Page 72 of Where He Ended

- Chapter 26 -

Laiken

I'm incredibly exhausted, but I can't keep still in the tiny room the police have put me in. They talked to me for several minutes after I arrived. I kept repeating the same things to them; asking them where Dominic was, telling them about my sister tied up in the cabin.

They gave me food, water, and a blanket. I clasp it around myself now as I walk from one end of the room to the next. I wonder if they're watching me through some camera. I glanced around at the corners, spotting the obvious camera high in one of them. “Let me out of here!” I shout. “I didn't do anything wrong! I'm the fucking victim!”

I want Dominic,

my sister, some sort of friendly face.

I sway in place and drop into the metal folding chair. I can't stay on my feet any longer. I haven't slept since Vahn kidnapped me—unless you count being unconscious from head trauma. The cops had a nurse help me with my injuries, which were luckily very minor. The swelling around my eye where he hit me with the gun seemed worse than it was.

Reaching up, I flinch as I touch the tender spot. But I don't have the right to feel badly for myself. Other people have suffered more than I have today.

Oh, Dominic.I drop my head into my hands. I keep reliving the scene of Annie leaping in front of her son, saving him from the bullet. She rescued both of us. It kills me that the paramedics couldn't save her, too.

I saw her on a stretcher before the police put me in the back of one of their cruisers. The estate was a mess of flashing red and blue lights. Security guards and staff were being interviewed. I can only imagine what everyone had to say.

The door opens loudly. I jump up, ready to yell at the police officer, expecting round three of interviews. The urge to fight melts when I see Dominic standing in the doorway. The officer behind him gives me a look. I'm not sure what it means and I don't even care.

“Dominic!” I cry, rushing forward. I barely make it two steps before he crashes into me. He's always been incredibly fast when he wants to be.

He crushes me against him, hugging me so hard that all the air leaves my body. “Laiken!” He grabs my face, checking me over. He strokes my skin near my injury then traces the fringe of my short hair. There's rage in his eyes; he wants to kill someone and I know who. “Vahn did this, didn't he?”

“Not this,” I respond, grazing my dark hair. “This is all me.”

Dominic wrinkles his brow then he shakes his head and hugs me again. We lean against each other, our bodies, our existence, the only thing strong enough to support us after what we've endured.

“I was so worried when I saw you in the back of the helicopter,” he says, gripping me tighter, kissing my cheek then my mouth. He doesn't care that the officer is watching us. “Then Vahn pulled out his gun and I just . . . I don't know what I would have done if he'd . . .”

“Dominic, I love you. I'm so glad you're okay.” I stop myself, my tongue freezing against the back of my teeth. “Your mother. I'm so sorry.”

His forehead presses on mine. “It's because of her that we're alive,” he whispers.

My sister once asked me a question: if Annie had helped me after what she'd tried to do to me with Franklin, would I forgive her?

I know the answer now.

For all the bad things that Annie has ever done, she's been cleansed with her sacrifice.

“What happens next?” I ask him.

He glances at the police officer who is pointedly staring down the hall. “They arrested Vahn at the scene, and they went after Miles. I'm pretty sure they're going to catch him, a helicopter won't be hard to track.”

I nod as my hope begins to grow. “I told them that Vahn attacked me and Kara. I also told them that your parents kidnapped my family, kept us hostage all these years.” I remember the look of disbelief on one of the police officer's face when they heard that. “Dominic, everyone who put us in danger is going to end up behind bars.” My heart does a tiny dance. I wait for him to smile, to show some joy. “Are you hearing me? The things keeping us apart aregone.”

He clasps my shoulders. His black eyes are intensely serious. “It's not that simple.”

“Yes it is. We're free now. We can both—”

“No. Listen, the police are going to investigate my family and our company. There's a very real chance that once they start digging, I'm going to be painted with the same corrupted brush as them.”

“What are you saying? That they'll charge you with something? Dominic, you didn't do anything wrong!”

“Didn't I?” He looks into my eyes, his mouth a hard line. “Laiken, I took part in keeping you captive. I was a willing participant. The reality is I've been involved in too many awful things to get away clean. A man like me doesn't deserve a happily ever after.”

“Quit saying things like that! I'm not going to stand trial against you,” I scoff. “Neither is Kara.”

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