I nod palely.
“It belongs to an underground league that deals with trafficking.”
My knees slash and for a second my heart stops beating. “They were going to kidnap me and...”
“Sell you to the highest bidder,” Dom finishes, “they would have gotten a large sum for a socialite like yourself.” His eyes lower down my body. “Go to the house, change into dry, comfortable clothes and pack a bag.”
“Why?”
“Do as I say,” he says in a harsh tone and this time I don’t dare to protests. Racing into the house, I take off my soiled dress with trembling hands, throw it into the laundry basket, then reach for a pair of ankle pants, tennis shoes and a top.
I ignore what Dom said about me packing a bag, because I am not going anywhere. Instead I’ll call the police and hide out in the panic room until they arrive.
Walking out on the courtyard, I’m relieved to see that Dom has put a compress on his shoulder but he’s working it in a way he shouldn’t, messing around with his car, checking the trunk...
“You need to go to the hospital,” I tell him somberly, but he ignores me, rasping,
“Do not leave my sight. Stay where I can see you. I need to make a phone call.”
Frowning, I watch him move a couple of feet away from me, before dialing a number and I’m not sure how to react to this. This whole situation is puzzling. The day started out so promising with a bright sun and a clear blue sky and then this happened...
Wrapping my arms around me, I look down at Persy who looks up at me with her button looking eyes.
“You’re just as confused as I am, aren’t you?” I ask and she whines, giving me her paw. Swallowing, I look up at Dom’s strong frame and suddenly it feels like everything is going to change.
6
Dominic
Making sure I’m within a safe distance from Meadow, I call my boss andhe answers only after three ringtones.
“Slade, is there a problem? I’m in the middle of a wonderful brunch...”
“There is a problem,” I say, clutching the phone hard but release it when pain fires through my shoulder, ”we were attacked just a couple of minutes ago, out of nowhere.”
Hissing he asks, “Did they take anything? The Picasso? The Monet...?”
Things. How about asking about your fucking daughter for a change?
“They took nothing. But they tried to kidnap Meadow. I managed to fight them off but they might be back.”
“I see...”
“What is going on?” Mrs. Michaels asks in the background and she sounds tipsy. I don’t blame her. Her husband is cheating on her and she’s fully aware of it but doesn’t dare say anything about it. If she did protest, she knows Michaels would divorce her in a heartbeat.
They’re a fucked up family. And seeing Meadow’s life be threatened has made me realize that I don’t want her anywhere near people who don’t deserve her.
“Meadow was almost kidnapped this morning. Slade fought them off,” Michaels replies, his tone neutral, even a little bored. Bored when his daughter could have been sold? I shake my head, disgusted with the whole situation.
“Good for Mr. Slade, you’ve always said he’s a champ...”
“Fanny, how about you wait outside until I finish?” Michaels puts his mouth closer to the phone. “What’s the plan now? Are you calling the coppers?”
“Doubt they’ll be much use. This was done by an underground league. They must’ve found out you’d be away and they probably thought I was coming with you. Probably thought Meadow was going to be all alone.”
And she would have been. Had Michaels not decided at the last minute not to bring me with him. The anger almost paralyzes me and I take a deep breath.
“I’m taking your daughter away. I have a mountain cabin and we will stay there until you come back.”