Chapter 7 - THE NIGHT OF THE BLACK CARS
The first car appeared outside the preschool on Thursday.
The second followed us home.
By the time we reached the mansion, Adrian had identified both vehicles as belonging to a company connected to Raffaele.
Dominic ordered the gates closed.
I was furious.
“You promised I wouldn't be locked inside.”
“You aren't locked inside,” he said. “The gates are secured because someone is following you.”
“I need to pick up my own groceries. I need to take my daughter to the park.”
“And you will. With protection until we know who is watching.”
“I don't want Sophie growing up believing every stranger is a threat.”
Dominic looked at her. She was on the rug, arranging toy animals in a line.
“Neither do I.”
“Then don't make this her whole world.”
He sat down opposite me.
“Tell me what you want.”
I was surprised he asked again.
“I want her to have normal days. Preschool. Pancakes. The library. I want her to know her father without learning to fear his enemies.”
Dominic nodded.
“Then we'll give her those things.”
That evening, the power flickered.
A guard called from the front gate. A delivery van had stopped outside, claiming to have a package for me.
I hadn't ordered anything.
Dominic told everyone to stay inside.
A moment later, the security alarm sounded.
Adrian hurried into the room.
“Someone cut the secondary fence.”
Dominic stood.
“Get Claire and Sophie to the safe room.”
I caught his sleeve.
“Don't go alone.”
He looked down at my hand.
“I won't.”
He called two guards to escort us through the interior corridor. Sophie clutched Mr. Buttons, her eyes wide.
“Is it a bad man?”
I knelt.
“It's a problem the grown-ups are handling.”
She looked toward Dominic.
“Papa?”
He crouched.
“I'm right here.”
“Five-minute hug?”
His face softened.
“Whenever you need one.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
Dominic held her for a few seconds, then stood and followed us to the safe room.
The attack was brief. The intruders fled before reaching the house, leaving behind a phone and a black envelope.
Inside the envelope was a photograph of Sophie at the playground.
On the back, someone had written:
The heir belongs to us.
Dominic stared at it.
Then he handed it to Adrian.
“Give this to the authorities. I want every piece of evidence preserved.”
I looked at him.
“You're not going after them?”
“Not blindly. That's what Raffaele expects.”
He turned to me.
“I spent eleven years believing fear was the only language people understood. I won't let that be the only language my daughter learns.”
Sophie tugged his sleeve.
“Can we still have pancakes tomorrow?”
Dominic looked down.
“Yes.”
“With strawberries?”
“Yes.”
“And sprinkles?”
He hesitated.
I smiled.
“That's a negotiation.”
For the first time that night, Dominic laughed.
A real laugh.
May you like
And I realized Sophie was already teaching him how to live outside the darkness.
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