Chapter 52
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
SERENA
T he next morning, I find myself slowly slipping out of bed, careful not to wake Dom. I grab the first piece of clothing I can find, one of Dom’s old police academy t-shirts, and pull it on. It swamps my body, hitting me mid-thigh. My heart gives a little pang as I look at the logo. My Granddaddy taught at the police academy for years before officially retiring. The fact that Dom had been one of his recruits was one of the things that made me feel comfortable around him. My na?ve brain honestly thought if my Granddaddy had mentored him, then surely that meant he was a good man. I let out a quiet snort of derision at my na?veté.
Slipping out of the room quietly, I make my way downstairs, needing some space away from the slumbering monster currently holding me hostage so I can think. I can’t run. Not yet. Not until I know where my mother is and that he’s not going to push for charges to be brought up against Kai. I know I can tell the truth and say I wasn’t kidnapped, but it will be Dom’s word against mine. Would they believe me?
Standing in the living room, staring out the window, I am lost in a tailspin of doubt and what ifs. The sound of tires crunching on gravel draws my attention to the driveway. I see a beat-up red pickup truck. that’s seen better days, slowly making its way up towards the house. I stand there, holding my breath, waiting to see who it is, hoping maybe I might finally be catching a break.
When I see Dane hop out of the truck, I rush over to the front door, opening it before he has a chance to ring the bell. I don’t know if he’s here as a friend of Dom’s or on cop business, but either way, I don’t want him waking Dom up. When I open the door and Dane’s gaze meets mine, a look of shocked relief crosses his face. His expression ignites the smallest spark of hope in my chest.
“Fuck, Serena. Thank God you’re okay.” He jogs up the stairs and pulls me into a hug before I know it’s happening. My arms hang limply by my side as my brain works to catch up to what is going on. After a long, awkward moment, I pat his back and pull away. He takes a long moment to study my face and my bare arms and legs, like he’s checking me over for injuries.
“Kai didn’t hurt me,” I spit out defensively, thinking he’s heard Dom’s bullshit story and thinks I was kidnapped. I refuse to play into that bullshit—I will not help Dom bury Kai.
“I know, Serena. I know. I was worried about you after Dom didn’t bring you to the station.” My mouth falls open in shock at Dane’s words. He was worried about me? Does this mean he’s talked to Kai? Does he believe us? I open my mouth to respond, but something dark up on the porch ceiling catches my eye. I glance up, seeing one of Dom’s security cameras pointed directly at the front door. I don’t know if these cameras have audio, but I don’t want to risk it. I close my mouth, and Dane’s eyes narrow in suspicion. He turns his head slightly to see what my gaze is locked on, clocking the camera behind his shoulder.
When he returns his attention to me, I can see a glint of understanding in his eyes. “Yeah, after I heard the crazy rumor going around the station about you being kidnapped, I wanted to come check on you. I thought it was odd Dom didn’t bring you by right away so charges could be filed…unless of course it was a misunderstanding.” He gives me a knowing look, like we are sharing a secret. Excitement tingles through my limbs when I realize Dane might actually be on our side.
Before I can confirm his suspicion, I hear heavy footsteps come up behind me a moment before Dom’s hard body presses into my back, his strong arms wrapping around me, pulling me tight against him. I tense but try not to flinch at the contact, afraid of angering him if I make the wrong move in front of his buddy.
“What’s a misunderstanding?” Dom’s voice is dark and ominous, rolling through me like thunder. My heart rate ratchets up to a panicked tempo at the threat-laced tone of his voice.
“This whole kidnapping business. Kai is at the station claiming Serena left with him willingly. He’s got a lawyer there causing problems and we need to know if there will be any charges brought or if we need to cut him loose.” Dane’s demeanor shifts immediately, like he’s annoyed. Like Kai is being totally unreasonable about insisting on his innocence.
He’s putting on a good enough act, I start doubting what I thought I saw in his eyes moments ago.
Dom lets out a dark chuckle with no humor to it at all. “We can hold him for seventy-two hours. Let him sit and spin. He needs to learn not to mess with another man’s girl. My girl .” A chill runs down my spine at how casually Dom is toying with Kai’s freedom.
Dane furrows his brows, making a show of hesitating. “You sure, bro? If his lawyer catches wind of you holding him with no intention of bringing charges, he will raise a fuck ton of hell. I don’t know if you want that kind of heat on you with the whole country actively looking for examples of police abusing their position.”
I hold still, hope stealing my ability to breathe, while I wait to see if Dom agrees with his assessment. Please, please, please, let Kai go.
“Who said there won’t be charges filed? That’s entirely in Serena’s hands. His fate is all up to her.”
Bile rises in the back of my throat at Dominick’s implied threat. I have to submit to him. Be his. And then maybe he will let Kai go. A glimmer of something that looks like concern passes over Dane’s face before he schools his expression again.
“Right…well, then she’s got sixty hours to decide before we have to let him go.”
Dom’s hand moves from my shoulder to the back of my neck, giving it a painful squeeze. I can’t control the flinch that twists my face up as pain lances down my spine. “Thanks for the reminder, D. I’m sure she will make the right decision. Now if you don’t mind, we’ve got some catching up to do.” Dane looks from Dom to me, clearly conflicted by Dom’s dismissal. I can tell he wants to help me, but doesn’t want to outwardly oppose Dom for some reason.
Dane jerks a stiff nod, then retreats down the porch steps and jogs over to his truck. My heart sinks as I watch him get in, desperately wishing I could run after him and go with him. But I can’t leave Dom yet. Not until he takes me to my mom and I know she’s safe.
Dom drags me back into the house by the scruff of my neck. His face is a blank mask, and I can’t tell if he’s angry with me. I tried so hard not to give him any reason to think I had said anything to Dane. I want Dom to feel like he’s beaten me. That I’m giving up. I need him to get cocky and think he’s won. It’s the only way he will finally tell me where my mother is. Now that I know Kai has a lawyer fighting for him, all of my determination shifts to saving the woman who gave me life.
“Dom, please don’t be angry. I didn’t say anything to Dane. I swear. I know where I belong, and it’s here with you.” The words taste bitter on my tongue, but I infuse them with as much regret as I can muster. “Wasn’t I so good for you last night? You…you said I was your good girl.” Nausea churns in my gut at the reminder of what I had to do the previous night to placate him. I push through it, putting on the performance of my life.
I caress one palm against his stubbled cheek, delicately trailing my nails against his skin, the way I know he likes. The punishing grip he has on the back of my neck lessens slightly as my touch relaxes him. His eyes lock on mine, the steel color of them cutting through me like a knife.
“You’re mine, Kitten. You understand that now? There is no end to us. There is no end to you and me. You are my end game, one way or another. Am I being clear?”
My mouth goes dry in fear as I nod mutely in understanding. It is in this moment I fully comprehend how far Dom is willing to go to ensure he gets what he wants.