Chapter 20 - Emily
“So, spill it. Why are you having breakfast with me on a Saturday morning and not Mr. Orgasms and that adorable daughter of his?” Kristi sipped her latte, her eyes narrowing as she peered over the rim of her cup, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips.
It had been three weeks since the accident, a messy, confusing ordeal I hadn’t even begun to unpack with Kristi. But, strangely enough, it ended up being the catalyst in my relationship with Dominic.
“Could you keep your voice down?” I motioned with a hand, trying not to blush at Kristi’s shamelessness.
The truth was, life felt like something out of a romance novel. Dominic had transformed into the doting husband I had always dreamed of: charming, romantic, supportive and let’s not forget… the sex. O.M.G. Mind-blowing didn’t even begin to describe it. And yes, I told Kristi all about it and she was thrilled.
Kristi leaned back in her chair, raising an eyebrow, completely unfazed. “If I had a man that gave me as many orgasms as your husband, I would stand on Mt. Everest and let everyone know. So, where is he?”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't suppress the smile tugging at my lips. “He went on an emergency business trip with Seb. And they’ll be back tomorrow evening.”
One thing I had learned about Dominic was that he liked things to be precise. He wasn’t the type to throw around phrases like “emergency meetings.” Still, he had asked me to trust him and be patient so he could fix things and I was trying to do just that.
So, when he woke me up at 4 a.m., murmuring something about an emergency meeting he had to attend, I wasn’t exactly buying it. But I also knew getting upset wouldn’t help. If this was something he needed to handle, I wasn’t going to stand in his way. Instead, I kissed him, wished him a good flight, and let it go.
The truth was, this was the first time in three weeks I felt… exposed. Dominic’s presence had been my shield, his touch, his attention, his love—everything about him had kept me wrapped in this blissful bubble. A bubble where the accident and its unsettling details couldn’t reach me.
But now, with him gone, those questions came rushing back. Why did it happen? Who was responsible? The hair on the back of my neck prickled, and my stomach churned at the thought.
“Em, are you okay?” Kristi’s voice had a note of concern, and I looked up to see her studying me closely.
I sighed, setting my coffee mug down with a soft clink, then rubbed my temples. I wasn’t ready to tell Kristi about the accident, not yet. “It’s Dad. He’s been calling a lot these past few weeks. The one time I decided to pick up, he was asking questions about Dominic. It’s like he’s fishing for something.”
Kristi’s frown deepened. “And you haven’t told Dominic?”
I shook my head, my voice barely a whisper. “No. He’s already dealing with so much. The last thing I want is to add my dad’s mess to his plate. I just—I don’t want to worry him.”
Kristi’s eyes narrowed, and she paused, her latte forgotten. “Em, you can’t keep this to yourself forever. If your dad’s poking around, there’s a reason. And keeping Dominic in the dark? That’s a recipe for disaster.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, frustration simmering just under the surface. “You think I don’t know that? But every time I try to tell him, I freeze. I can’t bring myself to do it. And now, with Dominic gone for a few hours, I was thinking I should stop by Dad's and get to the bottom of this myself.”
Kristi leaned forward, her hand landing firmly over mine. “I think you should, for the sake of everyone involved.”
I nodded.
Just then, my phone rang, the screen flashed with Leo’s name.
“Hi, Leo. Is everything okay at the house?”
“Hi, Aunty Emily, it’s me, Lucy! Can you do a French braid?” I could almost picture Lucy’s thoughtful expression over the phone.
I glanced at Kristi, who was now absorbed in her phone, her lips curved in a smile.
“Yes, hun, I can.”
“Great. Uncle Leo can only do ponytails. I just want something different, you know?”
I stifled a laugh. “I totally understand, sweetheart. I’ll be home in an hour to get you ready for your playdate and braid your hair, okay?”
“Thanks, Aunty Emily. See you soon. Bye!”
“Bye, Lucy.”
The call ended, and I lowered my phone with a fond smile. I glanced over at Kristi, still smiling at her phone.
“Who’s making you smile like that?” I raised an eyebrow.
“No one.” She placed the phone face down on the table.
“Oh really? No one?”
I grabbed her phone and stared at the screen for a moment before looking back at her. “Wait… are you guys a thing?”
Kristi had never had a steady boyfriend, at least not one I knew about. She always said she was too young for commitment and wanted to enjoy life first.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, grabbing her phone back.
“So, you’re keeping important information from me?” I lowered my voice. “While I’m over here telling you how many orgasms my husband gives me in one night, you better start talking.”
Kristi giggled. “Fine, fine. Where do I begin?”
“The beginning!”
For the next thirty minutes, Kristi spilled the details of her love life before it was time for me to leave. I gave her a hug outside the café.
“I’ll call you later to tell you how everything went, okay?”
“See ya, babe. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I gave her another quick hug before I hopped into the car with Alec at the wheel.
Once I got home, Leo gave Lucy a quick hug, said goodbye and left. I got Lucy ready and dropped her off at her playdate, watching her run inside with excitement before turning to Alec.
“Can you please drop me off at my father’s house?”
“Sure thing, Mrs. Quantum.”
After giving him directions, I settled into the seat as he informed the other security detail about the detour. As the car pulled away, a sudden wave of nausea hit me. I pressed my hand to my stomach, wondering if it was just nerves.
“Mrs. Quantum, you okay?” Alec asked, glancing at me with concern in the rearview mirror.
“I’m fine,” I replied quickly, forcing a smile. “Just a little... tired, that’s all.”
He didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t press further. It wasn’t long before Alec pulled up to Dad’s house. He opened the door and moved to follow me.
“Alec, it’s fine. I’ll go alone.”
He hesitated. “Mrs. Quantum, I have strict orders not to leave you alone when you're not at home.”
I sighed. “Alec, this is my father’s house. I’ll be in and out in ten minutes. If I’m not, you can come in, okay?”
He nodded reluctantly, and I walked through the gates.
I walked into the house, the door clicking shut behind me, and immediately heard raised voices coming from the study. The unmistakable sound of my father’s angry voice, followed by Amber’s harsh, frantic tone.
My pulse quickened as I tiptoed toward the study door, careful not to make a sound. Peering through the small gap, I saw my father standing rigid by his desk, his face red with frustration. Amber was pacing, hands gesturing wildly.
“I’m doing what’s necessary to protect us, to secure our financial future!” Amber’s voice was frantic, desperate.
My father’s voice was low, almost a growl, but the intensity of it carried through the door. “You think you’re protecting us by sending anonymous emails to Dominic threatening to expose him and destroy everything he holds dear?”
A sickening thought struck me. Was this what Dominic had been hiding from me? Constant email threats? Is that the pressure he’d been under? I’d asked him if it had anything to do with my father, and he’d said no, his answer so genuine it seemed like he truly had no idea about the involvement of my father and Amber. But if that was the case... then was the accident... them?
Dad’s voice silenced my thoughts, each word dripping with venom, “Have you forgotten that Dominic and I are both connected to the Black Lotus Syndicate? If he gets exposed, I’ll go with him!”
His words slammed into me and I felt the world shift beneath my feet. Wait, Dominic was part of the Black Lotus Syndicate? I’d only ever heard rumors about them from Kristi, whispers of dangerous men and women with untouchable power. Was that how Dominic accumulated his wealth? And my father… he was a part of it too! It felt like someone had tossed me into the ocean without a life jacket, and I was sinking, unable to breathe.
Amber’s voice snapped me back to the moment, her eyes sharp with fury. “You left me no choice! Your method was taking forever! I planted the email so Emily would apply for the job, knowing Dominic would hire her because she’s your daughter. And when she messed up and had no choice but to marry him, you saw it as the perfect opportunity to get inside information from him. But what do you have to show for it? Nothing!”
I felt light headed, the world tilting as I swayed, my hand shooting out to grab the wall for stability as the full extent of it hit me. Dad and Amber… It was them. They orchestrated it all. Every last bit of it.
I backed away slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. My father, my own father, had been involved in all of this. What had he allowed Amber to drag him into? What kind of monster was he?
I slipped out of the house as quietly as I’d entered, my chest tightening with every step. I couldn’t confront my father now, not yet. I needed to let Dominic had to know what was going on.
My legs carried me toward the car faster than I realized, the pounding of my heels on the pavement matching the racing of my heart. Alec and the others were standing outside. The moment Alec saw me, he opened the car door.
I slid in, fumbling in my bag for my phone. My fingers trembled as I dialed Dominic’s number.
“Come on, come on, pick up.”
The ringing seemed endless, each tone louder and more grating than the last.
Voicemail.
I groaned, gripping the phone tighter. Calm down, Emily. He told you he might not be reachable during his meeting. There’s no reason to panic.
But I couldn’t stop the unease clawing at my chest. My own father, my family, my flesh and blood, had betrayed me. How could he?
I closed my eyes, drawing in a shaky breath. I needed to clear my head.
“Alec,” I said, my voice unsteady. “Can you take me to Seb’s Bar and Lounge on 3rd Street?”
He gave a quick nod, his expression unreadable, and twenty minutes later, I found myself seated at the dimly lit bar. The cool glass of lemon water in my hand was a poor match for the inferno in my chest. I stared into the liquid, hoping it would calm me, but my thoughts refused to settle.
I tried calling Kristi. No answer. The silence on the other end of the line only made my nerves worse.
When my alarm went off, signaling it was time to pick up Lucy from her playdate, I placed a few bills on the counter, thanked the bartender, and left.
Even as Alec pulled the car back onto the street, my mind was still reeling, a chaotic swirl of betrayal, fear, and anger.
Girl, you’d better pull yourself together before you pick up Lucy. I swallowed hard, forcing my hands to steady as I clenched them in my lap. When you get home, you can fall apart, cry, scream—whatever. But right now? Fake it till you make it.
I straightened in my seat, took a deep breath, and plastered on the most convincing mask of calm I could muster. For Lucy’s sake, I had to keep it together. At least for now.
Alec pulled up outside the quaint suburban house, and I stepped out, smoothing my expression into something polite and approachable. I rang the doorbell, and Lucy’s friend’s mom greeted me warmly.
“Thank you so much for having Lucy over,” I said with a practiced smile.
“It was our pleasure! The girls had a wonderful time,” she replied as Lucy appeared, bounding toward me with her backpack in tow.
I took Lucy’s hand, and we walked back to the car. “How was the playdate?” I asked lightly.
“It was great!” Lucy chirped as we climbed into the car.
As Alec started the car, Lucy’s voice bubbled with excitement. “Guess what I did today!”
“What?” I asked, glancing back at her with a small smile.
“I taught Sophie how to make friendship bracelets! She made one for me, see?” Lucy held out her wrist, proudly showing off a brightly colored bracelet made of uneven knots and beads.
“It’s beautiful, Luce,” I said, reaching back to gently touch it.
Her grin grew wider. “Do you think we could make one for each other? I still have a few beads and string left!”
“I’d love to,” I said, letting her joy soften the edges of my day.
As Lucy and I focused on the bracelets, her laughter filled the car. Suddenly, the lightness of her laughter shattered like glass as the screech of tires filled the air. My head snapped up just in time to see a truck plow into the SUV in front of us.
“Alec!” I screamed, clutching Lucy instinctively. Alec cursed, yanking the wheel to swerve, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision. But before he could regain control, a violent impact from the side sent us spinning.
“Hold on!” Alec barked.
Lucy’s terrified screams rang out, her tiny arms clinging to mine in a death grip as the car jerked and skidded to a halt.
Gunfire erupted, sharp and relentless.
“Get down, now!” Alec shouted as I watched him draw his firearm as he tried to start the engine again but to no avail.
My ears rang as I curled protectively around Lucy, shielding her with my body, staying as low in the car as possible.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered, though my voice broke under the weight of fear. My heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst.
Suddenly, the driver’s door was wrenched open, and Alec’s gun fired in rapid bursts. The car filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder and shouts. Then came return shots, sharp and unforgiving.
“No!” I screamed as Alec grunted and slumped forward, blood streaking down his shoulder.
The next second, the door beside me was yanked open, and rough hands grabbed me. “Let me go!” I shouted, my voice raw with terror. I clawed and kicked at the person pulling me, desperate to break free.
Lucy’s piercing screams cut through the chaos. “Aunty Emily! Help me!”
“Lucy!” I thrashed harder, panic tearing through me as I felt a sack shoved over my head.
I struggled against the arms dragging me, every muscle burning with the effort. My nails scraped against flesh, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t strong enough.
Her cries grew fainter, and then a sharp, chemical smell invaded my nose. I tried to hold my breath, but it was no use. My limbs weakened, my struggles faltering.
“Lucy—” I whispered, tears streaming as everything went black.