Chapter 11 - THE CAREGIVER WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO KILL HIM
Piper stared at Garrett.
For a moment, she thought she'd misheard.
“Finish what?”
Garrett's face was pale.
“Vincent believed you could be manipulated.”
Piper felt sick.
“Into killing Dominic?”
Garrett nodded.
Dominic's expression turned terrifyingly calm.
“Explain.”
Garrett swallowed.
“Vincent knew about her debt. He planned to threaten her with eviction, financial ruin, and fabricated criminal charges.”
Piper's hands began shaking.
“He thought I'd hurt someone for money?”
“He thought desperation made people predictable.”
Dominic looked at Garrett.
“And you helped him.”
Garrett lowered his eyes.
“I brought her to the house. But I never intended to let him use her.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Vincent threatened my wife and daughter.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“You should've trusted me.”
Garrett's voice cracked.
“I know.”
Piper stepped forward.
“Did you know about my father?”
Garrett shook his head.
“Not until recently.”
She stared at him.
“Then you owe me the truth.”
Garrett nodded.
“Vincent wanted Piper close enough to Dominic to interfere with his medication. He expected her to follow instructions because of the debt.”
Dominic's hands tightened.
“And Dr. Harris?”
“He was already working for Vincent.”
The room went silent.
Isabella covered her mouth.
Dominic looked toward the window.
For six months, he'd believed his body had betrayed him.
Now he understood someone had been deliberately making his recovery harder.
Piper approached him.
“Dominic.”
He didn't look at her.
“Please.”
Finally, he raised his eyes.
She saw something she'd never seen before.
Fear.
Not of Vincent.
Not of death.
Of losing the fragile hope he'd only recently found.
“I trusted him,” Dominic whispered.
Piper knelt beside his chair.
“I know.”
“He told me there was nothing left.”
“I know.”
His voice broke.
“I believed him.”
She took his hands.
“Then we'll find out what's true.”
Dominic stared at her.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then he leaned forward.
His forehead rested against hers.
“Why are you still here?” he whispered.
Piper smiled through tears.
“Because you're terrible at making coffee.”
A small laugh escaped him.
“And because…”
She stopped.
Dominic lifted his head.
“Because what?”
Her heart pounded.
Because she'd started waiting for his voice every morning.
Because she loved the way he pretended not to smile at her jokes.
Because she had never felt safer than when he looked at her like she mattered.
But the words were terrifying.
So she whispered, “Because I care about you.”
Dominic's expression softened.
He touched her cheek.
“Piper…”
A phone rang.
Rebecca answered.
Her face changed.
“What?”
She listened.
Then turned toward Dominic.
“Vincent knows Isabella is alive.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“How?”
“We don't know.”
Rebecca continued.
“He's disappeared from his office. His vehicles are gone.”
Piper's stomach tightened.
“Where would he go?”
Isabella suddenly stood.
“The mansion.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because there's something hidden in the west wing.”
Piper froze.
“The locked room?”
Isabella nodded.
“That's where I kept the original evidence.”
Dominic stared at his sister.
“You told me that room was empty.”
“I lied.”
“Why?”
Isabella's eyes filled with tears.
“Because I was afraid you'd find out what happened to Mom.”
Dominic's face changed.
“What happened?”
Isabella swallowed.
Then whispered, “Vincent didn't poison her alone.”
The room went silent.
May you like
She looked directly at Dominic.
“Someone in our family helped him.”
