He was gone. Just like that.
No words could capture the depth of my pain. It felt like someone had ripped my heart out and left me hollow. Dominic’s arms wrapped tightly around me and Grand as we clung to each other, tears streaming down our faces. None of us could stop crying, and the sound of our grief filled the small, sterile room.
couldn’t eat my eyes away from Grandpa’s still form as the nurse gently covered him with a white sheet. He looked so peaceful, like he was just sleeping. But the reality of itched me he wasn’t in pain anymore because he wasn’t here anymore.
–
How long had he been offering? How had none of us known? The questions swirled in my mind, threatening to drown me. A lump formed in my throat as another thought him: bad he known he was going to die?
My tears fell harder. Why else would he have transferred everything to me just days before? He had to have known. It was almost as if he had been trying to prepare me, but I hadn’t seen it then I had been too caught up in the chaos of everything else to realize what was happening right in front of me.
The minutes passed in a haze. I wasn’t sure how long we stayed in that rooms, holding onto each other and to the little pieces of him that still felt tangible. But eventually, Dominic gently pulled Grandma away from the bed. Her frail hands trembled as she chang to him, sobbing softly
I followed them mumbly, my feet heavy with each step as we made our way out of the hospital. By the time we finally drove home, my body felt like it had been through awat. My head throbbed, my heart ached, and my chest felt tight, as if it might collapse under the weight of my grief.
When we walked through the door, the quiet of the house felt deafening. Faith was fast asleep on the couch, her son cradled protectively in her arms. She stirred at the sound of the doot, her eyes Eluttering open.
she appeared in the hallway, her face etched with worry as she approached us. “you’re back,” she murmured, let evident in her tone. But as her gaze swept over
her expression faltered. “Where’s Grandpa
Her question!
like a hammer, but I deflected. “Where’s Aw
asked instead, scanning the room for any sign of my daughter
Faith tumed to Dominic, her brows furrowed, “You didn’t tell her?
1 shifted my attention to Dominic, whose guilty expression was more than enough to ignite the storm brewing in my chest. He scratched his head, looking down at the floor. “There wasn’t time,” he admitted, his tone almost defensive.
“Wasn’t time?” 1 repeated, my voice rising. Anger churned inside me as I marched past him, heading for Ava’s mom. “I’m right h Someone better tell me where my daughter is.”
Faith looked between Dominic and me, her hands fidgeting nervously, “aina, wait –
here, Dominic. Not insible
Ignoring her I pushed open Ava’s bedroom door, only to be met with an empty bed. The sight of the neatly folded blanket and untouched toys made my stomach drop. My heart raced as panie clawed at my chest.
Ivolted back downstairs, barely registering the thudding of my own footsteps. “Where is she?” I demanded, my voice radding, “Where is Ava? Faith, you were supposed to be watching her!!
Faith opened her mouth to reply, but Dominic stepped forward, his expression hardening. “Eatch,” he said firmly, “take Grandma and the baby upstairs.”
Faith hesitated, her eyes daring between us. “Dom-
“Now?” he barkurd, leaving no room for argument
Faith flinched at the sharpness in his tone but eventually nodded, scooping up the baby and guiding Grandma away from the tension–filled re
As soon as they wear out of earshot, I rounded on Dominic, my hands bling with frustration. “You’d better start talking.” I hissed, my voice low and trembling. “Where is try daughter?”
Dominic held up a hand, his voice softer now, almost pleading. “Baina, listen-”
“Where is she?” Leut him ott, my voice rising again
Dominic’s words but me like a freight train. “Thad Alex come and take her,” he admitted, his voice calm, as it what he’d just said wouldn’t shatter me completely.
Anger flared hot and fast, mixing with a pains sharp it left me breathless, “You what?” 1 demanded, ung voice shaking with rage.
He stood firm, funds on his hips, his expression engradable. “Thad Alextake Ava. It was the safest option”
My vision blured as fury threatened to take over. “Are you out of your mind? 1 spat, stepping closer to him. “How could you let him take my daughter? Do you know what I’m dealing with right now? I’m trying to light for Liam’s custody, and you—”
“I had to!” Dominic cut me off, his voice raising just enough to silence me. “Raina, think for a second. Someone poisoned Grandpa. What makes you think Ava is
I froze, his woods sinking in for only a second before my anger flared again. “That’s not your decision to make, Dominic!” I shouted, pointing a trembling finger at him “You had no right to do this without telling me!”
We let out a heavy sigh, his eyes lodding onto mine with an intensity that only stoked my fury. “I had every right,” he countered, his voice low but fim. “I’m not
going to sit back and let anything happen la Ava. Or to you.”
-21 Banus
1 belt my breath hitch, w chest heaving with the effort to contain my emotions. But Lcouldn’t. I wouldn’t Stretching out my hand, 1 demanded, “Keys”
Dominic frowned. “Raina, don’t do this.”
“Key Now” My voice was cold, final
He crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head. “It’s a bad idea. It’s late, and Nathan could be watching. If he catches you”
“I don’t care!” I snapped, cutting him off. My heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear my own words, “Give me the damn keys, Dominel
“You won’t even find her at Alex’s,” he shot back, frustration creeping into his voice. “He’s probably already flown her out.”
His words were a sucker punch to the gut. “Flown her out?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.
“yes,” Dominic confirmed, his tone softer now, almost apologetic. “I told him to get the kids out of town. Somewhere safe, where no one can find them. Not even
“You had no night.” I whispered, tears buming my eyes as I clenched my fists.
Dominic’s jaw tightened. “I had every night,” he said through gritted teeth. “She’s my niece. And she’s Alex’s daughter, ton”
His words were like a slap to the face. “She’s my daughter,” 1 hissed, my voice trembling. “She needs to be here for the funeral.”
Dominic shook his head, his frustration boiling over. “Ava was exposed,” he pressed, his tone sharp, “You’re so focused on being angry at me that you’re not even considering the bigger picture. She could’ve been next, Raina. She needs to be safe first! You think don’t care about the funeral? About Grandpa? But I can’t risk Ava’s safety or Liam’s. You should be thanking me for acting fast, not throwing a tantrum!”
“Throwing a tantrum?” I repeated, my voice rising as tears spilled down my cheeks. “How dare you
Dominic held up a hand, cuning me oft. “Grow the back up! Raina,” he snapped. “This isn’t about your pride or your feelings anymore.” He shooted. “This is about keeping Ava alive. Keeping Liam alive. Do you not see what’s happening? Grandpa was poisoned. Someone is targeting us, and I’m not going to sit back and wait for them to come after the kids too!”
His words stung, but my anger refused to relent. “You don’t get to make that decision!” I yelled, my voice trembling. “You don’t get to take my children away from me and act like you know what’s best!”
-I had to make a choice, and I made it. Deal with it Dominic uttered deliberately, his tone fim and steady.
The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. My chest heaved as I struggled to contain the misture of anger and heartbreak threatening to
I wanted to scream, to yell, to tell him he was wrong. But deep down, I knew he was right. Tears streamed down my face as I took a shaky step back, my anger giving way to a crushing despair.
Faith stepped into the room then, her voice soft but firm. “Enough,” she said, her gabe darting between the two of us. “This arguing isn’t helping anyone Grandmands peace and quiet, and so do the rest of us ”
Dominic let out a deep sigh, the weight of everything evident in the slump of his shoulders.““Raina,” he began, his tome sotter now, less sharp. “With Grandpa gone
I can’t bear the thought of anything happening to you or the lids. You’re all I have left.”
His words made my chest tighten, a pang of guils curting through my anger. I looked away, unable to hold his gaze as the realization sank in.
“We don’t even know how the poison got to Grandpa,” he continued, his voice steady but heavy,” what it even was. We have no idea who’s behind this or how far they’re willing to go. Until we do, Eneed to make sure everyone is safe, and that includes the kids.”
I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. “I get that,” I murmured, my voice shuky. “But…why Alex? You know how I feel about him.”
Dominic met my eyes, his expression unwavering: “Because as much as you hate him, he’s the safest option we have right now. You wouldn’t want Nathan–or whoever is behind this–getting anywhere near them when things get messy, would you?”
His words stung, but I knew he was right. As much as I despised Alex for everything he’d done, there was no denying that he would do whatever It took to protect
I exhaled slowly, my anger ebbing away, leaving behind only exhaustion and sadness. “Fine,” Taaid quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.
