Lahat ng Kabanata ng The daughter she thought was gone!: Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 60

They cleaned the wound in the kitchen under warm light, the safehouse suddenly feeling like a home and a command center and a chapel all at once. Jack debriefed with the responding officers in the study. Melissa’s voice carried faintly over speakerphone, already drafting motions that cited “assassination‑adjacent intimidation” as grounds for escalated protection orders.Dominic sat on a barstool, his jacket off, shirt sleeve rolled past the abrasion. The graze was clean — a burn with a shallow bite, angry and red but not deep. Amara’s hands were steady now, competent, almost clinical as she irrigated the wound.“You’ve done this before,” he said quietly.“First-aid certification for executives,” she murmured. “Long hours. Stupid accidents.” A beat. “You’re not allowed to be either.”He huffed a laugh. “Noted.”She taped a clean dressing and smoothed the edge with her thumb. Her touch lingered a fraction of a second too long, and Dominic’s breath stalled in his chest.When she looked u

Breakfast was louder than usual.Elara loved pancakes. Dominic loved the way Elara loved pancakes. And Amara loved watching them — her daughter laughing, syrup on her cheeks, Dominic pretending not to notice that he had allowed chocolate chips in the batter even though he swore his kitchen rules didn’t allow “chaos baking.”For a brief window, the world felt almost normal.Almost.Because beneath the laughter, beneath the warm morning light spilling through the windows, beneath the smell of pancakes and cocoa—Danger still rippled.They all felt it.After breakfast, Jack arrived with updates. His expression was tense — not panicked, but pulled taut like a wire.“We traced Barren’s vehicle,” he said. “He switched plates twice. He’s running, but not far.”Dominic wiped his hands with a towel. “He won’t leave Silverwood.”“No,” Jack agreed. “He’s circling the perimeter. Watching. Planning.”Amara stiffened. “For what?”Jack hesitated.Dominic answered for him, voice low.“He’s waiting fo

The safehouse remained too quiet.Amara paced the living room, Elara clinging to her hand, both watching the monitors like they were oracles.Elara frowned. “Mommy… where’s Dominic’s car?”Amara forced a smile. “He’ll be back soon.”Elara hugged her moon pin to her chest — Dominic’s moon pin — the one he left her. “He promised.”Amara swallowed hard. “He always keeps his promises.”But her stomach twisted anyway.A deep, primal instinct pressed at her ribs. Something was wrong.Something was—A sudden crackle on the perimeter audio feed made her jump.She turned sharply toward the monitor.A breeze rustled the trees.A bird chirped once.Then—A faint crunch.A footstep.Close.Too close.“Jack?” Amara whispered into the emergency comms panel. “Are you there? Dominic?”Static.Then nothing.Elara whimpered. “Mommy…”Amara pulled her daughter against her side, heart pounding so loudly she could feel it in her teeth.“Elara,” she said softly, trying not to shake, “we’re going to go upst

Barren was dragged down the stairs in restraints by four officers.Even beaten, bloody, and cuffed, he stared up at Dominic with a predator’s patience — as if the fight had only just begun.Dominic didn’t spare him a second look.His entire focus was on the two girls in the upstairs room.Amara held Elara to her chest, rocking her gently, trying to quiet the sobs shaking her daughter’s small frame.Dominic walked toward them slowly, deliberately, like approaching something fragile and sacred.“Elara,” Dominic whispered, kneeling in front of her, “I need you to look at me.”She lifted her tear‑wet face, eyes huge and frightened.Dominic reached out one hand — then waited until she nodded to allow him to touch her shoulder.“You’re safe,” he said softly. “I will never let anyone hurt you.”Elara trembled. “He was in the house.”“I know,” Dominic said, voice thick. “But he won’t get near you again.”“Promise?” she whispered.“On my life,” he said without hesitation.Amara felt her breath

They gathered in the safehouse living room forty minutes later.Elara had fallen asleep on the couch, exhaustion tugging her eyelids shut the moment Dominic’s hand rested on her back. A blanket was draped gently over her small frame.Amara sat beside her, eyes watchful.Dominic stood near the fireplace, a fresh bandage wrapping his arm. Jack stood at the far window, phone pressed to his ear, updating law enforcement and their private team.But Dominic was watching Amara.He kept watching her.As if confirming she was still there.Still safe.Still whole.Amara met his gaze and saw the truth behind it:He wasn’t thinking tactically now.He wasn’t thinking about police reports or strategy.He was thinking about her.Finally, Jack hung up and stepped forward.“Secondary shooter is in custody and talking,” Jack reported. “Barren got away, but he won’t stay invisible long. He’s injured. And now he knows the law is involved.”Dominic didn’t respond. His jaw flexed once.“What about Caleb?”