Chapter 6 - The Man Who Came Home
My father was alive.
He had spent six months hiding under another name in Pennsylvania, convinced that returning would get me killed.
When I saw him inside Dominic’s secure townhouse, I stopped in the doorway.
“Emma.”
I slapped him.
Not hard.
But enough.
He accepted it.
“You left me.”
“I know.”
“One hundred fifty thousand dollars.”
“I know.”
“They came to my apartment!”
“I know.”
“You don’t get to keep saying that!”
My father’s eyes filled.
“I thought they would leave you alone if I disappeared.”
“They didn’t.”
“I was wrong.”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
That answer stole some of my anger.
I sat across from him.
“Why didn’t you contact me?”
“They were watching you.”
“You could have found a way.”
“I was afraid.”
I looked at Dominic standing near the doorway.
Then back at my father.
“So was I.”
Dad lowered his head.
“I’m sorry.”
I wasn’t ready to forgive him.
But I was ready to hear him.
He confirmed everything on the flash drive and agreed to testify about the financial network.
The fake debt disappeared with the Castellano operation that had created it.
For the first time in six months, nobody owned my future.
Three weeks later, I packed my things at Dominic’s townhouse.
He appeared in the doorway.
“You’re leaving.”
“That’s generally what suitcases mean.”
His jaw tightened.
“You could stay.”
I smiled.
“As what?”
He didn’t answer.
“That’s the problem, Dominic.”
“What problem?”
“You saved me.”
“You saved me first.”
“Exactly.”
I stepped closer.
“I don’t want to owe you.”
“You don’t.”
“Then I need to leave while I know that.”
His blue eyes searched mine.
“And after?”
“After what?”
“After you know you’re free.”
I smiled.
“Ask me then.”
I walked past him.
He caught my hand gently.
“Emma.”
I turned.
His tattooed fingers loosened around mine immediately.
“You’re the bravest person I’ve met.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I was terrified the entire time.”
Dominic smiled.
“That’s what makes it bravery.”
I looked at him.
“You’ve been saving that line?”
“Three weeks.”
“It needs work.”
His smile widened.
I kissed his cheek.
“Goodbye, Dominic.”
His eyes followed me toward the door.
“Not goodbye.”
I looked back.
“What, then?”
“Until I ask you properly.”
I laughed.
“That sounded suspiciously confident.”
“I’m Dominic Russo.”
“There he is.”
And I left.
May you like
Not because I wanted to escape him.
Because for the first time in my adult life, I could choose where I went.
