Chapter 3
Dominic's hands were firm yet gentle as he helped Ava to her feet, steadying her as she wobbled, disoriented from her fall. His touch was a stark contrast to the harshness she had grown accustomed to, and it left her momentarily frozen, unsure of how to react to this unexpected kindness.
"Are you alright?" His voice was laced with concern, the deep timbre resonant and somehow calming despite the moment's chaos.
Ava nodded, unable to find her voice, her eyes wide as they met his. There was a warmth there, an intensity that seemed to see right through her, making her heart race for reasons she couldn't quite understand.
"I'm Dominic," he introduced himself, his gaze never leaving hers. "I couldn't just stand by and watch what was happening."
"Thank you," Ava managed to whisper, her voice barely above a breath. The gratitude was genuine, tinged with a vulnerability she rarely allowed herself to show.
Dominic studied her for a moment, a frown creasing his brow as he took in her disheveled appearance, the dirt on her clothes, and the lingering fear in her eyes. He could see a handprint-shaped bruise forming on her arm where that stupid kid had grabbed her.
"Let me give you a ride home. It's unsafe for you to walk alone, especially not after... that." He gestured vaguely in the direction Rachel and Brad had fled.
Ava hesitated the ingrained caution that had governed her life, which was warring with the instinctual trust she felt in Dominic's presence. "I... I don't want to trouble you. I can walk."
"It's no trouble. I insist." His tone brooked no argument, but it had a gentleness that eased her apprehension. "I'd feel better knowing you got home safely."
Her defenses slowly crumbled under his genuine concern, and Ava finally nodded, accepting his offer. As they walked to his car, a sleek, black sedan that seemed as out of place in the rundown neighborhood as Dominic himself, a part of her, marveled at the surreal turn her day had taken.
"I'm Ava," she said quietly, feeling the need to introduce herself as well, even though he hadn't asked.
"A pleasure to meet you, Ava, despite the circumstances." Dominic opened the passenger door for her, waiting until she was settled before closing it gently and walking around to the driver's side.
As the car glided through the streets, a silence settled between them, not awkward but filled with unasked questions and unsaid thoughts. Ava glanced over at Dominic, noticing the way his hands gripped the steering wheel with a relaxed yet firm hold, a testament to the control he seemed to wield effortlessly.
Breaking the silence, Dominic looked over at Ava, his expression softening. "You don't have to share if you're uncomfortable, but if there's anything you need, someone to talk to, or help in any way... I'm here."
Ava turned to face him, surprised by the offer. "Why? You don't even know me."
Dominic smiled slightly, a warm, genuine curve of his lips that reached his eyes. "Sometimes, you don't need to know someone to understand they're having a tough time. Plus, I feel you're stronger than you think, Ava. You just need someone in your corner for a change."
Ava felt a lump form in her throat, touched by his kindness. "I... thank you, Dominic. That means a lot, especially coming from someone like you."
"Someone like me?" Dominic raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Well, you seem... capable. Like you've seen a lot and come out the other side. I guess I'm not used to people offering help without wanting something in return," Ava admitted, her gaze dropping to her hands.
Dominic's voice was gentle but firm. "There's a first time for everything. And for what it's worth, I believe in helping where I can. Maybe it's naive, but it's how I live."
Ava looked up, meeting his eyes. "Not naive, just... rare. Thank you, seriously."
As they neared Ava's home, Dominic spoke again, his tone thoughtful. "Life can be tough, unpredictable. But remember Ava, it's also full of surprises. Sometimes, help comes from the most unexpected places."
Ava smiled, a small, tentative gesture that felt like a step toward something new. "I'll remember that, Dominic. Thank you... for being one of those surprises."
"Why did you help me?" Ava's curiosity got the better of her as they neared her neighborhood, and the dilapidated houses and overgrown yards were a stark reminder of the world she inhabited.
Dominic's gaze flicked to her briefly before returning to the road. "I can't stand bullies," he said simply, his voice carrying a weight of conviction. "No one deserves to be treated that way, especially not by those who are supposed to be their peers."
His words, simple yet sincere, struck a chord in Ava. For so long, she had felt invisible, her struggles unseen by those around her. But here was Dominic, a stranger who had not only seen her but had stepped in to help without a second thought.
"Thank you," she said again, her voice stronger this time, infused with gratitude and newfound respect. "Not many people would have done what you did."
Dominic smiled, a brief, fleeting gesture that lit up his features and softened the hard edges of his persona. "Maybe they should," he replied. The world might be a better place for it."
As they arrived at her home, the car coming to a stop outside the modest, rundown building she lived in, Ava felt a pang of reluctance at the thought of leaving the safety of Dominic's presence. But her gratitude for this brief respite from her harsh reality was overwhelming.
"Thank you, Dominic, for everything," she said, meeting his gaze with a newfound determination. I won't forget this."
"Take care of yourself, Ava," he said, his voice low and earnest. "And remember, not all help comes with strings attached."
With those parting words, Dominic drove off, leaving Ava standing there, a mix of emotions swirling within her. For the first time in a long time, she felt a glimmer of hope, a sense that maybe, just maybe, there was more to life than the despair she had known. And it was all thanks to the mysterious man who had rescued her when she needed it most.
Ava's evening unfolded in the quiet solitude of her tiny, dimly lit room, the day's events replaying in her mind like a distant dream. She curled up on her thin mattress, the rough fabric of the blanket barely providing warmth. Yet, tonight, her thoughts were not on her immediate discomfort. Instead, they wandered to Dominic, the enigmatic stranger who had stepped into her life as abruptly as a scene from a movie, altering the monotony of her bleak existence.
As she lay there, her body weary but her mind restless, Ava found herself clinging to the memory of his kindness. It was a small beacon of light in the darkness that had enveloped her life, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself the luxury of hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, there was an escape from the relentless cycle of abuse and neglect she had known all her life.
Dominic's aura was an intricate puzzle to her; he was both terrifying and comforting. There was an undeniable strength to him, a power that seemed to pulse beneath the surface, controlled and deliberate. Yet, in his actions towards her, there had been an undeniable gentleness, a kindness that didn't seem to fit with the dangerous vibe he otherwise exuded. This paradox fascinated her, drawing her in even as her instincts screamed caution.
As she drifted between wakefulness and sleep, Ava found herself secretly wishing that Dominic could save her not just from the bullies at school or the disdain of her family but from her entire life. It was a foolish thought, she chided herself, the kind of fantasy a child might indulge in, not a woman on the cusp of adulthood. Yet, in the darkness of her room, with the night stretching endlessly before her, it was a wish she couldn't help but harbor.
She pondered over the brief moments they had shared, the way he had looked at her—not with pity, but with a genuine desire to help. His voice, firm yet soothing, seemed to echo in the silence of her room, a reminder that kindness existed, even in the most unexpected of forms.
Dominic had offered her a glimpse into a world vastly different from her own, where strength did not equate to brutality and power could be wielded to protect, not just to harm. It was a dangerous thing to wish for—a savior in the form of a man entangled with the mafia. Yet, as Ava closed her eyes and surrendered to sleep, it was a wish she held close, a secret hope that in the darkness of her life, there might just be a spark of light waiting to ignite.