Revengeful Deceptions (15 page)

The next pages were of the same
photo, but from different sources. Once Brandon clicked on the photo icon,
that’s when he saw it, Nick had taken one of the still photos and had blown it
up.  It was the same photo of Stephen and Teddy but standing right behind
them, smiling and looking as beautiful as ever was Dominique.

Brandon rubbed his eyes, he began
to doubt himself. “No, It can't be her,” he murmured. But his doubts were put
to rest when he read the caption.

“Fatal hit and run accident claims
the lives of two victims. 35 year old Stephen Greenway and his seven year old
son Theodore Greenway seen here in this photo were killed last night when
Greenway's '66 Mustang was run off the road. Dominique Greenway, the victim’s
wife was unavailable for comment at press time. Police are asking that any
witnesses who may have seen the accident contact the New Hampshire State
Police.

Brandon had to read it again.
“Nick, you son of a bitch, you found out who she was, you went there to kill
her only she got to you first. Oh don’t worry buddy, I’ll take care of her,
I’ll take care of her nice and slow. If only that bitch had left well enough
alone. She thinks she can weasel her way into my life. Oh I’ll play along with
your little game Dominique but don’t you worry, by the time I’m finished with
you, you'll be begging me to kill you. You'll wish you died right along with
your husband and son you conniving little bitch, you have no idea who you’re
dealing with.”

Brandon took one last glance around
the decrepit apartment before tucking the laptop inside his jacket and closing
the door behind him.

It was almost noon by the time Adam
woke up. He had made love to Dominique until the early morning hours and now
awoke refreshed but to an empty bed. He heard voices and smelled coffee as he
got out of bed and slipped into his pajama bottoms.  As he walked into the
kitchen he was surprised to see his mom behind the counter cooking breakfast
and talking with Dominique.

“Well good morning sleepy head.”

“Good morning,” he said while
giving each woman a kiss. “Mom, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“Well my darling son, your father
thinking he was doing me a favor, thought it best not to wake me last night and
tell me the awful news. Imagine that? Your poor girlfriend gets attacked, and
has to shoot somebody and your father doesn’t think he should wake me and tell
me. Well anyway, I came as soon as I heard. I also brought a change of clothes
for the poor girl. I figured that it would be awhile before you wanted to go
back home Dominique.”

“Thank you Muriel, and your right,
I’m not ready to go back just yet.” She shuddered at the thought of going back
to the brownstone.

“Dominique you know that you’re more
than welcome to stay with me for as long as you need to.”

He smiled and walked over to her.

“Well of course she can,” chimed in
Muriel, “Now let’s get some food into you Dominique; oh it’s so nice to have
someone to look after she smiled brightly as she loaded their plates with food.

It took Dominique almost two weeks
to recover; it was more physical than emotional. She still had a long way to go
to take care of the things that she needed to do and she needed to be
completely healed in order for that to happen. Even though Jonathan had told
Dominique to take a few more weeks to recuperate and that her job would be
waiting for her when she returned, she declined the offer. She needed to get
back into the swing of things and she told Adam that Nick did not hurt a thing
that wouldn’t heal. She told him that losing her husband and son was the worst
punishment she could ever endure so what Nick did was nothing compared to that.

Dominique thought it best that she
not let Adam know that she was well aware of the fact that Nick Kilarmo was
right by Brandon's side the night of the accident. She was sure now that Adam
had no involvement and for all he knew, Nick had simply gone after her because
he held some vendetta against Jonathan.

Let him think that for now,
she thought to herself,
it will all come out soon enough.
She would be
going back to work and that was that. Adam knew there was no use arguing with
her about it but he did convince her to stay at his place a few days longer.
But only until her place was cleaned up and released by the police she told
him; “Which hopefully won't be for a very long time.” He said as he pulled her
close.

Dominique was showered and ready
for work the following Monday. It felt good to be going back to work and she
welcomed the distraction. Her bruising had gone down tremendously and she
started to feel like her old self again. 

As Jonathan welcomed her back
during the morning meeting, Brandon sat stern faced in the corner of the room.
He had showed up for work sober, showered and dressed in a suit. He was going
to make sure that he kept his eye on Dominique, even if he had to put on this
stiff suit and pretend that he actually liked what he was doing for eight hours
a day that's exactly what he planned on doing. Brandon Caruso was not going to
let anyone or anything stop him from getting rid of Dominique, not even his own
brother.

“Well Brandon has certainly come to
work prepared,” Dominique told Adam while he walked her to her small office.

“Yeah, something must be going on,
I’ve never seen him so determined looking.”

“Maybe he's just trying to fit in
you know, make your father happy.”

“I doubt it but hey stranger things
have happened.”

“What stranger things have
happened
little brother?” asked Brandon who had overheard
the end of the conversation. He now wanted to find out everything he could
about Dominique Foster.

Adam turned around to face his
brother.

“What are you doing back here
Brandon? Don’t you have some work to do?”

  
“Easy little brother, I just wanted to come back here and see Dominique
and tell her how sorry I am to hear about the attack. Nick was a friend of mine
but I don’t condone what he tried to do to you Dominique, why do you think he
tried to attack you Dominique?” Brandon wanted to make her feel as
uncomfortable as he could; especially in front of Adam.

“I don’t know Brandon, that is a
question you would have to ask him but you can't because he's dead,” Adam had
spoken for Dominique through gritted teeth.

“I was asking Dominique a question,
not you little brother, she's a big girl she can answer for herself.”

Dominique grew tired of the banter;
she couldn’t stand the sight of Brandon standing in her office looking all
smug.
Actually,
she thought to herself,
I’d rather see you dead you
bastard.

“Listen the both of you; if it's
all right with you two, I’d rather not talk about it, what's done is done. I
simply want to be able to get on with my life; starting now so if the both of
you wouldn’t mind leaving me alone, that would be great.”

“Sure Dominique, whatever you say,
you’re the boss right?” Brandon said as he let out a sarcastic snicker.

Adam led his brother out by the
arm.

“What the hell has gotten into you
Brandon?”

Brandon spoke with a condescending tone.
“Nothing bro, I’m just trying to figure out why a guy like Nick would go after
someone as innocent as Dominique that’s all.”

“Because he was a sick fuck that's
why, I bet you didn’t know that you’re so called good friend came here and went
after dad did you? No because you were probably lying somewhere drunk or high
again Brandon. Had you been here you would have seen for yourself so just drop
this whole thing, and if I catch you harassing Dominique again, you'll be out
on your ass you hear me?”

“Oh I hear ya little brother, loud
and clear. I can see where your allegiance lies. “Brandon followed his brother
out of the filing area but not before punching one of the filing cabinets

“You don't scare me, you
sanctimonious son of a bitch,” Dominique whispered as her eyes shot daggers at
Brandon's back.

Adam was surprised that when he
asked Dominique to lunch, she refused. Dominique had already accepted a lunch
invitation from his mother, Muriel and she was also bringing Molly along.
“Don't be jealous, it’s a girl’s lunch Adam, no men allowed.” Dominique teased.

“My mom must really like you
Dominique; she's never invited any of my girlfriends to lunch.”

“Well that’s probably because she
couldn’t keep track of them all Adam. I hear you are quite the ladies’ man Mr.
Caruso.”

“If I was Dominique it was a long
time ago and now there is only one woman that I want. So go enjoy your lunch
and give my mother my love.”

Dominique wasn’t surprised that
she, Molly, and Muriel were creating a bond. The three women had a lot more in
common than one would think and when they had gotten to get to know one another
during the costume party a few weeks ago, they all agreed that they needed to
get together often.

After all, that was the only way
they would be able to see just how well they got along because if things were
going to go as planned, Dominique needed to know that they would have each
other’s back.  She was taking a big chance trusting these two women but
she also knew she couldn’t do what she needed to do alone and she had to start
somewhere.
I have to trust someone,
she thought to herself,
and these
two have far more to lose than me, because I’ve got nothing. Brandon Caruso
made sure of that.

“Muriel? I hope you’re not here to
see me because I have a lunch meeting to go to,” Jonathan Caruso glared at his
wife. He hated when she showed up unexpectedly at the office, especially on a
day where he had a lunch date.

He couldn’t have her find out that
he was being unfaithful, she'd take him for everything he's got and he worked
too hard for that.

“Don't worry dear, I’m actually
here to take Dominique and Molly to lunch, so go ahead on to your meeting, I
wouldn’t want to be responsible for you missing out on anything important
darling, so go on ahead, have fun.” Muriel gave her husband a light kiss as she
brushed by him and walked down the hall.

Dominique, Muriel and Molly were
seated at Chen's restaurant, and once they placed their orders, Dominique
poured them all tea while they made small talk about the weather, their
surroundings and finally the upcoming thanksgiving holiday. 

Adam would of course be bringing
Dominique to their country house for thanksgiving and Molly and Neal would
spend it at her family’s home in Deerfield. Over lunch, Dominique told Muriel
about the accident. Muriel sat in awe as she listened to Dominique's recount of
the events that led up to the accident. She spoke of how even though she and
Stephen had been a bit leery about sending Teddy to the sleep over it would be
good for him. “We thought it would help him build his social skills. You know,
get along with the other boys and make some friends.”

Dominique fought hard not to burst
into tears. She smiled when she spoke Stephen wanting to make love when he
returned from picking Teddy up.  By the time she finished, all three
had tears in their eyes and had at some time during their meal, held hands
momentarily and consoled one another.

When Dominique returned from lunch,
she sat alone in her office and reflected. At the end of their lunch Muriel had
only one concern, Adam, she loved Adam and didn’t want to see him get hurt.
Dominique had told her that she would do everything in her power to see that
Adam was not hurt.

Thanks to Molly, she knew why
Muriel was unhappy in her marriage, she knew that Jonathan Caruso was an
unfaithful man, and to Muriel, like most woman, that was unacceptable. 
But for Dominique there was  something more, once Muriel mentioned that
Jonathan had mysteriously sent Brandon to Italy the same time of the accident,
the pieces all began to fit together, Jonathan Caruso had covered
everything  up for his son.  Dominique didn’t have to tell Muriel
about Brandon's involvement in the accident, both she and Molly figured it out
the moment the trip to Italy was brought up.

Muriel and Molly sat astounded as
they let what they had just figured out about Brandon and Jonathan sink in.
Dominique felt relieved that she did not have to carry this awful secret
anymore, but she was astonished that Jonathan would go so far as to cover it
all up.

“Oh, I’m not surprised that my
husband would do such a thing Dominique, not surprised at all. Jonathan is a
self-centered man who will do anything to protect himself from embarrassment,
anything at all. You have no idea of what Jonathan Caruso is capable of
Dominique and one day soon I’ll tell you both about the horrible thing he's
done. Besides covering up for Brandon of course,” she nodded towards Dominique,
and exactly how far he'd go for himself, but not today. I think we've got
plenty to absorb ladies, and it's time you two got back to work.”

Dominique stood to leave, “Muriel,
I’ve just got one more question, do you think your husband and son know who I
am?” Dominique asked; she was more concerned now more than ever.

Muriel put her mind at ease.

“I don't see how they could
Dominique, I mean you yourself said that you kept a low profile after the
accident and since the FBI took all of the evidence, I don’t see how anyone
would know who you were without you coming out and telling them.

I mean just think about Molly and
me, I mean if you hadn’t confided in us we would have never put two and two
together, no Dominique believe me, they're both too selfish to consider
anything or anyone other than themselves, and for the time being that's a good
thing. You've got nothing to worry about in that department thank goodness, now
get to work you two,” Muriel smiled and hugged the girls before leaving the
restaurant.