Page 27 of Darkest Retribution

Why couldn’t I have fallen asleep while I was watching stupid movies?

As soon as Rosie is done with her homework, she looks at me with those big brown eyes of hers, all hesitant and worried. “Are you okay, Auntie Jade?”

“I’ll... I’ll be okay soon, honey. I promise.”

“Do you need to take a nap?”

I can’t help but laugh, even though it’s half-hearted. That’s what I ask her whenever she starts getting grouchy. “Maybe I do.”

She slips off her chair, grabbing my hand and pulling until I get up. Then she leads me to the living room. “You can sleep, Auntie Jade. And I—maybe I can see if Mister Dominic is home? He can watch me ride my bike?”

As I lower myself onto the couch, I hesitate. She really shouldn’t be spending more time with him. But how can I say no? If she wants to ride her bike, she should be able to, regardless of how I’m feeling. And I definitely don’t want her out there without supervision.

“Okay, yeah. You can knock on his door and see if he’ll watch you. But if he says no or he’s not home, I want you to come and play in the backyard where I can see you, okay?”

She brightens. “Thank you, Auntie Jade.” Then she steps up to the couch and presses a kiss to my cheek before patting my head. “You take a nap.”

“Sure, Rosie. Be brave for me, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

She disappears from my line of sight. When I hear the front door open and close, I let a single tear slip down my cheek. Most days, I can handle the pain. It’s there, more like a constant companion than anything else, something I’ve grown used to. But when I overdo things or have a bad flare up,my goddoes it make me hate everything more than usual.

If I hadn’t fallen last night, I’d probably be able to be out there with Rosie. I don’t want to miss out on her childhood. And I definitely don’t wantherto miss out on things because of my pain.

When I was a kid, my mom did everything to make sure I had a good childhood. She kept me away from my dad as much as she could, not wanting me to get sucked into the family business. I think she tried with David, but he looked up to our dad too much. As soon as he was old enough, David started shadowing him everywhere he went.

Soon after, my mom passed. The fragile bubble of safety I had burst. My dad decided to keep me out of the spotlight like my mom wanted, but it was for an entirely different reason: to use me as a secret weapon.

From that moment on, my childhood was gone. I still had school, but the rest of my time was spent training. Learning how to shoot, how to kill, how to establish authority the second you walked into a room.

I was taught a lot of valuable skills, but I was never given time to properly mourn my mother’s death. Navigating puberty and my teenage years without being allowed to feel only made things worse. I became exactly what my father wanted me to be—a killing machine who lurked in the shadows, always ready. But I lost myself in the process.

Hell, I’m still trying to figure out exactly who I am. At the same time, I’m trying to give Rosie the childhood my father stole from me. The second I found out she existed, I knew someone needed to protect her, and that no one would. So I stepped in.

Now, despite all my best efforts, I feel like I’m failing. Because of my brother, my energy is being pulled in too many directions. I know it’s not my fault, but it stillfeelsthat way.

I bury my face into the couch cushions and scream. Two months. Maybe less. And then my body won’t be under so much of a strain. Hopefully I’ll be able to do more with Rosie then.

For a second, I almost get up to do some chores. But then I shake my head and wipe away my tears.

I can’t keep doing this.

I’ll sleep when we’re free, yes. But we’ll neverbefree if I run my body into the ground before we get our chance to run.

So I grab the blanket that’s hanging over the back of the couch, drape it over my body, and close my eyes.

Chapter eight

Dominic

Whenmydoorbellrings,I welcome the distraction. Since I got home from work, I’ve been trying to look for David’s mysterious sister. It’s hard not to have an online presence these days, but she’s managed it. Hell, I can barely find anything on most of the Albright family. It’s almost like it’s been done purposefully.

I swing the front door open, and I grin at the sight of Rosie on my front porch, helmet already resting on her head. I’ve seen her playing outside in the evenings this week, but she hasn’t called me over like usual. Since that weird interaction with her and Jade on Sunday, I’ve been wondering if they were avoiding me.

“Are you busy, Mister Dominic?”

Always.

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