WICKED ✓

16

Dominic

"Dom! He needs help!" She screeches and I know in my heart that Stella won't ever understand me after this. Telling her what I do is different than watching it happen. Schooling my features, I grab her arm gently, but forcefully and drag her over to the truck.

"Stella. I need you to listen to me. You're going to get into this truck and you're going to stay here. That man is not alone, and his friends will be along shortly." I say, boosting her up into the tow truck I'd brought along. She's frantic and confused and my behavior is obviously not helping, but I can't afford to be emotional right now. I need to get her out of here, and I need to deal with the body before anybody gets here.

"Dominic. It's not too late. We can still—" Her voice cracks as she looks at the wreck. I think she's going into shock because she's stopped moving, but I keep an eye on her as I back up to the vehicle and climb out of the truck. Between fleeting glances to make sure that Stella isn't running, I attach the tow cable to the vehicle and then drape a tarp over the body in the driver's seat.

When I climb back into the truck and start it, I see Stella reach for the door handle before pulling her arm back. "My car." She says softly and I curse under my breath.

"Keys." I demand and she doesn't even hesitate to hand them to me. Against my better judgement, I climb into her car after unlocking it, drive it down the street and park it in an abandoned garage before running back to the tow truck with Stella still inside, staring out the windshield with empty eyes.

After taking back road after back road, I eventually end up at the bog I'd mapped a day earlier. I stop and climb out, leaning through the open passenger side window and putting the vehicle in neutral before letting it roll down the steep incline toward the water. I watch it to make sure it continues down before getting back in the truck and driving toward the apartment.

"Stella—"

"What the fuck did you do?" Stella says quietly, but her voice is seething. "Is this what you do for work Dominic? Do you kill people?" She accuses, spot on.

"Yes." I say. No bullshit. She doesn't even look slightly surprised at my candor. 

"How many people have you...No. You know what? That doesn't matter. One is too many." She rubs her forehead before turning to face me. Her blue eyes are piercing and I shuffle, feeling uncomfortable with the weight of her gaze. "Is it just for money? How do you even get into this?"

"That man, along with a large number of people, conspired to kill my entire family. And they succeeded." I admit and Stella gasps. Her expression is still guarded but I can see the sympathy in her eyes. "Almost all of them have a price on their head; a reward for whoever kills them. I claim it and move on to the next.

"What about Hazel?" She asks softly, her body turned to face me in the seat which I take as a good sign.

"Hazel shared a room with my sister when she was admitted for her burns. They're the same age, but Grace, my sister, didn't make it. Hazel doesn't have any family that visits her anymore." I gulp, swallowing over the lump in my throat.

"Why did they? How...?" She asks and I nod in understanding.

"They turned the gas on, shut the windows, and lit a match. They counted six people inside, but the kids' nanny took my place. I got home to see the explosion, hear the screaming, and found Grace trying to get through the window. I broke it with a rock, dragged her out, and waited. It was too late for everyone else." 

Tears stream silently down Stella's face but she doesn't wipe at them, instead taking one of my hands. I almost jerk away, surprised that she's willingly touching me despite the sob story that is my life. Not everyone who lives through a tragedy turns into a serial killer. 

"How old were you?" She struggles to get out the words and I squeeze her hand to...comfort her? I don't know how to act now. All I know is that I need to get her out of here and keep her safe.

"Sixteen when they died. Seventeen when I started hunting them down." Her hand flies up to her mouth and her shoulder buckle with her sobs. I pull the car over and turn to face her. "Stella. Babygirl." I sigh. "I know that this is all confusing. I was going to tell you, but not like this. I didn't ever want you to see that baby. I'm so sorry." I say softly, brushing her short hair back behind her ears. She nods.

"I can't...I don't know how to feel. But Dom?" She asks, her eyes pleading as I place my hands on either side of her face and she grips my forearms. 

"What is it baby?" I ask just as her lip starts to tremble.

"I think I'm in love with you. But none of this is okay." She cries and I pull her into me with only a bit of hesitation on her part. I curse myself for feeling elated in this moment.

"I love you Stella. I haven't felt any kind of love in a long time, and nothing like this. I'm willing to do almost anything to keep you." She pulls back and I wipe beneath her red-rimmed blue eyes

"You would stop?" My breath catches.

"I don't think I can do that babygirl." I shake my head and she bites her bottom lip and nods, understanding.

"I understand. But I can't wait for it to be over Dom. I can't do that to myself. If you can't stop, then I have to." Holding her head to my chest, we sit together until her breathing slows.

"I know babygirl."