Page 32 of Exile
We finish the drive in silence, and when Dominick moves to get out of the car, I put a hand on his arm, stopping him. “You don’t have to come in. I’m beat, and I just want to go to sleep.”
“Kitten…” His tone is gentler now. The look in his eyes softens, and it stirs the guilt churning in my stomach still. I shake my head, cutting off his protest.
“Please, Dom. I need sleep and some time to process all of this. You can come by tomorrow if you want.” My voice cracks from use, and I give him a pleading look, begging him not to fight me on this. Fortunately, he doesn’t. He just leans in and presses a soft, chaste kiss to my lips. I cringe internally, paranoid that he will be able to sense the ghostly remnants of the kiss Kai burned into my soul earlier tonight.
“Alright, Kitten. Get some sleep. I’ll be back in the morning, okay? I can help you explain what happened to your mom if you want.”
Relief floods through my system at his words. Relief from what, I’m not entirely sure. Relief of getting distance so I can process the guilt from Kai’s stolen kiss? Knowing I won’t be alone when I have to relive this horrible nightmare to tell Mom? Or the fact that the icy fury that had been making him edgy and prickly for the last few hours has finally melted away, revealing the warm, kindhearted man I fell in love with in its place.
Dragging my tired body through the front door, I am nearly tackled by Grace as she launches herself at me, wrapping me in another bone-crushing hug, like the kind Kai gave me in the hospital.
“Sweet, ReRe, are you okay? Let me look at you.” Grace cups my face as she looks me over, checking for injuries. Her eyes narrow, then begin to shimmer with tears when she takes in the bruising on my neck. “Oh, baby girl, what did that monster do to you?” She pulls me back in for another hug, and I melt into her, savoring the comfort she is offering.
“It’s okay, Grace. It could’ve been a lot worse.” I try to pull away to give Grace a reassuring smile, but her hold on me doesn’t relent.
“Kai called me and told me what happened, and I’ve been a mess worrying about you. I wasn’t sure if I should wake your momma up and tell her what happened. I can go get her now if you want.” Grace finally releases her hold on me and turns like she is going to go wake Mom up. I place a hand on her arm, halting her in mid-step.
“No, let her sleep. It hurts to talk too much now. It’ll keep until the morning. I don’t want to have to explain this to her more than once.” Grace gives me an “are you sure?” kind of look, so I give her my most reassuring smile.
“I really just need to get some rest. Dominick is coming back in the morning so we can tell her what happened. You can go home and get some sleep, Grace. Thank you so much for staying so late.”
After a few more minutes of fussing, Grace finally leaves, promising to return in the afternoon to check on me. I climb the stairs to my room on the second floor with herculean effort, the last several hours weighing on me mentally and physically, but I refuse to get into bed with the ghost of Todd’s touch still lingering on my skin. After showering, putting on PJs, and brushing my teeth, I finally feel clean enough to climb into bed.
My last thoughts as my eyes drift closed and sleep overtakes me aren’t of the monsters who assaulted me or of the man who saved me. They are of the soft, plush lips of my best friend and the way they fit so perfectly against mine.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
SERENA
Late the next morning, I wake, head pounding, feeling like I’ve been run over by a truck. Bleary-eyed and groggy from lack of sleep, I shuffle into the bathroom to relieve my bladder. Standing at the sink, I take in my appearance. My eyes are still swollen and red from crying, dark shadows under them highlighting exactly how tired I am. Bruises circle my neck like a choker, my complexion sallow like I haven’t seen the sun in weeks. In a word, I look like shit. After brushing my teeth and splashing cold water on my face in a futile attempt to freshen up, I head downstairs, not feeling at all ready to tell Mom what happened and relive that nightmare.
When I reach the bottom of the staircase, the low murmur of voices in the kitchen catches me off guard. I pause for a moment, trying to discern who is here in my house, but my mother’s choked sob spurs me back into action. In the kitchen, I find Dominick hugging my mother, consoling her as she breaks in his arms. Something twists in my gut when I realize what’s happening. Dominick told her about my assault last night while I was upstairs asleep. Dominick notices me standing in the doorway to the kitchen, but he continues to hold my mom, rubbing soothing circles on her back.
A storm of emotions rages through me over his audacity to do this without me here to console her myself, but before I can open my mouth to say anything, my mom’s muffled words, sobbed into Dom’s chest, cause my righteous indignation to catch in my throat. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. You saved her.”
Dom looks me in the eye when he says to my mom, “I would do anything for your daughter, Laura. You’ll never have to worry about Serena as long as I’m around.” The irritation that flared up at the thought of him breaking this news without me dies a sudden death.
“Mom.” My voice comes out in a choked whisper when I speak. She immediately tears herself out of Dominick’s arms and flings herself at me, engulfing me in her arms. I bury my face in her shoulder and let myself become a little girl who needs her mom’s comfort. It’s been so long since I let myself fall apart in front of her, needing to be strong for both our sakes after Dad’s death.
“I’m so sorry baby. I’m so sorry you had to be in that situation. I’m so sorry.” I feel wetness on my skin as my mother’s tears mix with my own. We cling to one another like a life-raft adrift in an ocean of tears and sorrow.
I don’t know how long we stay like that, but eventually the sound of cabinets opening and closing and mugs being set on the counter brings us out of our emotional trance. I pull away from Mom just enough so I can look her in the eye when I say, “I’m okay, Mom. They didn’t hurt me. Dominick got there in time.” Mom nods once and pulls me in for a forehead kiss. When we break apart Dominick has set three full mugs of coffee on the table.
We follow Dom’s lead and take a seat at the table. Mom won’t let go of my hand though. She continues to cling to me as if she’s afraid if she fully lets go, the horrors of last night will come back and steal me away.
“Laura, I already told Serena she is done working at Maverick’s. It’s not safe for her there, and I will not allow her to continue to put herself in danger. She is mine to care for and I want to take the next step with her.” My eyes snap to Dominick’s at his words. My heart begins to race at their implication and what might be coming next.
“Laura, I know you don’t remember me, but hopefully the longer I’m around, the more you will grow to trust me, because I’m not going anywhere. I want to marry your daughter. I want to give her the life she deserves to have and not this hamster wheel of work and survival that she’s stuck on. Serena shouldn’t have to shoulder this burden alone, and I won’t let her. Not anymore. Will you let me take care of you and your daughter?”
My heart ceases to beat, and my breath catches in my throat as I process Dominick’s question. Is he asking what I think he’s asking? Our eyes are locked together, Dominick’s searing intensity boring into my soul as my mind comes to grips with what he is saying.
“Serena, will you marry me?” The words, while technically a question, sound more like a command. Dom places a small black box on the table and flips it open. Inside sits an ostentatious princess cut solitaire diamond engagement ring. I feel locked in stasis as I struggle to form a coherent answer to Dominick’s question. Mom’s hand squeezes my own, directing my attention to her. When my eyes find her, I see her red-rimmed eyes shining with more tears, her lips turned up in a small, reassuring smile. She gives me an encouraging nod, as if to say, “It’s okay. Say yes.”
When I turn back to Dominick and meet his gaze, I know there is only one answer.
“Yes.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX