Chapter 145: Hush Money

There was a saying that when it rained, it poured.

Victoria Sebastian was beginning to think whoever came up with it had been severely understating the situation.

Dominic wasn’t an easy patient.

Then again, she wasn’t the one who had given up a kidney, so whenever the urge to complain became particularly strong, Victoria reminded herself that she could either shut up or grin and bear it.

Preferably both.

Unfortunately, Dominic had reached the stage of recovery where he felt considerably better than he actually was.

He was bored.

Which, as far as Victoria was concerned, made him dangerous.

"I want to go outside."

Victoria looked up from her tablet. "No."

Dominic stared at her from the bed. "I wasn’t asking permission."

"Then why did you tell me?"

"Because I need help getting there."

Victoria lowered the tablet.

There it was.

"You’re impossible."

"I’ve been in this room all morning."

"You’re recovering."

"I’m aware. The hole in my side has been an excellent reminder."

Dominic pushed himself upright carefully.

"I just want to walk around the garden."

Victoria immediately frowned.

The garden.

Outside.

Under the sun.

Her dermatologist had specifically warned her to avoid unnecessary sun exposure after her latest skin treatment. The pigmentation she’d been trying to correct could worsen, and apparently even an irresponsible amount of sunscreen wasn’t enough to satisfy the woman.

"Can’t you walk around the house?"

"I’ve been walking around the house."

"Then do another lap."

Dominic stared at her.

Victoria stared back.

Unfortunately, asking one of the household helpers to accompany him wasn’t much of an option either. The staff had become strangely reluctant to spend any unnecessary time around Dominic lately.

Victoria suspected they thought he’d gone slightly crazy after everything that had happened.

She couldn’t entirely blame them.

Ten minutes later, Dominic finally made it into the garden.

Beside him walked Victoria wearing oversized sunglasses and a sun hat so enormous it could’ve provided shade for both of them.

Dominic took one look at her and burst out laughing.

He immediately regretted it.

"Shit."

His hand flew toward his side.

Victoria glared at him. "Serves you right."

Dominic carefully straightened. "What the hell are you wearing?"

"A hat."

"That’s not a hat. That’s portable roofing."

"At least I’ll still have decent skin beyond sixty."

Dominic looked at her face.

Then he wisely decided that surviving kidney donation only to be murdered by his mother would be embarrassing.

He kept walking.

Ever since the divorce, Victoria had thrown herself into practically every noninvasive beauty treatment she could find. Creams, lasers, facials, peels, and whatever else someone in an expensive clinic promised would make her look younger.

At least she was still afraid of surgery.

Dominic supposed everyone had limits.

They’d barely settled into a relatively comfortable pace around the garden when one of the household helpers appeared at the door.

"Ma’am?"

Victoria looked over.

"There’s a man here asking for you."

"Who?"

"He said his name is Domingo."

Victoria stopped walking.

Dominic noticed.

It lasted only a second, but he’d spent his entire life around his mother. He knew what she looked like when she was irritated.

He also knew what she looked like when she was caught off guard.

This was the latter.

"I’ll handle it," Victoria said.

She turned to Dominic. "Stay here."

"Where exactly do you think I’m going?"

Victoria ignored him and headed inside.

By the time she reached the front entrance, her surprise had given way to obvious annoyance.

Domingo was waiting just inside the doorway.

He’d aged since the last time Victoria had seen him, but not enough for her to mistake him for anyone else.

"What are you doing here?"

Domingo didn’t bother with pleasantries.

"I need money."

Victoria’s expression hardened. "I don’t owe you anything."

"Call it a bonus."

"For what? You were paid years ago."

"I know."

"Then leave."

Domingo didn’t move.

Victoria lowered her voice. "I told you never to come here."

"And I tried calling. You stopped answering."

"Because we have nothing to discuss."

"That depends."

Victoria stared at him.

Domingo smiled, although there was very little humor in it.

"I’ve been reminiscing."

The blood drained from Victoria’s face.

"Keep your voice down."

"Why? It’s an interesting story."

"Domingo."

Victoria stepped closer.

"You were paid to do a job. You did it. You were paid in full. Whatever problems you have now are none of my concern."

"They could become your concern."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Are you threatening me?"

"You left me no choice. I need money; you won’t answer my calls, so now I’m here."

"And if I refuse?"

Domingo glanced into the house.

"I suppose I could find another important family who’d be interested in what I know."

Victoria went completely still.

Of all the things Domingo could’ve dragged out of the past, it had to be that.

"You were paid," she said quietly.

"And I kept my mouth shut."

"For something that happened years ago."

Domingo smiled. "Then I suppose you’re paying me to keep it there."

Victoria stared at him.

The bastard knew exactly what he was doing.

Worse, he knew he wasn’t the only person who remembered what had happened that day.

That part didn’t need rehearsing.

And Victoria intended to keep it that way.

"Wait here."

She turned and went upstairs.

Unfortunately, Dominic had already grown tired of waiting in the garden.

He’d made it to the hallway by the time he heard a man’s voice near the entrance.

"...not going anywhere until I get my bonus."

Dominic slowed.

Bonus?

He leaned slightly against the wall.

It wasn’t Christmas, and judging by his mother’s expression when she returned downstairs carrying a thick envelope, this definitely wasn’t the sort of bonus handed out for excellent job performance.

Victoria shoved the envelope toward Domingo.

"Take it and leave."

Domingo opened it just enough to check the contents.

His smile returned.

"Thank you."

Victoria’s expression remained cold.

Then Domingo added, "Until next time."

Her face changed.

Only slightly.

But Dominic saw it.

So did Domingo.

The man tucked the envelope away and walked out.

Victoria waited until the door closed before turning around.

Then she saw her son.

"Dominic!"

He was already regretting his decision to come inside. Walking from the garden had apparently used considerably more energy than expected, and the wall was becoming increasingly useful.

Victoria hurried toward him just as his balance shifted.

"I told you to stay outside."

"You also went inside carrying enough cash to make me curious."

She wrapped an arm around him.

"Come on."

Dominic didn’t move yet.

"What was that about?"

"Nothing."

"That was a very thick envelope for nothing."

"I asked him to do something for me a long time ago. He came for payment."

Dominic frowned.

"You just said he came for payment?"

Victoria’s mouth tightened.

"He wanted more."

"More for what?"

"Dominic."

"That looked suspiciously like either a bribe or hush money, and considering he left with until next time, I’m leaning toward hush money."

Victoria’s grip on his arm tightened.

"What did you do, Mom?"

For once, Victoria didn’t answer immediately.

That bothered him more than anything she could’ve said.

Finally, she started guiding him toward his room.

"Forget what you saw."

Dominic looked at her.

"The less you know, the better."

That was probably the worst possible thing she could’ve said to a man who suddenly had far too much free time.

Dominic allowed her to help him back to his room.

But forget it?

Not a chance.