
Then shook it.
“Dominic.”
“Are you really Mom's friend?”
Elena answered too quickly.
“Yes.”
Dominic looked at her.
Noah looked between them.
Children were dangerous observers.
“Okay,” he said suspiciously.
Mrs. Patterson approached.
Elena explained that there had been a problem connected to work and they needed to stay elsewhere for several days.
The older woman did not demand details.
She simply held Elena's shoulders.
“Keep that boy safe.”
“I will.”
Dominic heard.
Something in his expression changed.
They moved Noah to the safe apartment.
To Elena's surprise, Noah adjusted quickly.
He explored.
Discovered the telescope near the windows.
Became fascinated with the view.
“Mr. Dominic?”
Dominic looked up from his laptop.
“Yes?”
“Is this your apartment?”
“One of them.”
“How many do you have?”
Elena stepped in.
“Noah.”
“What? I'm asking.”
Dominic said, “Too many.”
Noah accepted this.
Ten minutes later he sat beside Dominic on the sofa explaining Saturn's rings.
Dominic listened.
Actually listened.
Elena watched from the kitchen.
There was something strange about seeing him like that.
The man who terrified executives and criminals apparently had no defense against an eight-year-old with a space book.
Noah pointed at a photograph.
“Did you know Saturn could float in water if you had a bathtub big enough?”
Dominic stared at him.
“I did not.”
“I know lots of stuff.”
“I've noticed.”
“Mom says smart people should keep learning.”
Dominic looked toward Elena.
“She is correct.”
Noah leaned closer.
“Is Mom helping you because you're hurt?”
The room went silent.
Elena nearly dropped a glass.
Dominic carefully answered.
“Your mother helped me when I needed somebody.”
“She's good at that.”
“Yes.”
Dominic's voice changed slightly.
“She is.”
Noah nodded proudly.
Then returned to Saturn.
Later, after Noah fell asleep, Elena found Dominic standing outside the bedroom door.
“What?” she asked.
“He trusts easily.”
“He's eight.”
“No.”
Dominic looked through the partially open door.
“He trusts because you taught him the world can still be safe.”
Elena didn't know what to say.
Dominic continued.
“My father taught us the opposite.”
For the first time Elena wondered whether Dominic had ever experienced a home that felt like hers.
Small.
Chaotic.
Imperfect.
Safe.
His phone buzzed.
Message from Marcus.
A location.
Midnight.
Dominic read it.
“Elena.”
“No.”
“You don't even know what I was going to say.”
“You're going to meet him.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Elena.”
She stepped closer.
“If you go alone, Marcus wins.”
Dominic studied her.
“What are you suggesting?”
She held up the brass archive key.
“Give him what he thinks he wants.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“And keep what he actually needs.”
Elena smiled slightly.
“You said traps work both ways.”
For the first time since meeting her, Dominic looked almost proud.
“Remind me never to make you my enemy.”
Elena's smile disappeared.
“Take care of Noah, and you won't.”
Midnight approached.
May you like
And for the first time, Marcus was about to discover that the cleaning woman he considered invisible had become the most unpredictable person in his brother's empire.
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