He called Ludwik's name with such ease, Tiana couldn't help but smirk. It seemed like troublemakers indeed attract their own kind. Danny had probably been a thorn in Ludwik's side for a while now.
Serves him right!
Yet, Whitney's gaze dropped, her lips pressed tightly together, her heart racing too fast to respond to Danny. Sammy, noticing his mom's somber and anxious look, quickly caught on.
Always on his mom's side, he immediately said to Danny, "We can't let that jerk of a dad know about me right now. Think about it, with his wild ways, if he finds out I'm still alive, he'd definitely fight mom for custody. Then mom would lose everything. Is that what you'd want to see?"
"But why..." Danny innocently wondered why they couldn't all live together as a family of four.
Whitney saw the flicker of hope in her son's eyes, her heart heavy and conflicted, "Danny, grown-up stuff isn't easy to explain in a sentence or two. Besides, letting him know he has two kids now would only end with Sammy being taken away by him, and then being raised by Elaine. You've already suffered enough with Elaine, I can't stand to see you or your brother get hurt anymore."
Danny understood once Elaine was mentioned. His fists clenched tightly, anger in his eyes, "Then Sammy has to keep hiding his identity. It's Ludwik's loss for keeping that wicked woman around. If he doesn't find out about his son, it's his own fault! We can still mess with him. I'm going to expose Elaine and her schemes right now..."
"Danny, it's not going to work," Sammy shook his head, trying to stay calm, "Even if you could talk, would dad believe a three-year-old's word? And if we're trying to hide me, then Elaine would have no motive to hurt me anymore. She'd definitely find a way to silence you without leaving any trace..."
Sammy was trembling with anger. Whitney soothed her son, already having considered his analysis. Their only hope now was the police investigation. But she was determined to avenge her sons, her eyes narrowing coldly, comforting them, "Danny, you sneak back now. We'll have plenty of time together. Remember what mom says, revenge is a dish best served cold."
Danny pouted, looking back at them several times before hurriedly leaving the hospital room.
-
As he was sneaking back to his room, Danny overheard voices from Elaine's room next door. His dad was there, and it sounded like the police were with him too.
Inside the room—
Elaine hadn't expected Ludwik to visit her. They barely exchanged a few words in private before the police, called by him, arrived to inquire about the kidnapping scene at the cave.
"All the kidnappers dead in the explosion?" Ludwik's brows furrowed, concerned about Danny's injuries; he had left the scene too hastily. It was chaotic, and he hadn't had the chance to investigate personally.
"One got away. Judging by the severed limbs, the fleeing kidnapper lost an arm. We're doing our best to track him down," the officer reported.
Ludwik took a drag from his cigarette, silent. Elaine's eyes darkened with worry. Jarvis had set off the bomb to eliminate the kidnappers, but one had escaped. That could only spell trouble later, wondering if he'd been dealt with.
As she fretted, Ludwik demanded, "The explosion in the cave was suspicious. Who rigged the bomb? I want a thorough investigation! Elaine, the police are reviewing the whole case, and as a survivor and a witness, you need to explain everything from the start to the kidnapping. Answer their questions truthfully."
Elaine, her hands clenched tightly, feigned weakness, "Ludwik, wasn't the kidnapper linked to Mr. Percy from the auction house? Does this case involve Whitney?"
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Love Beyond the Mask