22. Lena
Lena
I keep checking my phone over and over. That one message from Dominic still stares back at me. Wait for me. No call. No follow-up. No explanation. Just those three words—like they’re supposed to be enough.
Where the hell did he go after I threw Anton’s messages at him?
He didn’t even try to lie. Or argue. He stood there and owned it, his signature, his silence. My heart is pounding now, my screen still lit up, waiting. Then the phone buzzes. I flinch. Not Dominic. Fucking Anton. I feel sick before I even read it. “Enjoy this little gem.”
A screenshot from the sleaziest, most morally bankrupt tabloid in the country. The headline sends chills down my spine: “ Billionaire Behind the Bulldozers: Dominic Monti’s Secret Plan to Demolish Historic District. Luxury Over Lives: Monti’s Empire Targets Women’s Shelter in Redevelopment Scheme."
My vision blurs as I read: "Sources reveal that billionaire and hotel magnate Dominic Monti, known for his luxury hotels and curated public persona, is quietly backing a controversial redevelopment plan set to erase the city’s historic Rosehill District.
At the heart of the proposed demolition?
A women’s shelter known for protecting abuse survivors, now at risk of being turned into a high-end shopping plaza.
Critics call it a calculated move: profit over people.
A betrayal by a man once seen as a civic benefactor. "
The bastard’s attacking on two fronts, dragging Dominic’s name through the mud and exposing the shelter.
Exactly what Valerie feared. And the worst part?
The facts are real. If even one media outlet starts digging into this, they’ll find Monti’s name all over it.
This could turn into a scandal that crushes a lot of people.
How the hell did Dominic get dragged into this? But why am I even surprised? Billionaires don’t build empires on charity. It’s always about leverage. Spotting opportunities and chasing profit. Like I haven’t covered enough stories of success built on fraud and stepping over bodies?
Then the phone buzzes. It’s another text from Anton. “It goes live tonight. You’ve got a few hours to decide if you’re backing out.”
I text back fast: “You lying piece of shit. You won’t get away with this. Dominic’s going to destroy you. And I’m going to help him.”
A string of twisted-face emojis comes back first. Then a longer message: “Which Dominic? The one who’s not even with you right now because he’s too busy covering his own ass?
Careful with the insults. Maybe take a closer look at who you married.
Thought you hit the jackpot, didn’t you?
You lost. Like always. Give up. Run. I’m going to crush both of you. And your precious shelter.”
Shit. Valerie. I need to talk to her. She has to know what’s happening. She always has good, practical ideas.
I make one last attempt to reach Dominic.
I call. It rings and rings. He doesn’t pick up.
I throw a few things into a backpack: some clothes and the music box.
Then I walk out. I’m heading to Grandma’s.
It’s the only place I can think clearly.
I’ll talk to Valerie. She’s all I have left.
I pull a cap low over my face, grab a hoodie I can blend in with, and walk out of our apartment.
His apartment. I never really felt at home here, no matter how hard I tried.
At the front desk, I ask for Leo or Alice. They’re gone. Some kind of crisis. Dominic called them in. Yeah, Alice is probably drowning in PR fires right now, doing damage control for the Monti name.
I did not sign up for this. I choose to walk, to put distance between me and the hotel. It’s early afternoon, and the city is buzzing with weekend energy. I’ll catch a cab, eventually. For now, I need time to clear my head. I can’t show up freaking out and scare Valerie, too.
My phone vibrates. It’s Mario. I haven’t heard from him since the night Dominic flipped out in that jealous rage. I’d sent him a quick apology after. He replied with a smiley emoji. I think he’s already out of town.
Mario : “Hey, kid. How are you holding up? Saw the news about Anton and the Mayor. What’s your move?”
Me: “I’m hanging in. I don’t know yet.”
Mario: “Back out. Take care of yourself. This fight’s way too big for you.”
What would a real journalist do? One with a spine? What would someone brave do if they had all the dirt I’ve gathered? If they knew all the disgusting things Anton’s done? Would they go straight to the police? No thought for the fallout? Just for the truth?
I find a bench off a quiet side street and send Lexi the screenshot. “Don’t show it to Gabriel yet,” I add.
She calls immediately. “Oh shit. Girl, what the hell is this?”
“It’s the worst nightmare I could be in. Everything I care about, everything I fight for… it’s all under attack. And I don’t know what to do.”
My voice catches, tightening in my throat like the words are too heavy to say. “Who do I sacrifice, Lexi? Who do I even have the right to sacrifice? What’s the moral move here? What’s actually right?”
Lexi sighs softly. I can almost picture her pinching the bridge of her nose. “Did you talk to Dominic? Did he really do it?”
“He admitted it. Then vanished.” I swallow hard. “Probably to fix it.”
“Where are you now?”
“Out. I’m heading to the shelter. I need some distance from Dominic so I can think straight.”
“You shouldn’t be out like this. It’s not safe.”
“Safe from what, Lexi?” My voice cracks. “Anton’s holding all the cards now. He doesn’t need to come after me. All he has to do is hit ‘publish’ and it’s over. Nothing will ever be the same.”
I stop walking. I’m gripping the phone so hard, my hand aches. “I can’t stay with Dominic after this. The trust is gone. He’s just like the rest.” I swallow hard. “I’m filing for divorce tomorrow.”
Saying it feels like biting down on glass. “At least that part of my life I can close with dignity. I don’t need his money. I want my life back.”
“Lena, honey, Gabriel keeps calling me. Let me pick up. I’ll call you right back, okay?”
Lexi hangs up. I get up and try waving down a taxi, but none stop. Fine. I’ll order one through the app.
The phone rings again. It’s Lexi. Her voice is urgent, panicked.
“Lena, listen carefully. Dominic’s at the hospital.
His mom… she had a crisis. She’s still unconscious, and he asked Gabriel to watch over you.
Stay where you are. Share your location.
Wait for Gabriel. Please don’t do anything stupid. ”
My stomach drops. Oh, God. His mom . “What hospital? Violetta’s?”
“Lena, stay where you are. Send me your damn location and don’t move. You’re impossibly stubborn. Don’t hang up. Stay on with me.”
I send it, but my eyes are still scanning the street for a car. “Do you know what happened to her?” I ask, still half in motion.
“He didn’t say much. Just that it happened during a fight with his dad. At home.”
“So that’s where Dominic was,” I say, sighing. “God. I’m the one who dragged him into this. I pushed him into that fight with his father, and now his mother’s in the hospital. This is on me. I bring nothing but trouble.”
I blink hard. “Of course, he didn’t tell me. He doesn’t want me there. What would I do? Show up with Anton breathing down my neck and the press swarming the hospital? I’d only make things worse.”
“Lena, stop. It’s not your fault,” Lexi says, firm but soft. “Dominic can handle this. It’s not his first scandal.” There’s a pause. I don’t answer.
“Are you walking?” she asks suddenly, sharper now. “You know I can hear traffic. Lena, stop. Stay put, please. You need to protect yourself.”
“I don’t know where to go, Lexi.” My voice breaks. “Dominic doesn’t want me anymore. I’ll hide out at Grandma’s for a while. Just keep me…”
A hand grabs my phone and hurls it to the ground.
I barely have time to scream before strong arms lift me off my feet and shove me into a van.
The doors slam shut, and everything goes dark.
The engine roars to life, and my head slams against the metal wall.
A sharp pain explodes at my temple, and everything goes dim.
As my eyes adjust, I realize I’m not alone.
There’s a figure looming beside me. He yanks me down and throws me to the floor.
I land on my backpack and squeeze my eyes shut.
Stay calm. Stay alert. Listen. Count the turns.
Track the motion of the van. Anything that can help later.
The guy beside me is typing on a phone. I catch the screen light up. “Are you reporting to Anton? Where are you taking me?”
No answer. Just the quiet tap of thumbs. I can’t see his face clearly. I didn’t catch anything about the attackers. They came from behind. And now I’m phone-less. Please notice something’s wrong, Lexi. Please.
The van slows down. Maybe fifteen minutes in? That means we’re still inside city limits. Where are they taking me? The man moves closer. A sharp, chemical smell hits me. Then nothing. Darkness.
***
A sharp throb pulses behind my eyes. I blink slowly, forcing them open.
The room spins. Blurry at first. But yeah, it’s a room.
Faint light filters through a grimy window.
Shapes take form. Details fall into place.
I know this place. Piece by piece, it comes back.
Rosehill . I’m in the old shelter. I push myself up from a thin mattress thrown straight on the floor.
Every movement burns. Crawling to the door feels impossible, but I do it anyway. The pain is sharp, nauseating.
I grab the doorknob and pull myself up to stand. Barely. My legs are shaking. I’m in one of the old bedrooms. I feel like I’m going to throw up. The door’s locked. I bang on it hard. Nothing.