Chapter 2 - Seven Days Outside Her Door
Dominic could have ordered Elena home.
He could have surrounded the rowhouse with armed men.
He could have demanded answers.
Instead, he did something nobody in his organization expected.
He stayed.
The next morning, Elena opened the door and found two grocery bags.
Dominic sat across the street on the hood of his car.
She walked outside.
“You can't buy forgiveness.”
“I bought groceries.”
“We have groceries.”
“Matteo likes those chocolate cereal things.”
“He liked them when he was four.”
Dominic looked toward the house.
“What does he like now?”
Elena didn't answer.
“That’s why I’m here.”
“You're here because you're used to getting what you want.”
“No.”
Dominic stood.
“I’m here because I lost a year.”
Elena's expression softened for half a second.
Then hardened again.
“You think I didn't?”
Dominic said nothing.
She continued.
“You lost us, Dominic. I lost everything.”
“I know.”
“My home.”
“I know.”
“My friends.”
“I know.”
“My name.”
Dominic looked at her.
“And every night Matteo asked why his father didn't find him.”
That one landed.
Dominic lowered his eyes.
Elena whispered:
“I couldn't tell him you weren't trying.”
“Because I was.”
“I know.”
“Then let me see him.”
“No.”
“Elena—”
“No.”
The door closed.
Dominic stayed.
Day two, rain came.
He sat beneath an umbrella.
Emma walked outside.
“You're wet.”
“I noticed.”
She handed him a cookie.
“Matteo says you like these.”
Dominic smiled.
“He remembers?”
Emma shrugged.
“He remembers everything.”
Day four, Matteo appeared at the window.
Dominic didn't wave.
He simply sat there.
Ten minutes later, the door opened.
Matteo walked outside.
Dominic slowly stood.
“Hi.”
Matteo stared at him.
“Are you really my dad?”
“Yes.”
“Mom says you're dangerous.”
Dominic almost smiled.
“Your mother is usually right.”
“Did you look for me?”
“Every day.”
“All day?”
“Pretty much.”
“Even Christmas?”
Dominic swallowed.
“Especially Christmas.”
Matteo studied him.
Then walked forward and wrapped both arms around Dominic's leg.
Dominic froze.
His hands hovered above his son.
“Can I hug you?”
Matteo nodded against him.
Dominic dropped to his knees.
He held his son for the first time in a year.
From the doorway, Elena watched silently.
That evening, she finally let Dominic inside.
Emma sat beside Matteo at the kitchen table.
Dominic noticed two small mattresses in the living room.
“Emma lives here?”
Elena nodded.
“Her mother died eight months ago.”
“Father?”
“Gone.”
Dominic looked toward Emma.
“She found you.”
“She also helped Matteo survive this year.”
“How?”
Elena smiled faintly.
“When he couldn't sleep, she sat beside him.”
Dominic looked at the little girl.
Emma caught him staring.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You look weird.”
Matteo laughed.
Dominic smiled.
It was the first time Elena had seen him genuinely smile in a year.
Later, when the children slept, Dominic and Elena sat alone.
“Come home,” he said.
Elena shook her head.
“Not until you know who threatened us.”
“I've changed security.”
“That doesn't matter.”
“It does.”
“Dominic, whoever did this knew where Matteo slept.”
He went silent.
“They knew the house.”
“Yes.”
“They knew our schedules.”
“Yes.”
“They knew how to frighten you without alerting me.”
“Yes.”
Dominic leaned back.
“That means inner circle.”
“I know.”
“Victor?”
“I don't know.”
“Anyone else you suspected?”
Elena hesitated.
“There was something.”
“What?”
“The night we disappeared, someone called.”
“Who?”
“They didn't speak.”
Dominic waited.
“But I heard a clock.”
“A clock?”
“Three chimes.”
Dominic frowned.
Elena continued.
“And someone coughing.”
Dominic's expression slowly changed.
“What?”
“Dominic?”
He stood.
“There are only three antique triple-chime clocks among the family's properties.”
“So?”
“One is in my study.”
Elena watched him.
“The second?”
“Victor's house.”
“And the third?”
Dominic stared through the window.
“Salvatore Moretti.”
Elena knew the name.
Everyone did.
Salvatore had served Dominic's father.
He had known Dominic since childhood.
He had stood beside him at his wedding.
Matteo called him Uncle Sal.
Elena whispered:
“White hair.”
Dominic looked at her.
Emma's words returned.
The old man with white hair.
But Dominic shook his head.
“Salvatore would never betray me.”
May you like
Elena's expression turned cold.
“That sentence is exactly why you should investigate him.”
