Chapter 23 - Dominic
As the helicopter soared into the darkening sky, the hum of the engines almost drowned out my thoughts, but not the constant ache in my chest. Seb sat across from me, his eyes scanning the horizon. It was the quiet before the storm, but I could feel it building, pressing in on me from all sides.
I stared out of the window, watching the city shrink beneath us, a blur of lights and shadows. My mind wandered back to earlier, the conversation with Seb in the car on the way to the heliport.
“It doesn’t add up,” I muttered, almost to myself. “The Syndicate wouldn’t have taken Emily and Lucy while I was in the middle of a meeting with them. Too risky. Too sloppy. It doesn’t make sense.”
Seb’s gaze flickered to me briefly, then back to the road. “I agree. But the emails, Dom. Who else knew you were a part of the Syndicate besides them? Who else could’ve been sending you those threats?”
The answer hit me like a sledgehammer.
“It’s Victor,” I spat, “It has to be.”
Seb didn’t respond right away, his grip on the wheel tightening, eyes still locked on the road. His voice was low, controlled, as he considered my words. “Victor? But why?”
I clenched my fists so tightly I could feel my nails biting into my palm. My head was spinning as the pieces began to fall into place. “I don’t know... because if he exposes me, he’d risk losing everything, too. But it makes sense, Seb. It all makes sense.”
Seb’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. “So then I was right, Victor allowed Emily to marry you because he was using her as a pawn.”
The rage inside me exploded. I slammed my fist against the dashboard, my heart pounding in my chest as the words tore from me like a primal scream.
“But who the fuck uses their own daughter like that?!” I snarled, my voice hoarse with fury. “Who not only sends emails threatening their child but almost runs them over with a car, then abducts them, leaving a trail of bodies in its wake?!”
My breath was ragged, my chest heaving with the weight of it all. I couldn’t process the betrayal. A father. A father who would do this to his own flesh and blood. It didn’t just make my blood boil—it made me sick to my core.
I couldn’t even bring myself to say the bastard’s name without my skin crawling.
“I swear to God, Seb,” I continued, my voice shaking with anger, “when I get my hands on him...”
Seb’s phone rang, cutting me off. During one of the many calls made right after we found out the girls had been abducted, Seb had instructed one of his guys to track Lucy’s pendant. They had a location.
The butterfly pendant Lucy had worn every day, a gift from him to her. It wasn’t just a piece of jewelry; it was a promise to always be with her, no matter where she went.
“I gave her that necklace after you married Emily, Dom. We both know the marriage wasn’t conventional. I needed to know Lucy was safe, just in case... in case things went sideways with Victor.”
It had taken me a moment to process it, but once I did, I understood. Seb had always been the practical one. The one who thought ahead, especially when it came to family.
I could only nod, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. Seb had done it not just as a protector but as an uncle, someone who would do anything to keep Lucy safe. His loyalty wasn’t just to me—it was to her, too.
“Thanks, Seb,” I had managed to say. “I didn’t even know... but I’m grateful you thought ahead.”
Seb’s voice cut through my thoughts, bringing me back to the present. “We’re almost there, Dom. We’re not far.”
I nodded, my jaw clenching.
But even as I tried to focus on the present, my mind wandered back to my confession in the car.
“You know, Seb, the only reason I married Emily was to get back at Victor,” I had muttered once, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them. “I was pissed off that Victor betrayed me, our trust, after everything we’d been together. I thought the only way to make him feel what I had felt was to take the one thing he cherished.”
“I thought if I took Emily away, he’d crumble. He’d break, Seb. That he’d feel the pain I’ve felt. I thought that was the only way to hit him where it hurt.”
A flash of rage seared through me. “Instead, that bastard just... turned the tables. He turned it all around. He let Emily marry me, sure, but only because he was planning something worse. Something I never saw coming. He’s a monster. What kind of father does that?”
“And to someone like Emily...” My voice faltered, but I couldn’t stop it. “...who couldn’t be more magical if she tried. She’s everything good in this world. Beautiful. Kind. Caring. She’s the kind of person who lights up every room she walks into, who sees the best in people even when they don't deserve it. She’s got a heart that doesn’t quit, Seb.” I clenched my jaw, fighting to keep my emotions in check. Emily didn’t deserve any of this, not from me and not from Victor.
Silence had settled between us, but then Seb had asked something that made me stop in my tracks.
“Dom... are you in love with Emily?”
A question that I was afraid to answer. But there was no denying it. I couldn’t lie. Not anymore. I had to face the truth.
“Yeah,” I had finally said, the words coming out strained, raw. “I love her, Seb. I love her more than I’ve ever loved any other woman.”
I returned to myself with Seb’s voice cutting through the tension in the helicopter.
“Dom, we’re here.”
Black SUVs screeched to a halt outside, and men rushed around the building, securing it. Others bolted inside, and the sharp crack of gunfire echoed in the distance.
Seb reached down to his boot, pulling out a gun. “I’ve got your back. You’ll need both hands free to hold your girls when we get inside.”
The helicopter jerked to a stop, and without hesitation, I was out the door. We sprinted toward the building, adrenaline coursing through me, ready to face whatever awaited us on the other side.
The moment we burst into the building, it felt like the world slowed down. Seb was by my side, his eyes scanning every corner as we kicked open doors, hunting for Emily and Lucy. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline rushing through my veins. Every second felt like an eternity.
Then, I heard it. The sound of struggle behind one of the doors. Without thinking, I yanked it open.
There she was. Emily, fighting with Amber, who was holding a knife in her hand, poised to strike. My blood ran cold, but before I could move, Seb was already beside me. The sharp crack of his gun rang through the air, and Amber cried out in pain as the bullet tore through her shoulder. She dropped the knife with a scream, clutching her arm.
“Found the girls!” Seb called into his headset. He was already moving, dragging Amber out of the room. “We need a paramedic in here now for Mrs. Quantum.”
Without wasting another second, I bolted forward. My heart broke as I pulled them into my arms. Emily’s eyes met mine, wide with a mixture of fear and relief. She collapsed into my arms, and I sank to the ground with her, my heart pounding. I could feel her shaking against me, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her eyes fluttered open and closed, struggling to stay focused, but the moment she saw me, there was a flicker of recognition, a soft, broken smile on her swollen lips.
“Dom...” she whispered, her voice trembling as she clung to me.
“Shh, you're safe now,” I murmured, cradling her in my arms. I couldn’t stop the tears that threatened to spill. She was here, in my arms, alive.
I tightened my grip around them both.
“You’re safe,” I repeated, trying to soothe her. Though the fear was still fresh in my bones.
Her hands trembled against my chest, and I could feel her trying to stay strong, but the exhaustion from everything—everything she had endured—was too much. Her eyelids fluttered closed again, her body sinking into the comfort of my arms.
“Don’t fall asleep,” I said softly, my voice tight with worry. “Stay with me, Emily.”
But she was already slipping, her breathing growing shallow, and I knew we had to get her out of here, now. “I’ve got you,” I whispered, kissing the top of her head, hoping it would anchor her, keep her here with me.
I wasn’t about to lose her—not now, not ever.
My hands shook as I stroked Emily's hair, whispering reassurances that I wasn’t going anywhere. That I’d never let anything happen to her or Lucy again.
Emily’s arms were bruised, slashed with cuts from Amber’s knife, and her face was swollen, battered. Each mark I traced over with my trembling fingers felt like a stab to my chest, my stomach churning with guilt and rage.
“Aunty Emily will be okay, right?” Lucy’s small voice broke through the haze, her wide, tear-filled eyes looking up at me. She clutched my hand tightly, her tiny fingers trembling.
I forced myself to smile, though my throat felt like it was closing. “Yes, sweetheart. She’s going to be okay,” I said, my voice as steady as I could manage. “She’s so strong, Lucy. Just like you.”
Lucy sniffled, her lip quivering as she nodded. She leaned closer to Emily, her small hand brushing against Emily’s. “I love you, Aunty Emily,” she whispered.
The paramedics arrived soon after, their voices brisk but professional as they assessed the scene. I didn’t let go of Emily, even as they worked around me, checking her vitals and stabilizing her. She clung to me, her body trembling against mine, her breathing uneven.
When they brought the stretcher, I lifted her gently, my arms refusing to let her go until it was absolutely necessary. Lucy climbed in beside her, her little hands gripping Emily’s arm protectively.
As we were loaded into the ambulance, I sat beside them, holding Emily’s hand in one of mine and Lucy’s in the other. Emily’s head rested against my shoulder, and Lucy leaned into my side, seeking the comfort I was barely managing to provide.
The sirens wailed as we sped toward the hospital, and I kept my focus on them both, refusing to let my mind spiral into the what-ifs. They were here. They were alive. And I would do everything in my power to keep them safe.
“Just hang on, Emily,” I whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “We’re almost there. I’ve got you. Both of you.”
At the hospital, they took Emily. Letting go of her was the hardest thing I’d ever done. Every instinct screamed at me to hold her tighter, to never let her out of my sight again. But I had to trust the doctors as they rushed her away.
I stayed behind, pacing the waiting room with Lucy. Every second felt like an eternity. One by one, my brothers waltzed in, their presence steadying me just enough to keep it together. Leo sat nearby, cradling Lucy in his arms, her small frame leaning against him as she dozed fitfully.
It felt like hours before the doctor finally returned. His expression was serious, but I caught a glimmer of relief in his eyes. My heart raced as I braced for whatever news he carried.
“Mr. Quantum,” he began, his tone steady, “your wife is going to be fine. The injuries are superficial—bruises and cuts mostly. She’s just completely exhausted from the ordeal, so she’ll need plenty of rest.”
He paused for a moment, offering a small smile. “As for the baby... it wasn’t hurt. Everything looks perfectly fine.”
My brothers and I glanced around at each other.
“Doc, did you say baby?” I asked.
The doctor nodded, his smile widening slightly. “I did. Your wife is two weeks pregnant. This is the first trimester, which is also the riskiest. She’ll need plenty of rest and as little stress as possible to ensure everything progresses smoothly.”
My jaw dropped, and I glanced around at my brothers, who all wore varying expressions of shock, amusement, and disbelief. A baby. Emily was carrying our child.