Page 91 of Dominic Powers Duet Box Set
Then I realized that Harrison used that page to file a fictitious lawsuit against Dominic and I instantly became outraged. If he were right in front of me, I would enjoy inflicting as much bodily pain on him as humanly possible. After I showed them the dot that marred the pages from Harrison’s printer, Cheryl snatched the papers up and went through every single sheet.
“Cheryl, take those papers back to your office and call this number,” Shadow said as he handed her a business card. “The man who answers is on this case and will work with you on how we’re going to prove those fake papers came from Harrison.”
“Don’t I need his name?” Cheryl asks.
“Nope.”
After Cheryl leaves, Shadow pins me with his assessing eyes and says, “I think it’s about time the two of you talk and put all your cards on the table. But, I have two more questions for you first, Sophia.”
I swallow audibly and nod, dreading what’s coming next. Shadow is a former spy. He was a CIA operative for years before joining his friend’s security firm. The man knows too much and I’m afraid of what he and Tucker may have recently learned. Will he tell Dominic that I’m pregnant before I can?
He narrows his eyes at me, sensing my moment of weakness and panic. “Carol Ann’s death isn’t the only reason you helped Harrison, is it?”
He phrased it as a question, but it’s obvious he already knows the answer.
“No. It isn’t even the main reason I agreed to do it,” I answer honestly. My eyes gravitate toward Dominic’s and I see the hardness in them. The result of my betrayal, the loss of any trust, and the confirmation that I’ve done things I shouldn’t have echo back at me from his deep blue eyes. It takes my breath and causes my heart to skip a beat.
“What was the main reason, Sophia?” Dominic asks, his voice as hard as his eyes.
“My baby brother, Shawn. He’s in trouble, mixed up with wrong crowd. Harrison was threatening him–his life. Harrison has friends on the Austin police department who made the evidence of his crimes‘disappear’so that his case would be delayed by the state. That gave Harrison something to hold over my head.
“That’s why my mom kept calling me. She kept saying that I had to do what Harrison said in order to save Shawn from prison. I finally told my mom and my brother that I was finished covering for him, though. He had to face the charges that were waiting for him and that Harrison wouldn’t rule my life any longer.”
Dominic’s disgusted‘humph’as a reply is like a knife to my heart. No reason, excuse, or explanation will fix this. The realization that I’ve lost him forever truly hits me and it feels like a ton of bricks have been dumped on my chest. I fight the tears that threaten to spring to my eyes. My resolution to be strong kicks in and I swallow the hurt down.
Not acknowledging Dominic’s spiteful response, I look at Shadow and ask, “What is your second question?”
“Why did you go to Harrison’s house that night if you aren’t helping him any longer?”
Dominic leans forward after Shadow asks this question, intently listening, and ready to pounce on me after I answer. I can feel it coming–he’s going to call me a liar, possibly other things, and drive that knife further into my chest.
“I went because he said he has proof that Dominic killed Carol Ann and he plans to have him arrested with it.”
“BULLSHIT!” Dominic yells and I can’t help but jump at his outburst.
“She’s not lying, Dominic,” Shadow replies, his voice low and calm.
“What?” Dominic barks. “So she went to protect me?” he asks sardonically.
“That’s exactly why she went, Dominic,” Shadow replies to him, but keeps his eyes glued to mine. “She couldn’t take the risk that Harrison had something that incriminated you, no matter what the odds were against it being real.”
With every cell in my body, I hope that Shadow can feel the appreciation radiating from my eyes and from my heart. He has no reason to stand up for me, to be the least bit supportive, or to believe a word I say, but what he just did means so much to me. Dominic trusts and respects him, so he won’t question Shadow’s judgment. It’s a small victory, but I will take it.
“So what was this mythical proof?” Dominic asks as he turns his eyes to me again.
“I don’t know, Dominic. I didn’t get a chance to find out,” I tell him, keeping my voice soft but neutral. The memories of that night come flooding back to me and I have to mentally shake them away. Shadow sees it in me, though, as his eyes soften and he gives me a single nod of understanding.
“Leave that to me,” Shadow replies confidently.
“There is no proof! I didn’t kill her!” Dominic yells.
“I believe you, Dominic, but you don’t know what this prick has concocted against you,” Shadow replies. “Well, kids, I have a few calls to make to get the ball rolling on this. We’ve wasted two weeks of precious time since then. I will leave you two to finish this talk.”
The tension in the room after Shadow exits feels like a living, breathing dragon sitting in the middle of the room. What was once an easy-going connection has become a strained shell of a relationship. Recognizing that I’m wringing my hands in my lap, I straighten my fingers and place my hands on my lap. When I finally dare to look up, Dominic is intently watching me.
“If we’re going to work together again, we need to put this behind us somehow,” Dominic declares. “So, I’m just supposed to take it on your word that you didn’t file a sexual harassment lawsuit against me?”
“What would make you believe me?”
