Chapter 8
In the waiting limo, Dominique began to get sick. She had held it together in the penthouse because she’d been distracted being with Richie. Jason held her in his arms.
“Oh god, Jas…I can’t do this,” she cried before heaving again.
As he held her hair back, he said, “Yeah, you can. Think about it…in two weeks, Richie’s going to be visiting you.”
“And…” she had to stop to keep from vomiting. “All he’s going to find is a drug addict.”
“No, he won’t!! You didn’t do this to yourself, Nikki,” stated Sonny. “Santadio WILL pay for what he’s done to you.”
Once Dominique had stopped getting sick, the car pulled away and they were on their way to the airport. It was a long ride for everyone. Dominique was in agony needing a fix in the worst way and Sonny was beyond being angry. He wanted Santadio.
As the car stopped at the bottom of the steps, Sonny looked at Jason. “I want him. Find him and bring him to me.”
“I’m on it already.”
Sonny’s men had already taken up positions from the limo onto the jet to make sure that their boss and his daughter got aboard safely. They weren’t taking any chances. Jason gathered Dominique in his arms and carried her onto the waiting jet where a doctor was waiting.
“Put her in the back on the bed,” instructed the doctor.
Sonny followed Jason carrying the stuffed dog Richie had given her and when she was on the bed, he tucked it under her arm. Sitting beside her, he wiped her face. “I have Noah Drake with me to take care of you. You remember Noah, don’t you?”
Looking confused, she mumbled, “No.”
“He was the doctor who took care of ‘Stone’. He’s going to take good care of you.”
She began to cry. “Daddy, I’m sorry I let you down.”
Placing a finger on her lips, Sonny said, “Shh, you didn’t let me down, Nikki. I would NEVER believe you chose to do drugs on your own. Calm down and let Noah take care of you.”
Standing with Jason was Dr. Noah Drake. Ever since ‘Stone’ had died, he had devoted his time to helping people overcome their drug addictions and preventing the spread of AIDS through the use of dirty needles. He’d left Port Charles to work with the Life Center of Galax, a rehab/detox center in Virginia but when Sonny had called him and told him there was the possibility of Dominique being hooked on drugs, he had dropped what he was doing to join Sonny.
“Sonny, I need to examine her,” said Noah.
“I’ll move but I’m not leaving.”
“Sonny, don’t do this to yourself.”
“She’s my daughter.”
Jason spoke up, “Sonny, come on. You heard Richie tell you what had happened. You don’t need to see the evidence.”
Jason managed to get Sonny out of the room but he stopped at the door to look at his daughter who was curled up on the bed, sweat covering her body. His stomach lurched as images of Santadio injecting her and having sex with her played in his mind. “Let me know if you need anything,” he said to Dr. Drake as he turned and left.
As soon as Sonny was gone, Dr. Drake locked the door and moved to Dominique. “Come on, Nikki, let’s get you undressed so I can examine you.”
Thinking Noah was Santadio, she began to scream and fight him. “NO! GET AWAY FROM ME! I DON’T WANT YOU TO TOUCH ME!”
“I’m not going to hurt you,” reassured Noah calmly as he fixed the needle to give her a sedative. The paranoia had set in and he knew the only way to examine her was to sedate her. “I promise, Nikki. I’m not going to hurt you. I want to help you get better.”
It took several minutes but Noah eventually got her settled and into a gown so that he could proceed. He checked everything he possibly could on the jet; blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature, etc.
By the time he was done, Dominique was asleep and they were airborne. He went back out to the main area where Sonny was sipping a drink.
“How is she?”
“Sleeping peacefully for now. When we get to the island, I want to do a thorough exam with an MRI and blood tests.”
“How bad are the track marks?”
“He injected her mostly under the finger and toe nails but there is evidence that he had an IV going on her that he must have used too.”
“What else?”
Noah knew what Sonny was referring to and he hated this part. No parent wanted to hear the atrocities inflicted on their child. “There are significant signs of sexual abuse and severe beatings. There are scars on her wrists and ankles from being restrained as well.”
There was a tense silence that was shattered by glass breaking. Sonny’s eyes burned with anger. “The bastard will pay,” he said in a cool angry voice.
Noah hadn’t wanted to hear this even though he had no doubt what was going to happen. If Sonny had stayed quiet, he could never be held responsible for anything that befell Christian Santadio. Of course, he’d made a deal with Sonny in exchange for protection – he would run the hospital on the island. There was no way the authorities would find him to question him.
“Whatever Nikki needs, you make sure she had it and if you need me to get something, just tell me.”
“I will, Sonny.”
“Can I see her?”
“She’s asleep but go ahead.”
Sonny rushed to the back closing the door behind him. Dominique was asleep on the bed. Just the emergency lighting was shining casting a soft glow throughout the room. Sonny moved to the bed and sat beside her. Carefully, so as not to wake her, he brushed her hair back.
“My beautiful little girl. I never meant for my business to cause you pain. You are so much like me…I knew you wanted to see the show and I should have put more guards on you, especially knowing that Santadio wasn’t going to let it go.
“I love you more than life itself and no one will ever hurt you again, I promise you on my life.”
Dominique stirred and her eyes opened slowly. “Daddy,” she mumbled.
“Hey, baby girl.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered tearfully.
“For what?”
“The drugs…”
“You didn’t do this to yourself. Santadio got you hooked knowing that it would hurt me. NONE of this is your fault.”
Dominique closed her eyes, “I love you, Daddy.”
Sonny leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I love you too.”
Sleep pulling her down, she mumbled, “It hurts, Daddy.”
“I know, baby, but it’ll get better, I promise.”
There was silence as Dominique seemingly slept and Sonny watched her.
A soft murmur broke the silence, “Richie” and she hugged the stuffed dog.
Sonny heard her and gave a soft smile. He was glad that Richie had saved his daughter and had feelings for her as well. He remembered all the times she had begged him to go see Richie and he’d agreed.
Pulling the blankets up and tucking them around her, Sonny gave her a kiss again and whispered, “Sleep tight.”
