For Dominick, that was not the case. During his childhood, his confinement was not physical. It emotionally charged. He was a pawn between Victor and Elise Kane. He had an idea as he grew older that something was a miss. That his parents were lying. Although Elise was his family, she wasn’t his mother. Then he comes to find out that the loving couple that kept balance in his life were actually his true parents. Which made for more deception and more lies.
As I looked at Dominick now, I realized he was more broken than I originally thought. Maybe more than I could fix, no matter how much I still wanted to. The control he used in everything he did was there to shield him. It protected him against getting hurt, being alone, or becoming totally lost. It’s not something anyone can fix. It’s who Dominick Kane was.
Now, I needed to know why he took me this time. Why the drama? He should have just showed up like he always had in the past and explained why he was in an embrace with Darian. Why he felt the need to comfort her. I couldn’t take anymore excuses. For once I just wanted the truth. Even if it was for the last time.
Dominick stood in front of me ready for a fight. He looked powerful, but he also appeared vulnerable. He knew that I was pissed at this stunt of his; but he also knew what would happen in that house could possible end our relationship for good.
“Rain, we need to talk. I need to tell you everything. I need to get this out in the open once and for all. I needed to take you and get it right this time.”He was serious.
“So, Dominick. What you're telling is that there’s more bullshit and lies that I didn’t know about. Ok, get it over with. Spill your guts, so I can the fuck away from you for good.”This was my breaking point.
“No, baby. Please. It’s not so that we end this. It’s so that I can make it right. So I don’t have this hanging over us. I’ve wanted to tell you the truth so many times, for so long. I wanted to tell you when we first met, but I thought you would think that I was a monster, that I was crazy and then you would run away and I’d lose you forever.”His statement held more than an explanation about him and Darian. Whatever Dominick needed to tell me was about me and him. It was about our beginning, which could ultimately be our end.
“Right now I don’t know what to think. After seeing you with Darian today, I didn’t want to believe that you lied to me again and that you would be involved with that bitch and be with me at the same time.”I was disgusted.
“Rain, you've got it all wrong. I’m not with Darian. What you walked in on had nothing to do with a relationship. At least not one that involved me and her. It had to do with the firm and how Darian played a role in everything that happened.”
“Why bring me here, if this has nothing to do with what went on in the boardroom this morning? Why try to confine me again? You know how I feel about being controlled. What have you lied to me about this time?”I wanted answers. This was all too much.
“Can we please go inside, so I can explain everything?”He asked cautiously, while taking my elbow as to lead me towards the shore house.
“You're the kidnapper. Why are you even asking me what I want? Why aren’t you just taking it as usual. Isn’t that what kidnappers do?”I pulled my arm away from him briskly.
“You want to play, Miss Medici. I’m game.”With those last two words he swiftly lifted me off my feet and carried me across the driveway and up the stairs to the porch. Without dropping me, he unlocked the front door, walked in and kicked it closed. And with sheer determination, stalked to his bedroom.
He placed me on the sectional gently. Then he stood up straight, accessed me intently, then he walked over to the fireplace and took down the large photograph that I had taken before I ever met Dominick. The one he purchased on a whim in Darian’s office when the original buyer backed out of the sale.
He proceeded to place the framed shot in front of the television in the wall unit. He leaned it carefully back in a standing position against the TV, effectively hiding the huge screen. Then he turned and crossed his arms over his chest. His body language was one of strength and determination. His expression was totally different. It was unsure. Almost like he was winging this entire thing. I doubted that, though. He always had his control of a situation in check. Except when he was angry. Then there was no telling how he would act. Yet he normally planned everything he did. Dominick never left anything to chance.
“Comfortable?”He asked.
“As comfortable as I can be.”
“Can I get you something to eat or drink?”He was stalling.
“I’m not here to be entertained by your impeccable manners. Now let’s hear it.”I wasn’t mincing any words. It was time to hear the truth. No matter how much it was going to hurt. It needed to be done. It needed to be finished.
He took a deep breath and began his confession.
“I told you some of this during New Years when we got back together.”He paused.
“So there’s more?”My response curious, with a tinge of surprised annoyance.
“Yes.”He whispered.
“Go on.”I prompted him with a gentle whisper, because that’s all the strength i had left in me.
“As you know, I had originally told you that I didn’t know you existed, but when we got back together I had said that I knew you and Raven were twins.”Dominick began his story with information that was already out in the open.
“Dominick, this is old news. So you knew we were twins. I don’t understand what else you could possibly add to that.”I was the one confused now.
He stopped. He was torn, but after what seemed like forever, he continued.
“I knew I took you, Rain. From the beginning, I knew which twin I took.”Fear intensified on his face from what he just admitted to me.
“What?”That’s all I could get out of my mouth. I was in shock.
“I planned on taking you from the beginning. I never wanted Raven. I always wanted it to be you. I wanted you to be my pawn against your father.”He admitted.
I was silent. I needed this to sink in. As it did, the tears came. They filled my eyes slowly, my chest and throat got tight. It was like trying to breathe through clay. Even with all of this, I still wanted to hear the rest. Maybe I was a glutton for punishment or maybe I just felt that my life was always broken and this way just one more thing added to the pile of shit of which made me what I was and what my life had become today.
“Please continue. Please explain to me why you wanted me to be the pawn, as you put it. Although I must tell you, I think I know what you're going to say.”
“I went to Italy to find out as much as I could about Vincent’s role in the business. The clients he had and what he had his hands in. Then one day on the beach overlooking the Blue Grotto I saw you.”
“Me?”A tinge of surprise was in my response.
“Yes. You were taking pictures. You were with Conte. You were giggling and running across the rocks near the shore. I thought it was so cool outside and yet, there you were; barefoot and smiling. Running with your camera. You were clicking aimlessly. You were beautiful.”
I said nothing. I didn’t react to his“beautiful”description. I childish chill ran through me, but Dominick couldn’t visibly see it. I let him continue with his confession.
“Then when you were leaving, I asked one of the locals who you were. He said you were Rain Medici, local photographer and daughter of the attorney Victor Medici. He said you lived up on the hill. I didn’t know what that meant at the time. So I followed you. I saw the house and the pool and the happy life you were living.”
I chuckled at his statement, because it was so off the mark. Happy then, yes and even when I was young; I was convinced by others that my life as a little girl in Capri was normal. Although that was very far from the truth.
He continued.
“I know, Rain. You appeared happy, but I know now that wasn’t always the case. Anyway, when I was there that day, I was actually on a vacation of sorts. I needed to put my plan together. I had been researchi
ng your family and I had found out about you and Raven. During the trip many of the people I spoke with told me about the little girl locked away from the real world. I have to admit that at the time I felt like I struck gold. You appeared healthy, but I was betting on the chance that your father, from what I knew of him and his love for his family, would do anything to keep you safe.”
“So you took me in the hopes that my dad would turn over Vincent’s share of the firm to you in exchange for his weaker daughter.”My voice was laced painful anger.
“Yes. I hate to admit it now. But yes, I knew if I took Raven, from public reputation, I would have had my hands full. Yet, I thought with you………..
“You thought you’d have a weakling on your hands. No trouble. You wouldn’t have a fight to deal. Am I getting warmer, Mr Kane?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I thought, but was I wrong. You were wild. You had a passion for life and family that I never saw in anyone ever. I didn’t count on your fire, your fight. I became more and more curious about you and less and less interested in why I had originally taken you. You began, in a very short time to breathe life into my world. No one has ever made me feel like that. No one.”His voice was barely audible.
“So you kidnapped me, but after all of the craziness, the plan that you made me believe that you had to revise, was the real one after all. The actual original way you wanted to get my dad to turn over the firm to you. I’ve got to give you credit, Kane. You thought of everything.”
“Yeah, I thought out everything. Except I didn’t count on one thing.”
“What was that?”I wondered what he missed.
“You.”That’s all he said.
“Me? What about me?”
“I didn’t count on you and your heart. I didn’t count on being so attracted to you that I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t take into consideration that I could actually care about you. I didn’t want to develop feelings for you. I wanted to deny it, deny you, but I couldn’t. I fell in love with you, Rain. I fell in love with you here. In this house. In the very beginning. Not when I told you for the first time, but when I first took you. You, Rain, took my heart and my soul. You owned me from the very start. Without even knowing it, I was yours.”
“Did Darian know the truth? Did she know you were taking sickly Rain Medici. Did she help you? I need to know.”I demanded.
“No. How she acted that day she first saw you was real. It was always real on her part. I never told her about my plan. She wasn’t part of it. She wasn’t my future. You are and now our babies are.”
I was silent. I didn’t know how to respond to him.
“At least I hope you still are.”His statement held a plea.
I got up without saying anything and started to walk towards the living room. I wasn’t leaving. I just wanted to get my things from the SUV and go to my room and freshen up. I needed time to think. I couldn't do that with Dominick near me.
“Please, Rain. Don’t leave. Please”He begged.
“Dominick, listen and listen to me good. I’m not leaving here. Not just yet. I need to think this through. I promise I won’t make any rash decisions. I’ll take everything you said into consideration. I just need to some time.”I was calm and sincere when I answered him.
“Where are you going then?”He questioned.
“To the truck. I need to get my bag. Then I’m going to go to my old room and shower. I’ll be staying in there until this is all sorted out. Do I make myself clear?”
He nodded.
“Good. Oh and I have one more thing that I’m curious about.”I asked as I was about to head out of his room.
“What’s that?”
“Why did you take my photograph down just now?”
“I was getting to that, but then I got distracted with my explanation that I nearly forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
“The man in that photo…….
“Yeah, he was just some guy in Capri. I never did see his face.”
“Yes, you have.”
“I don’t understand?”
“The guy in the picture was me. You took it that day I saw you running on the beach. I was wearing my favorite white sweater. I stood on those rocks earlier that day, so you must have gotten that shot then.”
“What a coincidence.”
“No. It was fate.”He truly believed what he just said.
“No. It the actions of a manipulative, controlling man that set all of this into motion.”
“Yes, I am controlling and I did manipulate the situation in the beginning, but I fell in love with you, Rain. That was was never a lie.”
“Maybe not, but you had plenty of chances and more than enough time to tell me the truth. Yet again, you chose to keep it from me. The one person who deserved the truth.”
“I didn’t want to lose you, Rain.”
“Dominick, by now you should know that if you were just honest with me, I wouldn't even be contemplating walking away from you. You know that I can forgive almost anything when it comes to you. You're temper tantrums, your insecurities, the keeping me safe and the possessiveness. All of it. It’s who you are. It’s who I love, but the lies and the deceit are things I cannot accept. I need to trust you. You've broken that trust. Now, you’ve left me to put the pieces back together again. I’m not sure that I can do that this time around.”I left the room quickly. I didn’t want him to see me cry. I didn’t want him to see my heart break.
I needed to be alone. I had to go over what he said and try to be rational. I had to think of our children and what the future would bring. I didn’t want to be without him. I loved him, but I was scared that he would continue to do things like this and justify why he did them. I didn’t want any more lies. I had enough of that from my own mother. I didn’t want it from him. I knew he couldn't accept lying from anyone. He was always struggling with the lies of his childhood. He didn’t even know who he really was up until a few months ago. He had to see what these lies had done to us. He couldn’t possible want that for us now or for our children. I just needed some time to think.
****
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
PROPERTY SETTLEMENT
Last night I settled down in my old room at the shore house and cried myself to sleep. Dominick appeared at my bedroom door several times throughout the evening. He didn’t disturb me, but I knew he was listening for me. Looking out for me. I could see a shadow appear at the door quietly and then slowly fade away. Exhaustion set in from the earlier events of the day and eventually I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning I woke up with a massive headache. Probably from all the crying I did yesterday. I needed something to take for my headache. I couldn’t handle the pain. I decided to call Dr. Phillips and see if there was anything I could do. Being it was my own fault, I would suffer for the sake of our babies health, but I just wanted to check to see if there was anything that could give me some relief.
Dr. Phillips stated that he could call something in for me if need be or I could have one 12 ounce cup of coffee. He said he normally likes his patients to stay away from coffee or cut back to 12 ounces per day, but in my case he said it was okay to have it in place of medication for my headache.
I assured him that I wouldn’t make a habit of this. I just needed some relief. He asked me to call him with any issues and I promised I would, should the headache not go away or I felt strange or out of the ordinary.
I walked to the kitchen and poured myself a mug of coffee. I added some cream and sugar and settle down on one of the stools at the island. I called Tommy first, then Raven, then my dad to let them know that I was safe, but that I was dealing with Dominick and some personal issues right now. I was about to tell each of them during my phone calls that I was at the shore house, but they already knew. When I asked how they found out. All of them told me that Dominick called them yesterday and informed them that we were having some problems and we were going to try to work them out.
I couldn’
t believe it. Dominick admitted that to my family. That was a huge step for him. Maybe he really was serious about telling the truth.
Just as I was about to take a sip of my coffee, it was taken out of my hand and poured into the sink.
“Baby, you're pregnant, remember? You can’t have coffee.”
“Dominick, I have a crippling headache. I called Dr. Phillips and he said I could have the coffee for today. In fact, he said he preferred it over prescribing medication.”
“I’m sorry, Rain. I didn’t realize you called the doctor.”
“Well, like always you do whatever you want to, whenever you want to do it and you deal with the fallout after the fact. Why didn’t you just ask me about the coffee, instead of making a scene and pouring it down the drain.”My head hurt and I was agitated.
Identity: …………..People aren’t always who you believe them to be (Miss Taken Identity Series Book 2) Page 36
