Chapter 3 - The Man at the Door
At 4:12 a.m., Trevor called Sophia.
Dominic placed her phone on the table.
“Don’t answer.”
Sophia stared at the screen.
Trevor.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Then a message appeared.
COME HOME. WE CAN FIX THIS.
Sophia laughed without humor.
“He always says that.”
Dominic stood near the window.
“What happens after you go home?”
“He apologizes.”
“And then?”
“He explains why everything was my fault.”
Dominic nodded once.
Another message appeared.
THE PEOPLE YOU’RE WITH WILL HURT YOU.
Sophia looked at Dominic.
“He knows.”
Marco entered quickly.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Trevor is downstairs.”
Sophia stood.
“How?”
“He walked into the lobby with two police officers.”
Dominic’s expression hardened.
Marco continued.
“He reported Sophia missing. Claims she’s mentally unstable and possibly suicidal.”
Sophia closed her eyes.
“Of course he did.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Can he prove it?”
“He’s been building that story for months.”
“How?”
“Doctor appointments he scheduled. Messages he sent from my phone. He even recorded arguments after provoking me.”
Marco said, “Police want to speak with her.”
Sophia whispered, “If they take me outside, Trevor gets me back.”
Dominic picked up his phone.
“No one takes you anywhere.”
“Dominic.”
He looked at her.
“You can’t threaten police.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“What are you planning?”
“Conversation.”
Ten minutes later, Detective Erin Walsh entered the suite with her partner.
Trevor was not allowed upstairs.
Walsh looked from Dominic to Sophia.
“Ms. Reed?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Dane says you’re in danger.”
Sophia nearly laughed.
“I am.”
“From whom?”
“Trevor Dane.”
Walsh paused.
Sophia continued.
“He controlled my finances. Used my identity. Followed me tonight.”
“Did he hurt you?”
Sophia looked toward Dominic.
Dominic said nothing.
She turned back.
“Yes.”
Walsh’s expression shifted.
“Would you like to file a report?”
“Yes.”
That single word changed the room.
Sophia felt it immediately.
Not because everything was fixed.
Because she had finally said it to someone Trevor didn’t control.
Walsh sat.
“Tell me everything.”
Sophia did.
Not dramatically.
Not perfectly.
She gave dates.
Locations.
Names.
The bank account.
The stolen passwords.
The flash drive.
When she finished, Walsh looked toward Dominic.
“You’ve seen the drive?”
“Yes.”
“Will you provide a copy?”
Sophia answered first.
“Yes.”
Dominic glanced at her.
She met his eyes.
“I’m done hiding.”
Walsh nodded.
“Good.”
Then Marco’s phone buzzed.
He read the message.
“Dominic.”
“What?”
“Trevor’s gone.”
Walsh stood.
“What do you mean gone?”
“He left the lobby.”
Sophia’s face tightened.
“Where?”
Marco looked at the security feed.
Then at Dominic.
“He never left the building.”
A crash sounded from the hallway.
Everyone turned.
The suite lights went dark.
Sophia stopped breathing.
Dominic immediately moved beside her.
Emergency lighting flickered red along the walls.
Marco opened the door slightly.
“Service corridor.”
Dominic looked at Sophia.
“Stay behind me.”
She whispered, “Is it Trevor?”
A voice came from the dark hallway.
“Sophia?”
Her entire body stiffened.
Trevor.
“Sophia, baby, come out.”
Dominic’s expression became ice.
Trevor continued.
“You don’t know these people.”
Sophia stepped forward.
Dominic caught her gaze.
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I’m not hiding again.”
Before he could stop her, Sophia moved where Trevor could see her from the corridor.
Trevor smiled.
“There you are.”
Sophia stared at him.
He looked exactly like the man she had once loved.
That was the worst part.
“Come home,” Trevor said.
“No.”
His smile weakened.
“Sophia.”
“No.”
“You’re sick.”
“No.”
“You need me.”
“No.”
Each answer became stronger.
Trevor’s face changed.
The mask slipped.
“You stupid—”
Dominic stepped into view.
Trevor stopped.
Dominic spoke quietly.
“She answered you.”
“This is between us.”
“No,” Sophia said.
Trevor looked at her.
She raised her chin.
“There is no us.”
Police footsteps thundered from the stairwell.
Trevor looked toward the sound.
Then ran.
Walsh shouted after him.
Marco moved to follow.
Dominic stopped him.
“Let the police take him.”
Sophia looked surprised.
Dominic met her eyes.
“You wanted this done legally.”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Minutes later, Walsh returned.
“We got him.”
Sophia’s knees nearly gave out.
Dominic steadied her.
This time, she didn’t pull away.
Walsh continued.
“But Trevor isn’t the biggest problem.”
Dominic frowned.
Walsh held up her phone.
“Victor Hale just reported the flash drive stolen.”
Sophia stared.
Walsh said, “And he claims Dominic Moretti ordered you to steal it.”
Dominic gave a humorless smile.
“There it is.”
Sophia whispered, “What?”
Dominic looked toward the rain-dark windows.
May you like
“The real war.”
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