by Anne Marck
It was Del who introduced Vincent to my mother. I remember the day, how she repeatedly said that my mother needed to meet someone, and that a politician would be the ideal man. Was this all part of their plan?
I need to think clearly … I can’t wait any longer. Somehow, I have to get into my house, get the security tape, and unmask Vincent for the world to see. Tonight, the official Senate candidacy event will take place. That’s what he’s always wanted. I don’t know how yet, but I’m going to end his party. Until I do, the anguish won’t subside.
I’m so focused on the situation that I didn’t even notice we’re already back at the apartment.
“Come here, baby.” Dominic takes my hand and leads me to the couch.
Surprising me, he sits down and pulls me onto his lap. This is new.
“What happened?” he asks patiently, pushing away my messy hair.
His clear eyes don’t disguise his concern. I wish I could tell him, but he’d never agree.
“Nothing, Dominic.” I try to appear calm.
“So, this wrinkle in your brow doesn’t mean anything?” He pokes my forehead, just above my eyebrows. The simple, intimate gesture warms my heart.
“I’ve just been thinking about some things.” I muster up the best smile I can.
“Some things, huh?” He raises an eyebrow.
“I’m curious about”—I shift my gaze to his lips—“whether you felt as good as I did this morning …” I feel myself involuntarily blushing.
A mesmerizing smile blooms across his face, showing a glimpse of his perfectly aligned white teeth. “As never before, baby.” His eyes darken. “Does that answer your question?”
I smile, too, happy to have found this man, even though the thoughts in my mind are going to keep him from me.
I hug his neck and stay there for a few seconds, enjoying the sensation of breathing in his warm skin.
“I have a meeting with Damien and Chris, my other brother,” he begins softly, catching my attention.
I sit up, facing him. “How many siblings do you have?”
“It’s only Damien and Christian now,” he says softly, looking directly at me. “Vivian and Richard died as children.” The pain that flashes across his features is impossible not to notice.
“It must have been difficult to lose them,” I whisper, not knowing what else to say. “What about your parents?”
Those eyes falter again. “I didn’t know my father, and my mother passed away many years ago.”
“I’m sorry,” I say for lack of better words.
“There isn’t much loss there, Luna. My mother was an addict. It was only a matter of time before something happened.”
His words shock me.
“How old were you when she died?” I inquire, careful not to go too far.
“Maybe ten … twelve …”
“And who took care of you?” I touch his face, feeling a tightness in my chest.
A small smile creeps up the corners of his lips. “We stayed on the streets for a while, and then we were adopted by Pierre and Aimee.” Love shines from his eyes.
“Pierre and Aimee?”
The smile grows, as if I’m amusing him. “Interrogating me, baby?”
I bite my lip.
He gently touches the tip of my nose. “A French couple who came here for work and ended up staying. They raised us as if we were their own. Whatever parents give their kids, they gave us.” His gratitude is evident.
“And where are they now?” I bite my tongue from having gone so far.
His face twitches. “They died a few years ago.”
I swallow my own sadness, knowing what it’s like to lose the ones you love.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur.
“It’s all right.” He draws in a deep breath. “What I was going to tell you is that I have to go to this meeting with my brothers, and I’ve been wondering if you want to see Jasmine.” He examines my face.
Oh my God. It’s the perfect opportunity.
“Of course, yes!” I say with false enthusiasm.
Lying to someone so honest hurts. And I’d love to visit Jasmine in a normal situation. Tonight, however, isn’t the time.
Something on my face must raise his suspicion, because he looks at me intensely.
“I want to know how your brother is still breathing.” I cut the discomfort with a joke. “Jasmine was about to kill someone when she left here.”
Dominic just shakes his head without comment.
Dominic
If I could, I’d cancel this meeting. I don’t have a good feeling, and I don’t like not being with her right now. Dammit, her rebellious attitude doesn’t console me at all.
As I drive to the east side of the city, I look at her from the corner of my eye. She’s tense. What’s going on with her? Whatever it is, Luna knows she can tell me, right?
My phone vibrates on the panel, and as I stop at a red light, I answer it.
“Speak,” I tell Damien, hoping he’s calling to cancel the meeting.
“Just making sure you’ll be here at two o’clock,” he says humorously.
“Yes. I’m taking Luna to see Jasmine now,” I tell him.
A strange silence on the other end makes me think the idiot hung up.
“Damien?”
“Um … okay,” he replies. “I’m going to stop at home then and grab some papers.”
I can almost hear the gears working turning in his head. If Luna wasn’t listening, I would drill him. Damien rarely goes home in the middle of the workday. Is he making excuses to see Jasmine?
“Great. I’ll see you there.” I hang up before I strangle him through the phone line.
Luna
We drive into the garage of a luxurious building. The entrance opens quickly, telling me Dominic must come here often. The security of the place demonstrates why Dominic wanted Jasmine here.
We head straight to the penthouse. In the elevator, I notice his eyes are still on me.
“Your brother lives well, doesn’t he?” I break the silence.
He snorts. “The asshole likes to flaunt.”
“That’s what it looks like … from this place,” I muse, staring at our reflection in the mirror of the steel box.
“Our parents left us a healthy inheritance and some companies,” he mutters, narrowing his eyes.
“So, you’re rich, too? I mean, like your brother?” I ask in surprise.
“Money isn’t everything, Luna,” he says as our elevator ride ends.
We ring the bell and wait for Jasmine to open the door. Her suspicious eyes soften when she recognizes us. Then she throws her arms around me and pulls me into the tightest hug.
“Thank God it’s you, Lu,” she sighs into my hair. “Tell me you’ve come for me.” Her plea makes me laugh.
I loosen her hold and pull back to arm’s length to look at her better, inspecting her from top to bottom. She’s wearing sweatpants and a white top that exposes the tops of her breasts. Her hair is styled, looking beautiful and loose. Jasmine is really pretty, with curves in all the right places.
“No, Jas … Actually, I came to visit you.” I shrug apologetically.
Her hopeful expression falls into a lovely pout.
“Hi, Dominic.” She finally looks at the man next to me.
“Hi, Jasmine. How are you?” he asks cordially.
“Fine,” she replies.
With one step to the right, she allows us to enter.
Dominic goes first, I imagine giving us space.
“That bad?” I whisper as I pass her.
“The guy’s an asshole, Lu,” she grumbles in disgust.
The place looks like a home design magazine. White and metallic, sterile, with straight lines and natural lighting entering from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Beautiful … but not cozy.
Jasmine’s eyes follow the direction of mine as she stops by my side. “See what I’m talking about?” she whispers.
I can’t help noticing
the humor in her remark.
“Certainly.” I roll my eyes.
Dominic stands beside the large glass pane, looking out.
“How are you?” I ask seriously.
She sighs. “Like a fish out of water, wishing I could get out of here.”
“Have a little patience, Jas. Things will soon work out.” I take her cold hands.
Damien chooses this moment to open the front door. Impeccably dressed, he is handsome in a way so different from Dominic.
His eyes fall on Jasmine first, in scrutiny. I may be mistaken, but he seems anxious and wary … I don’t know. There’s something different about him.
“Did you finally decide to leave that room?” he asks as he approaches us.
Jasmine discreetly turns her face away from him, as if she didn’t hear what he said.
“Luna.” He barely looks at me as he passes us and approaches Dominic. “Brother.”
“Damien,” Dominic returns impassively.
The two embrace in a kind of quick, masculine hug. Then Damien turns to face Jasmine, who has her eyes anywhere but on him.
“You eat?” he asks crankily.
I look at Dominic, who’s watching the scene suspiciously.
“Yes,” she replies without giving him the time of day.
Damien swallows hard. Jasmine’s attitude is obviously annoying the guy. He must have said something or acted unpleasant to receive the silent treatment, because Jasmine is sweet and wouldn’t act like this for nothing.
“Come on, Damien,” Dominic breaks the tension.
Damien doesn’t take his eyes off Jasmine as he mutters, “I’ll be back early today.” He attempts to look friendly, probably trying to raise a white flag.
“Whatever you think’s best. I don’t want to bother you more than necessary. I’m nothing but an evil troublemaker who’s hiding from a pimp,” she says acidly.
He tightens his lip. “I told you it came out the wrong way,” he says impatiently.
“I don’t care.”
“Whatever,” Damien mutters.
“Idiot,” she mumbles.
From the way his back stiffens, Damien obviously heard her.
Dominic remains silent, watching, until he finally decides to walk out the door. My heart constricts with the feeling that this is the last time I’ll see him.
“Dominic,” I say hastily, intercepting him.
He stops and looks at me in surprise.
Without thinking, I fall into his arms and squeeze him with such force that I fear I might crush him.
Dominic slowly pushes me away. “What’s going on, Luna?”
“Nothing … It’s just that … I … I love you,” I whisper so only he can hear, feeling Damien’s and Jasmine’s eyes on us.
“Me, too, baby.” He smiles. So handsome and so honest …
My heart breaks in a hundred pieces.
On my tiptoes, I kiss his mouth, and Dominic returns the kiss.
Pulling away a few inches, still holding me, he looks at me suspiciously again. “I won’t be long. Wait for me.” It’s like he knows what’s going on with me.
I nod. “Take care of yourself.”
A second more of staring at me, and he breaks the contact, pulling away.
Part of me rips apart, a bad omen.
I turn to Jasmine.
“Are you together?” she asks in surprise.
“I don’t know if we’re considered together, but I love him,” I say sadly.
She narrows her beautiful eyes. “You should be happy, so why do you look like you’re about to cry?”
“Because I’m going to do something tonight that will probably tear us apart.”
Jasmine takes my hand. “What’s going on, Lu? What are you thinking about doing?”
I breathe heavily, needing to be strong. I can’t fall apart now.
“I’ll tell you, because I need your help. You have to keep it a secret until it’s over.”
She bites her lip. “You’re my friend, Luna; ask me anything.”
Her support touches me.
“I’m going to my house to get evidence against my stepfather so I can expose him.”
Jasmine sighs. “What you’re saying … I don’t know …” Her eyes wander, looking confused for a moment, and then they focus on me apprehensively. “Why will that drive you away from Dominic? I mean, why can’t he go along?”
“Because my stepfather is very dangerous, and I’m still not sure how things will end.” I drop my gaze. “And Dominic won’t approve, anyway.”
She groans in horror. “No way are you going to do it alone, Luna. I’ll go with you.”
“No,” I say firmly. “No, Jasmine. This is my thing. I have to do it without help.”
“It’s not right, Lu. Dominic can help you, or the police. I don’t understand why you can’t call for help.”
I wipe a stubborn tear away. “I have to do it myself, Jas. I owe it to my mother.”
She tightens her lips. “I don’t know … I can’t stay here and watch you put yourself in danger.”
I breathe in anxiously. “I’m coming back, Jasmine, but if I don’t, I need you to stay here and do me a favor.”
“What?”
“Tell Dominic that he is the only man I have ever loved, that I’ve never been as happy as in these last days …” A tear trickles down my face.
Jasmine shakes her head. “No, Lu, that’s not right.”
I squeeze her hand. “Do it for me, Jas.” I watch her inner conflict and keep staring at her. “It’s important.”
Snorting, Jasmine reluctantly gives in. Then I leave Damien’s house, taking the first step toward my revenge.
Dominic
On the way to the company building, Damien babbles about a bid to build a hydroelectric plant in Panama, the commission some politicians are demanding, and all that shit. I wonder why I agreed to ride with him.
I can’t think of anything but that look on Luna’s face.
Take care? What the fuck does that mean?
“Did you hear me?” Damien asks.
I ignore the tightness in my gut and concentrate on him. “Listen, Damien, this shit doesn’t really interest me. You know full well why I’m doing this,” I snap, unwilling to keep up with his expectations.
“Dammit, Dom.” He shoots me a glare. “What bit your ass, man?” Now here comes the cynical half-smile. “Don’t tell me that you’re thinking about whatever just happened back there.”
Deep breath. “It’s none of your business. But while we’re on the subject, what the fuck is going on with you and Jasmine? And don’t even try to deny it, Damien; anyone can see the way you act around her with that shit-eating look of yours.”
His wicked little smile fades, a frown taking its place, just like when he was caught in the act of making shit up when he was a kid.
I knew it.
“So?” I push.
“You have to be joking to ask me something so stupid. The girl is a prostitute, Dominic.” He doesn’t take his attention away from the traffic. “By the way, I should beat you for putting me in that situation, brother.”
“Say what you want, if it makes you feel better, Damien. Just keep in mind that Jasmine is off limits. No matter what you’re thinking, forget it and leave the girl alone.”
Luna
I raise my hand to hitch a ride. I didn’t have the guts to borrow money from Jasmine for public transportation. Besides, my house isn’t that far from here.
If Dominic saw me doing this, he would certainly have a stroke.
My heart clenches for acting this way, like I’m betraying his trust. Deep down, I know I am, and it’s even worse that I don’t have a good plan. I just know I need to get into my house, preferably without being seen, and only then will I be able to complete the rest.
At the beginning of the school year, while I was studying architecture, the professor gave us a task on great architectural concepts around the world. We had to choose a work and re
produce it in miniature with sustainable materials. I chose the Taj Mahal because I always had a fascination with its history.
Known as “the greatest proof of love in the world,” it was built in honor of the favorite wife of a great emperor, who died after childbirth. The monument was raised on her tombstone and took thousands of men to build. The project relied on the most diverse materials and took years to complete.
The professor demanded that the replica’s construction process be reported step by step, with our choices of materials, foundations, time, development, failures, and problems found in the execution and the decisions we made in the face of mishaps … In short, everything. I was so excited about the idea and chose to video record the process.
My father’s old office, which we kept as a library, was where I chose to work, due to its space, tranquility, and access to books. And so, every morning, I entered the office around seven, turned on the camera, and stayed there until noon. The next day, I would review the recorded material, write down the project’s progress, and erase unnecessary recordings. One fateful day was different.
I worked on the Taj Mahal with toothpicks for only an hour before going upstairs to finish packing, since I didn’t have time in the afternoon because my mother was taking us shopping.
Just before lunch, I went back to the office to make sure I had turned off the camera. It was on and, out of curiosity, I quickly rewound to see the evolution of the construction of the dome that I had started that day. But I stopped when a something strange entered the view.
It didn’t make any sense that day, but it clicked when I was in the hospital and someone was trying to kill me.
Vincent, oblivious to the camera, was meeting with a large, menacing fellow with a shaved head and a striking scar on the right side of his cheek. His aura bled danger.
The conversation between them was quick and self-explanatory, I realize now. The guy confirmed that he had done the “deed,” and then Vincent asked him what would happen if “she” decided to use the parking brake. The man smiled in an ugly, even sinister way and answered quietly, “She will continue down the road and fly off the cliff anyway.”
