Chapter 2 - The General Beside the SUV
Dominic Prescott had spent years learning how to appear important.
He knew which restaurants impressed investors.
Which watches made people notice.
Which cars photographed well.
Which suits suggested success without appearing desperate to prove it.
And that afternoon, sitting inside one of Manhattan’s most exclusive restaurants, he was performing success perfectly.
His mother, Victoria, lifted a champagne glass.
“To Leo.”
Dominic smiled.
“To Leo.”
Arthur raised his glass.
Serena barely looked away from her phone.
“Can we also toast Dominic?” Victoria asked. “He has barely slept all week.”
Dominic leaned back.
“That’s what happens when you have a newborn.”
None of them mentioned that Audrey had been the one waking every two hours.
None mentioned that she was recovering from surgery.
None mentioned that Dominic had slept in the guest room for three of the five nights since Leo was born because he claimed the baby made too much noise.
Instead, Victoria touched her son’s wrist.
“You’re doing wonderfully.”
Dominic smiled.
“I’m trying.”
Outside, General Charles Brooks stood beside Audrey’s SUV.
He didn’t raise his voice.
He didn’t call the police.
He didn’t storm into the restaurant.
He didn’t need to.
A man from the dealership stood beside him holding digital registration records.
An attorney from Brooks Holdings had arrived with legal documentation.
Evelyn Shaw had arranged for a licensed vehicle transport company to be present nearby.
Everything was quiet.
Orderly.
Legal.
Charles preferred it that way.
People often confused authority with noise.
Charles had spent forty years learning that genuine authority rarely needed volume.
He looked at the vehicle.
He remembered giving Audrey the keys.
She had been six months pregnant.
Dominic had been there.
Charles remembered Dominic running a hand along the hood.
“Beautiful machine.”
Audrey had laughed.
“You’re admiring Dad’s gift more than I am.”
Dominic had smiled.
“I’m appreciating quality.”
At the time, Charles had said nothing.
Now, standing beside that same vehicle after hearing what happened outside the hospital, he felt a coldness settle into him that battlefield stress had never quite produced.
Because soldiers understood enemies.
There were uniforms.
Positions.
Rules.
This was different.
Dominic had stood beside Charles’s daughter while she trusted him.
Then he had slowly turned that trust into permission to diminish her.
The restaurant door opened.
A valet approached.
“Sir, is there an issue with the vehicle?”
Charles looked at him.
“No.”
The attorney beside him handed over paperwork.
“We’re retrieving property belonging to its registered owner.”
The valet nodded.
“Of course.”
Inside, Dominic’s phone remained beside his plate.
He had sent Audrey two messages.
She hadn’t replied.
That annoyed him.
“Everything okay?” Arthur asked.
“Yeah.”
“Baby?”
“Audrey.”
Victoria rolled her eyes.
“What now?”
“She isn’t answering.”
“Maybe she finally fell asleep.”
Dominic glanced toward the restaurant windows.
“I told her investors might come over.”
Victoria sighed.
“She has become so dramatic lately.”
Serena finally looked up.
“She just had surgery.”
Victoria turned.
“And women have been having babies for thousands of years.”
Serena shrugged.
“I’m just saying.”
Dominic interrupted before Victoria could continue.
“Can we not argue?”
The waiter arrived.
Wine was poured.
Menus were opened.
Outside, the transport operator unlocked Audrey’s SUV with authorization provided by its legal owner.
Then Charles stepped toward the restaurant.
His attorney followed.
Two security personnel remained outside.
Charles entered alone except for the attorney.
Conversations near the entrance quieted slightly.
Not because everyone recognized him.
Many didn’t.
But uniforms had a way of changing rooms.
Dominic noticed first.
He stared.
For one second, he looked confused.
Then surprised.
Then irritated.
“Is that Audrey’s father?”
Victoria turned.
Her mouth opened.
Charles approached the table.
Dominic stood halfway.
“Charles?”
Charles stopped.
He didn’t offer his hand.
“Dominic.”
“What are you doing here?”
Charles looked around the table.
Victoria suddenly removed her sunglasses.
Arthur cleared his throat.
Serena stared.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Charles said.
Dominic forced a smile.
“We’re celebrating the baby.”
Charles looked at the empty place setting beside Dominic.
“Where’s Audrey?”
Dominic’s expression shifted.
“She went home.”
“How?”
The question was simple.
Dominic hesitated.
“She took transportation.”
“What transportation?”
Victoria interrupted.
“Charles, surely we don’t need to interrogate Dominic during lunch.”
Charles looked at her.
For the first time, Victoria seemed uncertain.
He returned his attention to Dominic.
“What transportation?”
Dominic gave a small laugh.
“A bus.”
Charles nodded once.
“A bus.”
“It’s Manhattan.”
“She is five days out from abdominal surgery.”
“Charles—”
“She is carrying your newborn son.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“She was perfectly capable.”
Charles’s expression didn’t move.
“You gave her twelve dollars.”
Dominic went still.
Victoria looked at him.
“How does he know?”
Dominic ignored her.
“Did Audrey call you?”
“Yes.”
Dominic laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“Of course she did.”
Charles studied him.
“What does that mean?”
“It means Audrey runs to her father every time she feels uncomfortable.”
Charles’s attorney glanced at him.
Charles remained perfectly calm.
“How many times has she called me about your marriage?”
Dominic opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
The answer was none.
Charles continued.
“Until today, I had no idea how you treated her.”
“She’s exaggerating.”
“No.”
“You don’t know what marriage is like inside our home.”
“No,” Charles said. “But I know what leaving a postoperative woman with a newborn outside a hospital looks like.”
Several nearby diners had begun listening.
Dominic noticed.
His cheeks colored.
“Can we speak privately?”
“No.”
“Charles—”
“I came for Audrey’s vehicle.”
Dominic stared.
“What?”
“The SUV.”
“I need it.”
“That is irrelevant.”
Dominic laughed.
“You can’t just take my car.”
Charles looked toward the window.
Dominic followed his gaze.
His expression collapsed.
Outside, a transport operator was preparing Audrey’s SUV for removal.
Dominic stood abruptly.
“What the hell?”
Charles’s attorney stepped forward.
“Mr. Prescott, the vehicle is titled exclusively to Audrey Brooks. We have verified ownership.”
Dominic turned toward Charles.
“You’re having my car towed?”
“Her car,” Charles corrected.
Victoria stood.
“This is ridiculous.”
Charles looked at her.
“Mrs. Prescott, you are welcome to arrange your own transportation.”
“You cannot humiliate us like this.”
Charles’s eyes hardened slightly.
“I’m not humiliating anyone.”
He glanced toward Dominic.
“He managed that himself.”
Dominic’s hands curled at his sides.
Then he laughed.
“You know what? Fine.”
Charles waited.
“Take the car.”
“I already have.”
Dominic leaned closer.
“You’ve always disliked me.”
“That isn’t true.”
“Yes, it is.”
Charles paused.
“I distrusted you.”
Dominic gave a triumphant smile.
“See?”
“But Audrey loved you.”
That ended Dominic’s smile.
“So I stayed out of her marriage because I respected her right to make her own decisions.”
Charles stepped closer.
“Today, she made another one.”
Dominic’s face changed.
“What decision?”
Charles held his gaze.
“She isn’t coming home.”
The table became silent.
Victoria stared.
Serena’s phone lowered.
Arthur’s face tightened.
Dominic blinked.
Then laughed.
“You’re joking.”
“No.”
“She’s upset.”
“She’s finished.”
“You don’t decide that.”
“I didn’t.”
Charles’s voice softened.
“Audrey did.”
Dominic grabbed his phone.
He called.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
He typed.
Where are you?
Then:
Your father is here causing a scene. Call me NOW.
Charles watched.
Dominic looked up.
“Where did you take her?”
Charles didn’t answer.
“You can’t hide my wife and child from me.”
“She and Leo are safe.”
“He’s my son.”
“Yes.”
Charles’s expression grew stern.
“And being his father gives you responsibilities. It does not give you ownership over his mother.”
Dominic’s breathing changed.
“This is insane.”
“No, Dominic. This is consequences.”
Charles turned.
The conversation was over.
Dominic followed him toward the entrance.
“Charles!”
Charles stopped near the door.
Dominic lowered his voice.
“You have no idea who you’re threatening.”
For the first time, something almost like disbelief crossed Charles’s face.
“Threatening?”
Dominic straightened.
“My investors. My partners. My connections.”
Charles studied him.
Then almost smiled.
It was the most unsettling reaction Dominic could have received.
“You still don’t know who I am, do you?”
Dominic frowned.
“You worked for the government.”
Charles nodded.
“That’s what Audrey told you.”
“She said you were retired.”
“I am.”
“What did you do?”
Charles didn’t answer.
He walked outside.
Dominic followed.
The sunlight hit Charles’s uniform.
Dominic finally looked properly at the insignia.
At the decorations.
At the stars.
Four.
His expression changed.
A passing veteran near the entrance stopped.
He recognized Charles immediately.
“General Brooks?”
Charles turned.
The man straightened instinctively.
“Sir.”
Charles shook his hand.
“Good to see you.”
Dominic stared.
General.
Not department administrator.
Not retired analyst.
Not anonymous bureaucrat.
General Charles Brooks.
Dominic pulled out his phone.
His fingers moved quickly.
Search.
Charles Brooks.
The results loaded.
Photographs appeared.
Pentagon.
Congressional testimony.
Military ceremonies.
International summits.
Presidential meetings.
Combat command.
Four-star general.
Dominic’s face drained.
Victoria walked outside behind him.
“What?”
Dominic showed her the screen.
Her lips parted.
“That’s Audrey’s father?”
Dominic didn’t answer.
Charles was already entering a sedan.
Before the door closed, he looked once at Dominic.
No anger.
No threat.
Just certainty.
That frightened Dominic more.
The vehicle drove away.
Dominic stood beside the curb.
His phone vibrated.
He looked down.
Not Audrey.
An email.
Subject:
NOTICE OF REPRESENTATION — AUDREY BROOKS PRESCOTT
Attached was a letter from one of Manhattan’s most respected family law firms.
Dominic opened it.
His eyes moved across the first lines.
Then stopped.
Audrey had retained counsel.
All communication regarding separation, property, and temporary custody arrangements was to proceed through her attorney.
Victoria grabbed his arm.
“What does it say?”
Dominic swallowed.
“She hired a lawyer.”
Victoria’s face hardened.
“Then fix it.”
Dominic looked at the road where the SUV had disappeared.
For the first time since his marriage began, Dominic Prescott understood something.
He had spent years believing Audrey was the least powerful person in every room.
He had mistaken kindness for weakness.
Privacy for insignificance.
Patience for dependence.
And worst of all, he had assumed that because she had tolerated him yesterday, she would tolerate him tomorrow.
But across the city, Audrey wasn’t thinking about revenge.
She was sitting in the back of a quiet sedan with her newborn son sleeping against her chest.
Evelyn handed her a bottle of water.
“Your father recovered the SUV.”
Audrey looked out the window.
“Did Dominic make a scene?”
“Apparently.”
Audrey sighed.
Then her phone vibrated again.
This time it wasn’t Dominic.
It was her attorney.
Mrs. Prescott, before we discuss divorce, there is something you need to know about the apartment, your husband’s firm, and several documents bearing your signature. Please call me as soon as you are settled.
Audrey stared at the message.
Documents bearing my signature?
I had signed almost nothing during the last year.
My stomach tightened.
Suddenly, leaving Dominic wasn’t the only problem.
Because if my attorney was right, my husband hadn’t simply been using my SUV.
May you like
He might have been using my name.
And what I discovered that night would prove Dominic had been planning for my money long before he abandoned me outside the hospital.
