Chapter 6 - The Night Dominic Came Home
The first thing Audrey did was protect her stomach.
Instinct.
Her hand covered the tiny life inside her before her mind caught up with the sound.
Eleanor opened a drawer and removed a handgun.
Audrey stared.
“You keep that beside the tea?”
“I live in a Calder house.”
Another shot.
Eleanor pulled Audrey toward the hall.
“Panic room.”
They moved quickly.
Emergency lights flickered on.
Two security guards appeared at the staircase.
“Mrs. Calder, west perimeter is compromised.”
“How many?”
“At least four.”
Audrey's phone vibrated.
Dominic.
She answered.
“Where are you?”
His voice was sharp.
“Upstairs.”
“Get into the panic room.”
“We're going.”
“I’m seven minutes away.”
Gunfire cracked downstairs.
Dominic heard it.
“Audrey.”
She had never heard fear like that in his voice.
“We're moving.”
“Stay on the phone.”
One of the guards led them toward Eleanor's study.
Then a window exploded.
Audrey screamed.
The guard shoved both women behind the wall.
“Move!”
They ran.
Audrey could hear Dominic breathing through the phone.
“Talk to me.”
“We're almost there.”
A masked man appeared at the end of the corridor.
Eleanor fired.
The man ducked.
Audrey grabbed Eleanor and pulled her through the study doorway.
The security guard slammed it shut.
Behind a painting, Eleanor entered a code.
A steel panel opened.
They slipped inside.
The door closed.
Darkness.
Then emergency lighting illuminated the small reinforced room.
Audrey finally breathed.
“I'm inside.”
Dominic exhaled.
“Lock confirmed?”
Eleanor checked.
“Yes.”
“Stay there until Marcus personally opens it.”
Audrey sat.
Her hands shook uncontrollably.
Dominic's voice softened.
“Audrey.”
“I'm here.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“The baby?”
“I don't know.”
Silence.
The fear became unbearable.
“I don't know, Dominic.”
“I’m coming.”
He arrived four minutes later.
Not seven.
Audrey never learned how fast he drove.
The attack ended shortly afterward.
Two intruders escaped.
Three were captured.
One was dead.
When Marcus opened the panic room, Dominic stood behind him.
Audrey had seen her husband furious.
Cold.
Violent.
She had never seen him shattered.
His gaze swept over her as though checking every inch for blood.
Audrey stood.
Neither moved.
Then something inside her gave way.
She crossed the room.
Dominic caught her.
For several seconds, betrayal didn't exist.
There was only fear.
His arms wrapped around her carefully, one hand cradling the back of her head.
Audrey buried her face against his chest.
“I thought—”
“I know.”
“What if something happened?”
“It didn't.”
“You don't know that.”
Dominic pulled back.
“We're going to the hospital.”
Audrey didn't argue.
An hour later, they sat inside a private examination room.
Dominic stood beside the wall because Audrey hadn't invited him closer.
The ultrasound technician moved the wand.
Then a rapid heartbeat filled the room.
Audrey cried instantly.
Dominic didn't.
But his eyes closed.
For the first time in years, the most feared man in Chicago looked almost like he was praying.
“Heartbeat is strong,” the technician said.
Audrey laughed through tears.
Dominic turned his face away.
She noticed his hand shaking.
After the technician left, silence filled the room.
“You can come closer,” Audrey said.
Dominic approached the bed.
She handed him the new ultrasound print.
He stared at it.
“I don't deserve this.”
Audrey's expression changed.
“Don't say that.”
“It's true.”
“No. You don't get to make our child part of your punishment.”
Dominic looked at her.
“This baby isn't something you earn by being a good husband.”
He nodded.
Audrey continued.
“And I'm not promising anything.”
“I know.”
“You moving closer to us doesn't mean I'm forgiving you.”
“I know.”
“But if you want to be this child's father, be one.”
Dominic's voice broke slightly.
“I will.”
Audrey looked at him for a long time.
“Then start by staying alive.”
At that moment Marcus entered.
His expression erased the fragile warmth.
“We found one of Adrian's men alive.”
Dominic stood.
“What did he say?”
“The estate attack wasn't supposed to kill Audrey.”
Audrey frowned.
“Then what?”
“Take her.”
“Why?”
Marcus looked at Dominic.
“Adrian wants something you have.”
“What?”
“He wouldn't say.”
Then Dominic's phone rang.
Serena.
He answered.
But Adrian spoke.
“Hello, little brother.”
Dominic went completely still.
Adrian laughed softly.
“It's been a long time.”
“Where's Serena?”
“Alive. For now.”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
Dominic looked at Audrey.
Adrian continued.
“Midnight tomorrow. Come alone.”
“And if I don't?”
“You'll spend the rest of your life wondering what your wife would look like holding a baby who never got to meet its father.”
The line went dead.
Audrey stared at Dominic.
“No.”
He said nothing.
“Dominic, no.”
May you like
But she already knew that look.
He had made his decision.
