Revengeful Deceptions (10 page)

She knew what her answer was before
he even finished convincing her.

“What should I pack?” She said
blowing her nose and wiping away her tears. Her response had taken Adam by
surprise but he was glad to hear it.

“Dominique, I promise you, I’ll do
everything in my power to try and take your mind off things.”

“I have no doubt that you will
Adam,” she said with a smile.
That’s what I need; I need to forget, not
about my boys, but about the pain and emptiness that I’ve carried around these
two years.
Dominique thought it incredibly ironic that here she was going
away with the brother of the man responsible for the deaths of Stephen and Teddy.
As long as he's had nothing to do with it, I'll be alright she promised
herself, and this may be just what I need,
she told herself as she packed.

 
“What about you Adam? Aren’t you going to pack
anything?” Dominique asked when she came out of her room dressed in jeans and a
sweater, carrying her overnight bag.

Adam shook his head at her; no
matter what she wore she looked amazing.

“I’ve got plenty up at the cottage
so don’t worry about me. Adam grabbed her bags, “let’s hit the road.”

By the time they reached Hyannis it
was well after 8 o’clock. Adam had called and made reservations at The Hyannis
Harbor Hotel while they were on the road. Dominique had never been to Cape Cod.
Although she and Stephen had talked about taking a vacation there, they never
got around to it.

Jonathan picked up his ringing cell
phone. “Sir you wanted to know what Miss Foster was up to tonight.” Paul was
the name of the investigator that Jonathan had hired to follow Dominique.

“Yes Paul, what’s she doing? Is she
with my son again?”

“Well yes she is sir but they are
leaving the brownstone now, and she is carrying an overnight bag, sir. Do you
want me to hang around here and see if they come back?”

“No Paul, I want you to follow them
and let me know the moment you find out their destination you hear me?”

“Yes sir I hear you but you know
that I consider weekends as overtime.”

“Yes Paul, you just make sure that
you don’t let them out of your sight.”

Jonathan knew the closer his son
got to Dominique the worse things were going to get. But only if she finds out,
he thought to himself.  “Keep looking ahead Dominique Foster, keep looking
ahead because if you look back you won’t like what you’ll find”. He whispered
out loud.

 
“What do you say we check in first, and then
grab a bite to eat Dominique?” Adam said as he removed her bag from the back
seat of the range rover.

 
“That sounds great.” Dominique’s mood had
improved greatly and she was glad. Must be the atmosphere she told herself. 
When Adam offered her his hand, she took it gleefully as they strolled inside
the hotel.

“Geez Adam this place is gorgeous,
not only are you handsome, but you’re also very romantic aren’t you?” She said
smiling.

“Did you say romantic and
handsome?” he asked with a chuckle.

“Well yeah, I mean not a lot of
guys would think of taking off to Nantucket for a weekend, especially this time
of year am I right?”

 
“Oh you’re absolutely right Dominique, you’re
absolutely right,” he said giving her hand a squeeze. Adam wanted to tell her
that yes, she was right, he was a romantic but he knew he would have a much
better time showing her. When they entered their room, Dominique took one look
around and jumped onto the bed as if she were a child again. Adam loved seeing
the smile on her face and the brightness in her eyes had returned.

Dominique had not felt so carefree
in a very long time.

“Adam thank you again, I can’t wait
to see Nantucket tomorrow, I want you to show me everything.”

“You might want to rephrase that
Dominique,” he said with a grin.

She pushed him playfully. “You know
what I mean Adam, now let’s eat, I’m starving,” she said opening the door.
So
am I,
Adam said to himself as he watched her walk out,
so am
I.

While Dominique and Adam enjoyed
their dinner, Paul sat in his car smoking a cigarette while he dialed his
employer’s number.

“Sir, its Paul, looks like their
holed up for the night here in Hyannis at the Harbor Hotel.  You want me
to stay the night?”
This is why I have no life,
Paul thought to himself
as he waited for an answer.

“No Paul, I think I know where he’s
taking her and there’s only one way on and off the island so head on back and
don’t worry. I’ll pay you for the weekend.”

Jonathan hung up the phone and
finished the rest of his scotch in one gulp. If Adam was taking her to their
family cottage out on the island than that meant he was serious about
Dominique. He sighed heavily as he wondered what Dominique would do if she
found out that she was falling in love with the brother of her husband and
son’s killer.”

Dominique opened the door to the
bathroom and found Adam shirtless and looking as sexy as ever lying on the bed,
pillows propped up, and hands behind his head, totally engrossed in the
television watching a game. Jumping on the bed Dominique straddled him and
kissed him long and hard before moving over to her side of the bed.

“Oh no you don't woman, get back
over here,” he grinned as he turned off the TV and made love to her all night
long. 

The morning was cold as they stood
on the upper level of the ferry and watched the island come into view. Even
through the fog, Dominique thought the view was breathtaking, almost
overwhelming. Adam told her it was a view that he could never get tired of
looking at, especially at this time of year. The island seemed uncluttered, and
purely authentic.  As the ferry drew closer to the island, they hurried to
the car so they would be able to drive off the moment the ferry reached its
destination.

Once off the ferry, Adam drove
towards Great Point, he wanted to show Dominique the mystical spot where the
sand seemed to go into nothing.  Dominique stood in awe as she gazed upon
what she thought was the most beautiful spot in the world. Except for her and
Adam, there wasn’t a soul around and she liked that, she liked not having to
feel rushed while gazing at the view. As the cold wind mixed with ocean spray
and whipped onto shore, Dominique felt as if this was a place where a person
could take the time to figure out where they’ve been and where they were going.

With every spot that Adam drove or
walked her to, he stepped back. He wanted her to have her space. He wanted her
to feel the same way that he felt the many times that he had traveled here on
his own to this majestic island.  He remembered how he had come here once
in the dead of winter, he took a walk and watched as the sun peeked through
gray, almost black clouds. The feeling of isolation was so strong he thought
for a moment that he was the only one on the island.

It wasn’t until they were driving
through the moors that Dominique spoke. She thanked Adam again and told him
that this is exactly what she needed. She had never seen such beauty and
isolation; it was almost heartbreaking she told him.

“Adam, it’s all just so gorgeous,
thank you for letting me in on your secret,” she whispered to him as he drove
to the cottage.

This was a first for Adam; he had
never shared his family’s cottage with anyone during the fall and winter
months. He had kept this oasis to himself. He had not wanted to share it. Sure
he used to bring woman here all the time in the summer. Once he shared with
them that his family owned a summer home on the island he’d been all but forced
to take them there. Even though he knew it was for superficial reasons, he took
them anyway. And a part of him liked it, liked having a woman on his arm who he
could impress but the feelings were fake and he soon grew tired of not being
loved, he wanted something more, something substantial. A real, relationship
that would be honest and true and he wanted to have that with Dominique.

Chapter Eleven

“Um Adam, I thought you said your
family had a cottage?” Dominique said as she stared wide eyed at the large
mansion looming in the distance.

“That’s it right there,” he said
undoubtedly.

“We obviously have different
definitions of the word cottage Adam. Because this isn’t a cottage, it’s a
small town, it’s wonderful. Your family owns all this?” She asked now seriously
considering going to law school.

Adam couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Yes, it belonged to my grandparents and they left it to my Dad, this is where
my brother and I spent our summers Dominique.”

“It’s beautiful, absolutely
beautiful and we have it all to ourselves?” Dominique smiled with delight.

“That we do Dominique. Come, let’s
go inside.”

Dominique twirled around like a
child who had just entered a fairy tale. The so-called cottage housed 6
bedrooms each with its own theme, a gourmet kitchen, family room, living room,
formal dining room and last but not least panoramic views that almost made her
dizzy with their beauty.

“You were one lucky kid to have all
this to spend your summers in Adam, but I’m sure you know that.”

“Yes I do Dominique and I am lucky
that you decided to come with me this weekend too.”

“Are you kidding? I am so glad that
I decided to come along, but let me ask you, were you planning on coming here
yesterday once you left my house?”

Adam looked solemnly for a moment.
“Yes I was Dominique, I wanted to get away for a couple days and clear my head.
I’d had a rough week and needed to get away, I had planned on asking you to go
with me when we were at work yesterday, but when I saw you and you looked… well
you looked so sad, and then you told me that you didn’t want to see me just
then I’ll admit, I was devastated, I’d thought I’d come on too strong these
past few weeks and drove you away. I had every intention of leaving earlier but
I just couldn’t Dominique, something made me stay and next thing I knew I found
myself sitting on your steps.”

 
“Well whatever it was that made you stay, I’m
glad,” she said taking his hand in hers.

“There’s something else Dominique,”
he said looking into her eyes.

“I want to help you find the person
who killed your husband and son.”

Dominique quickly turned and stared
out the window. She didn't need his help, but falling for Adam wasn't part of
the plan, now of course she would have to accept his help, otherwise he may
become suspicious. 
But what will he do if he ever found out that his
own brother is responsible? Well that is one chance I’m willing to take,
she told herself.

“Adam, I’m not sure how you can
help me,” she said as she turned to face him.

“Dominique, I’m an attorney, I have
a lot of resources and investigators who can help me, help us find out who did
this.”

“Adam, I was going to wait for the
police and hope that they would reopen the case.”

“Dominique, you know there is a
slim to none chance of that happening and you yourself said that the police
called the case cold. That means that somewhere there is a file that they
stored away with no intentions of ever opening it. Dominique let me help you,
you deserve closure Dominique, you deserve to find happiness again and I know
that you will once you find out who murdered your family and bring them to
justice.” He hoped that he didn’t sound too harsh, but Adam needed Dominique to
understand that if anyone could help her, he could.

“Your right Adam, but are you sure
you want to get involved with all this Adam, are you sure? Because if you are I
would like this to be kept between me and you, I know that sounds silly but I’d
rather not have any else know, at least not right now.” She asked voice
quivering.

“Dominique I am sure, and I’m
already involved, there’s no going back. Don’t worry about a thing Dominique;
let me do this for you. First thing Monday morning I’m going to make some phone
calls, don’t worry, it’s to people we can trust. And trust
me
when I tell you, we will find the monster that did this Dominique and when we
do, I’ll leave it up to you to decide exactly the kind of justice you want to
give.”

Dominique was sure that Adam would
rethink that thought when and if
  he
ever found
out who was truly responsible for her family's death.

When night came the two shared a
romantic dinner, prepared by Adam himself. Dominique knew that he was special,
but to know that he also possessed the art of cooking made her smile even more.

“And just what are you smiling at
beautiful?”

“Oh nothing in particular, just
thinking to myself how much of a great guy you are and I’m lucky to have met
you that’s all.”

“If you ask me Dominique, I’m the
lucky one. Now since I cooked dinner you get to do the dishes. Get on with it
woman!” He said jokingly as they both cleared the dishes.

Dominique sat on the oversized
leather sofa and watched as Adam built a fire. She couldn’t help but notice how
it all felt so natural being there with him. Adam left the room for a few
moments and when he returned, he held a tray complete with a bottle of champagne
along with all the ingredients to make smores. There was something he wanted to
ask Dominique and he wanted the atmosphere to be as relaxed as possible.

While they ate smores and drank
champagne in front of the fire, Adam asked Dominique if she would accompany him
to the firm’s annual Halloween/Costume party. He knew it was last minute and he
was so nervous about asking her that his palms grew damp and he felt like a
teenager. He was sure that with all that was going on in her life and the short
notice, that she wouldn’t have time for a party but she surprised him once
again by accepting his invitation. She did have one concern though.