Page 5 of Dominate
I know none of what happened tonight is my fault, but I am the reason Gareth was distracted when he walked into his house. If I hadn’t sent him into an emotional tailspin, who knows where we’d be right now. I’ve clearly done more harm than good in his life as of late.
Vi’s eyes find mine and she mouths a silent apology, then walks over to speak quietly with her father. Gareth’s brothers still seem to be in shock as they move in closer to him.
I suddenly feel very out of place.
This is his family. People that he knows and trusts. I’m an outsider and unwelcome. I don’t belong here.
As I consider leaving, the older, white-haired doctor whom I spoke to earlier strides into the room with an iPad clutched in his hands. He slides past Gareth’s brothers and introduces himself to Vaughn.
“Mr. Harris, hello. I’m Dr. Howard.”
“Tell me what’s going on with my son.”
Dr. Howard eyes me with a frown before replying, “As I told his wife, we’re monitoring Gareth closely at this point. Severe concussions like this can lift in hours or days.”
“A severe concussion?” Vaughn’s granite features morph into shock.
The doctor looks even more puzzled by the fact that I hadn’t relayed this information to Vaughn already. “Yes, but he’s stable and there’s no swelling in his brain, which is a very good sign. A trauma to the temple can be quite dangerous, though, so we’re monitoring him to ensure no brain bleeds form overnight.”
Vaughn narrows his eyes at Dr. Howard, then turns to Vi as he states, “Right. We’re taking him home.”
“What?” Vi and I both exclaim in unison.
“I have a private jet here. We’re going to get him to a London hospital. We need to get out of here.” Vaughn looks around the room, his hands balling into fists by his sides. I notice a sheen of sweat on his forehead that I hadn’t seen before. He’s nervous.
Dr. Howard holds a hand out. “Mr. Harris, I assure you he’s getting the best medical care here.”
Vaughn doesn’t look convinced. “I don’t care what he’s getting. We’re getting him out of Manchester tonight.”
“Travel is not advised in his condition,” the doctor replies warily.
“It’s a quick trip. Just get me the forms to sign. We’re taking him home.”
“Dad,” Vi says, stepping up to Vaughn and lifting her hands that are hidden in the long sleeves of Tanner’s jacket. “This isn’t necessary. I think we should listen to the doctor.”
“Vilma!” Vaughn nearly roars. “My decision is final.”
Vi cowers like a whipped puppy beneath her father’s harsh command. Booker rubs his hand along her back as she turns her face away from Vaughn. I look over at Camden and Tanner to find they are also frozen in fear. Or maybe it’s just shock? I can’t tell. Regardless, they are all acting like PTSD victims who have been triggered. What is with this family?
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Vaughn snaps at Dr. Howard, who flinches. “We’ll need to arrange an ambulance transport and a nurse to fly with us. Better yet, a doctor. Perhaps I know someone.” Vaughn pulls his phone out and softly mumbles to himself as he attempts to make arrangements for his unconscious son.
Booker’s eyes find mine as he cradles his sister against his chest. They all suddenly look so much younger than they did earlier this evening at the gala. Booker is clearly petrified; Camden and Tanner are paralysed; and Vi is a sobbing mess. They remind me of my panicked little Sopapilla at the hospital right before the nurses would come in to start a line on her. Meanwhile, Vaughn is on his phone sounding like Hitler calling in his troops.
It’s then that I see all the overwhelming moments I had leading up to Gareth. Getting pregnant. Getting married. Sophia’s cancer diagnosis and having to hold her down for doctors to treat her. Being forced to move to England and pushed into a job I’m not passionate about. Being told how to dress my daughter by Callum’s mother, Margaret. The cheating, the divorce, the joint custody. It all comes bearing down on me like the weight of a lifetime’s worth of submission.
Then I picture Gareth. Alive and virile. Strong and masculine. Every physical attribute an alpha male might possess. But instead of over-powering me—instead of pushing me, and pursuing me, and asking me to submit to him—he drops to his knees. He gives himself to me because he is selfless. Protective. Giving.A true dominant.
“Just wait a damn minute,” my voice states in the small hospital room filled with Harrises. Chewing my lip nervously, I move to stand by Gareth’s side. I clutch the rail of his bed tightly while channelling all the strength I had for Sophia when she was sick—when she needed an advocate and someone to be strong for her. “You’re not taking him anywhere.”
“The hell we’re not,” Vaughn replies. “You have no say here.”
“I am his wife!” I exclaim, shouting my lie as a flippant retaliation.
“Oh, bollocks,” Vaughn retorts and pins the doctor with a moody glower. “She is not my son’s wife. Did you check her identification? She’s not even wearing a ring.”
“She came in on an ambulance without identification, sir. We had no reason not to believe her.” Dr. Howard flicks a glance at me like he knows better, but he’s not going to say anything because I’m the only one in this room who’s on his side.
“You wouldn’t know if I am his wife or not,” I snap back at Vaughn.
