All Chapters of Dream Dominant Collection: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Chapter 82: Bella's MissingLuke shook his head. Now it all made sense. She'd mentioned feeling queasy even while T-Nathan was still with them. At the time she'd blamed it on something she'd eaten. Then there was the rush out to the pharmacy for 'girl stuff'. He'd just assumed…On the flight to Sardinia, she'd seemed anxious, unable to relax. She skipped wine with dinner last night, and later she'd waited on her knees for him. His baby girl, topping from the bottom, craving the quiet intimacy knee-time provided.She'd suspected. But she'd had to wait until morning to do the test. Then she'd done what she always did. He had to smile. Bella, when she tried to be in control. She was probably worried about his reaction.What was his reaction? He sighed. A baby. This is an unexpected development, he thought, then chuckled to himself. Who am I, Spock from Star Trek? What did he think? Or feel? He was stunned, he realized. They'd always been so careful. Well, usually they

Chapter 84: Back in the StatesCharlie had been sitting at the bar and was on his third Scotch when his phone rang. Luke had called to tell him about the earthquake. At Charlie's request, the bartender changed the television to a twenty-four-hour news channel and the live pictures were streaming in. Of course, it was early morning in Sardinia. People had been getting started for the day. Here in New York, it was just after midnight.He slugged back the rest of his drink, settled his tab, and headed out the door into the frigid early December night. He walked back across the street to the network offices, flashed his credentials at security, and headed up to the news division on the eighth floor.All the large screens mounted on the studio walls were tuned to footage of the Sardinia earthquake. The overnight news director, Russell James, was on the phone in the middle of the newsroom. Seeing Charlie, he covered the receiver and shouted, "Hey, Charlie, don't you have people on th

Chapter 86: Into the Disaster ZoneNevin's little band made their way away from their base of operations at the hotel toward the historic district of the city. Ian, the group medic, carried his duffel of supplies. Jack carried his hard-sided case presumably filled with electronic equipment. And Ed wore a backpack filled with tools, including the portable lighting they'd need when the sun went down in a few hours. Luke viewed the scene on the flip-up screen of his video camera, recognizing in himself the need to be comforted by a sense of being removed from the situation. They passed groups of people, first responders mixed with survivors, moving in the opposite direction, heading out of the immediate area of damage toward the promise of safety. Luke mused absently to himself that you could tell the difference between the two sorts of people based on the amount of dirt and plaster in their hair and clothing.The closer they got to the marina district, the more noticeable the devas

Chapter 88: Explanations"You are so difficult," Luke commented, pulling her to him again and kissing her on the head. "I was so worried, baby girl. I thought I'd lost you. If it weren't for Nevin…""How did he get here? And who are those men?" she asked.Luke shook his head. "I called and told him you were missing and that I needed him. He showed up with a whole team."Ian approached them with his duffel bag. "Hello, I'm Ian, team medic," he said to Bella. "Can I look you over a bit?"Bella glanced uncertainly at Luke, who nodded encouragingly. "Um…alright. I'm okay, really. It's just my head."Ian had Bella sit on the curb. The medic checked the wound on her head. It was a fairly deep scalp laceration over her left eye. "That'll need a stitch or three," he commented. "Were you unconscious at all?""Tanya said that I was, for a little while," Bella answered. Luke looked at her, concerned."I'll just check your eyes," Ian said, using a penlight to check her pupils. "Lo

Chapter 90: Wedding PlansNevin met Luke and Bella for a late dinner in the same restaurant where they'd dined with Tanya and her friends only the previous night, though it seemed much longer ago. Bella's eyes were bright but she looked tired, at least in Luke's opinion. This will not be a long dinner, he decided. After orders were placed, Nevin updated them on Tanya."As soon as her cast was adequately dry, they released her," he told them. "We caught a ride here with some emergency workers who were finished for the night.""Did she go up to her room?" Bella asked."Aye, her lady friends met us in the lobby. I helped them take her upstairs, get her settled in," he said. "She'll probably sleep like the dead. They gave her the good drugs." He flashed a mischievous grin."So…will you go visit her later?" Luke asked cagily."Ach, I don't know. She's got all those hens fussing about. She doesn't need a gnarled old fart like me interfering," Nevin answered. "Although I suppose the