Let It Fade

Chapter 7

Vanessa

I'm leaning against the balcony railings once again, watching the sun rising in the horizon like most mornings, a lot cigarette between my lips as I inhale deeply. "Can I intrude in your moment?" Dominic asks, I stand up straight and turn to face him. Nothing but his shorts sitting low on his waist, I smile at him. I feel so free after last night, finally giving in to a psychotic desire I had no idea I even had.

Killing

I killed a man and I feel, free, fulfilled, light in my own head. As crazy as that fucking sounds but he deserved it, I helped rid the world of a vermin that didn't deserve to inhabit it

"You never intrude"

"Did you have another nightmare? I didn't hear it this time"

"Actually, this is the first night that I slept properly in months"

Dominic's smile is devastatingly beautiful just like the rest of him, he reaches me and instantly cups my face in his large hands looking into my eyes. "You slept well?" He asks as if making sure that I am not lying, I nod leaning up on my tiptoes to press our lips together. "So what are you doing watching the sun rise instead of being asleep?" Dominic asks removing the cigarette from my fingers and putting it out in the ashtray. "I just woke up and came out here, it's pure coincidence," I say truthfully

Dominic smiles down at me, our moment is broken by his phone constantly ringing, Dominic groans and answers it on speaker so I can hear it as well

"Is this Dominic Ashford? I apologise for the hour that I am calling," The man on the other line asks. "This is him," Dominic replies. "Sir, we have a Benedict Dillaurentis Ashford currently hospitalised. He has experienced great trauma and is currently suffering from Dissociative amnesia, you are stated as his emergency contact in his medical record," The man replies, Dominic and I exchange a look

"How long has he been with you guys?"

"Three months, a girl brought him in and has been staying by his side every day. He woke up an hour ago"

"What girl?"

"She stated that she would rather remain anonymous when his family was contacted, we need to release him directly to you because of his current state"

My heart hammers in my chest as memories of the time I spent chained to that room, forced to starve, being constantly abused and hit over and over again. I watched him die, I watched light drain away from his eyes. I- I can't

This cannot be happening but I take a long deep breath reminding myself of the reality I am in. I am out, I am safe, I am with Dominic and with Scarlett and Zola and Nathan. I am okay.

I nod at Dominic, who closes his eyes for a brief second before finally answering. "Okay, I will be there shortly." Dominic hangs up the phone and looks at me worry and fear all over his face. "I will get him out of the hospital and we will get rid of him properly this time," Dominic states. "I'm coming with you," I say side stepping him and leading the way inside

"The hell you are"

"You are not going there alone"

"Then I will call Nathan, you will not set foot anywhere near him"

"Yes I am, I am with you. You will not go without me. This isn't up for debate, Dominic"

"He kidnapped you"

"Well he almost fucking killed you"

We stare each other down, neither backing down as usual. I raise my chin and he clenches his own but I keep staring into his eyes before letting out a breath. "We got out together, so we are dealing with this together. He cannot get to us if we stand hand and hand, we know the truth and apparently he doesn't"

"He is lying"

"And if he isn't? He will be alone in another city and injured"

"He was going to kill you," Dominic's voice breaks a fraction and I know that he is having flashbacks of his own by the way he is staring at me, brows furrowed and eyes glossy. I cup his face and he leans into my touch. "I cannot bear the thought of losing you again, I will not risk you ever again," Dominic says, I run a rumbling over his cheeks. "Nobody will ever get close enough to try, we have to do this," I say

"But he is not staying anywhere near you"