Chapter 4
Dominic came to the hospital that afternoon.
He arrived with flowers, two lawyers, and the smile that had fooled so many people.
But federal agents stopped him outside Clara’s room.
He asked to see his wife.
Clara looked at me.
Her hands trembled.
“You do not have to,” I told her.
She took a deep breath.
“I want to see him.”
Agent Reed stood inside the room.
Two officers stood in the hallway.
Dominic entered slowly.
“Clara,” he said, his voice soft. “I have been terrified.”
She stared at him.
“You hit me.”
His smile disappeared for half a second.
“You fell.”
“I ran because you hit me.”
He looked toward me.
“Victoria, this is a private family matter.”
“No,” I said. “It is a criminal matter.”
Dominic’s eyes hardened.
“You have no idea what you are doing.”
I almost laughed.
I knew exactly what I was doing.
Clara pressed a button on her phone.
A recording began playing.
Dominic’s voice from the night before.
Bring her back.
Make sure she understands.
Dominic went pale.
Then he leaned toward Clara.
“You think this protects you?”
Agent Reed stepped between them.
“That sounds like a threat,” he said.
Dominic left without the flowers.
The moment he was gone, Clara began shaking.
I wrapped my arms around her.
“He cannot touch you,” I whispered.
May you like
But I knew the truth.
Men like Dominic did not surrender quietly.
