Chapter 2 - The Brooklyn Flat
The black SUV pulled up to a weathered brownstone in a quiet, rundown corner of Brooklyn. Snow fell heavily now, coating the rusted fire escapes and narrow alleys in white.
Dominic carried Lily up the front steps. The little girl rested her head against his broad shoulder, completely trusting the man who, twenty minutes ago, had been a terrifying stranger. Marco walked behind them, his hand resting instinctively near the holster beneath his coat.
Lily pointed her small finger toward a door at the end of a dim, cold hallway on the second floor. "That's our door. Number 2B."
Dominic set Lily down. He didn't knock. He gently turned the brass handle, finding the lock broken, and pushed the door open.
The apartment was freezing. A single radiator hissed weakly in the corner. The furniture was sparse—a small worn sofa, a table with a single chair, and stacks of hand-drawn art supplies.
In the small bedroom, propped up against two thin pillows under a faded quilt, lay Clara.
She looked pale and frail, her dark hair fan out across the white pillowcase. On the nightstand beside her sat a glass of cold water, an untouched slice of dry toast, and a dusty shoebox tied with a faded red ribbon.
At the sound of footsteps, Clara opened her eyes weakly. "Lily? Sweetheart, is that you?"
Then her eyes landed on the tall, broad-shouldered man standing in her doorway.
Clara gasped, her breath catching in her throat as color drained entirely from her face. "Dominic...?"
"Clara," Dominic spoke, stepping into the room. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. "Why didn't you come to me?"
May you like
Clara’s eyes darted past him to Lily, then to the termination paper in the girl's hand. She realized instantly what her brave daughter had done. Tears welled in Clara’s eyes as she pulled the blanket higher around her shoulders.
"You weren't supposed to find us," Clara whispered, her voice cracking with years of buried pain. "Your father... he told me he would destroy my family if I ever spoke to you again."
