I’m not sure why it still surprises me. I would have assumed that with each sting, the blow would become so dull that eventually it wouldn’t feel like this. But it’s still there—a guttural ache right in the pit of my stomach. It would be nice if there were no expectations or if there was a way to turn this off entirely, but hope is a tricky thing that never seems to disappear.
“Yes, but it’s not what you think.” This time, it’s Dominik who speaks.
He doesn’t wear the same calm and collected demeanor that Tristan does so comfortably. Dom never has. Aaron and Tristan are entrepreneurs to their core, but Dominik is all emotion, passion, and drive. That’s why he’s such an amazing athlete.
I just stare at them, not quite sure what’s going on or why they’ve brought me into this room to tell me my parents are here. Who the hell cares? They always seem to show up on important days. Every single time without fail. This was the other shoe, and I’m the stupid one who didn’t expect it. I should have prepared myself.
I look between Dom and Tristan, letting out a deep sigh. “Let me guess... You brought me here to hide? So they don’t have to see me, and Aaron won’t have to do damage control?”
“Fuck that,” Dominik snarls.
“Absolutely not,” Tristan says simultaneously.
That takes me by surprise.
Dominik grabs my hand, bringing it to his lips while he pins me with those dual-colored eyes I love. “It’s time for your comeback, little butterfly. Right now, it’s best if you have lessinformation, so just follow Tristan and Aaron’s lead. I’ll be right here if you need anything. I will forever be here, standing right behind you.”
It’s time for my comeback? I don’t understand.
“Can you please speak English?” I watch them, yet neither speaks. Tristan’s phone buzzes, and he glances at Dominik before heading deeper into the lengthy utility room.
“Come on, baby. Let’s go break some hearts.” Dom grabs my hand, and we follow Tristan.
“Dominik, can you please tell me what’s going on?” I whisper so Tristan doesn’t hear me.
Dom gradually reduces his speed, creating a slight gap between Tristan and us. He eyes Tristan, and when it becomes apparent that Tristan doesn’t notice, Dom pulls me closer and leans down.
“I’ve always daydreamed about taking revenge on your parents. What that day would look like, how I would go about doing it. If I would take my time, make them pay for every heartbreak, every tear, ever rotten word they threw at you. I imagined slowly killing them and watching the blood flowing out of their bodies. I want to make them pay. I know it won’t fix what happened to you, but it would make me feel better knowing I finally did something about it.”
I’ve thought about revenge too.
Countless nights spent lying awake as my tears scalded my cheeks. So many times, amid chaos, I wished I could disappear into another life. I want to erase the memories of those who caused me immense pain and left lasting wounds on my soul. Wounds that will never heal. I’ll always have their ugly scars to remind me. No matter what I do, who I become, those memories will always follow me like a dark shadow. It’s part of who I am now, and I have to accept that. I have to live with the fact that thepeople who were meant to love me the most, ended up leaving the deepest cuts.
Hearing Dominik’s admission makes me weak at the knees. I never realized he had noticed everything that went on inside that house. For the longest time, I believed only I had seen it, experienced it. If it was all in my head, perhaps it wasn’t real at all. Maybe it wasn’t my reality.
But it was.
Every single day, it was my reality, and though it will always be part of my story, it doesn’t have to define me. It doesn’t have to determine my future; instead, it can remain in my dark, horrible past.
“I’ve thought about it too,” I admit.
Dominik smiles, squeezing my hand. “Good. Let’s go get that revenge then.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.” He winks.
Fear and excitement flood my lungs in equal measure as a thrilling sensation courses through me. Allowing myself to be swept away by the unrestrained forces of revenge brings me a profound sense of freedom.
29
ZOE
I’m gripping Dominik’s hand so tightly that I’m afraid I might accidentally crush his fingers. Every part of me wants to run away, but we steadily make our way toward a pair of double doors that are slightly ajar.
Tristan’s arm extends, prompting the three of us to stop. A heated argument is unfolding behind the closed door.
“Why are you behaving this way, Aaron? Sweetie, this is so unlike you.” It’s my mother, Elaine.
