Samuel: Second Chance Romance/Secret Child (Cooper Brothers #2)

by Nikki Ashton

  The woman officer turned and gave me a small smile. “Maybe you should go and sit down, Miss West.”

  “No, tell me. What’s happened to Frankie?”

  Sam appeared behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder. Even though I was angry with him, I was also glad he was there. I knew that if I crumpled through all of this he’d be there to catch me. He’d proved over the last week how supportive he could be, it was just a pity he hadn’t been like that for the last eight or so years.

  “Have you found him?” Sam asked.

  “Please come and sit down, both of you.” The male officer stood to one side and ushered us into my lounge where Mum and Dad were already sitting; Mum clutching Dad’s hand.

  “Tell me.” My hands were trembling as I looked at the two officers, waiting for the words that I knew would change my life.

  “We found Brent,” the WPC said. “But I’m afraid he doesn’t have Frankie. We picked him up at a petrol station and there was a scuffle when he resisted our request to talk to him, but your son definitely wasn’t with him. Because we know he took Frankie, and because he lashed out at my colleague here, we have him down at the station. We-.

  I didn’t hear anything else, because my legs buckled and the air rushed from my lungs as I let out a pained cry. Sam’s arms came around me and I was lifted from my feet as he pulled me against his chest, rocking me slowly backwards and forwards, desperately trying to comfort me.

  “It’s okay,” he whispered in my ear. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

  I reached up and put my arms around his neck, holding on tightly as my world swayed on its axis.

  “Where is he, where is he?”

  It was a chant that no one answered, the only response being Sam’s soft whispers of comfort as he carried me to an armchair and sat down, still holding me tight as I sobbed into his shirt.

  “What has he said?” Sam’s deep voice sounded in my ear, as he tried to make himself heard over my cries.

  I didn’t hear what the officers said, but startled when Sam roared.

  “I’ll fucking kill him. The bastard, he can’t do this.”

  “W-what?” I hiccupped looking up at Sam. “What has he done?”

  I pulled at Sam’s shirt, desperate for him to look at me.

  “Sam.”

  My mum was suddenly kneeling in front of me, rubbing her hand up and down my back, but I could hear that she was softly crying too.

  “Mum,” I said, turning to her. “What’s Josh done?”

  “He wants to talk to you, love. He won’t comment further until he’s seen you.”

  As I gasped I felt Sam’s arms tighten around me.

  “You don’t have to,” one of the officers responded. “But it might help us find Frankie a lot quicker.”

  “I’ll speak to the fucker,” Sam growled. “Let me.”

  “I’m sorry Mr. Cooper, but it’s Miss West he wants to talk to. We’ve arrested him on assaulting a police officer and Child Abduction.”

  “So fucking make him tell you where Frankie is.”

  “Sam,” Dad warned. “Calm down.”

  The male officer looked at Sam with some sympathy. “We know this is hard, Mr. Cooper, but he’s making no comment until he’s seen Miss West, even though we have him on the school’s CCTV taking Frankie off the premises.”

  “I swear to god, I will fucking end him,” Sam growled. “He has to tell you, surely?”

  “Sam no.” I shifted on his lap and dropped my feet to the floor. “I don’t care. I’ll do it. Take me now. Take me to speak to him.”

  “Maisie, are you sure?” Sam asked, taking hold of my hand.

  “Yes, I’m sure. I want my son back.”

  We arrived at the police station and were ushered into a reception area with a row of hard chairs and a high desk. The officer behind it gave us a sympathetic smile as we all sat down. I had Mum on one side of me and my dad on the other, both gripping my hands, while Sam prowled up and down like a caged lion.

  “We’ll get an interview room set up,” the female officer I now knew to be called Tracy said. “Just give us a few minutes. Dan will stay with you.”

  She nodded to the uniformed officer who’d questioned Sam at the house and then she and Clive, the policeman she’d arrived with disappeared.

  “This is ridiculous,” Sam hissed. “He’s holding you to damn ransom, how can they allow it?”

  “Mr. Cooper.” Dan went over to him and placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “We are still looking, checking the CCTV from around town to try and track his movements and we’re also questioning Mr. Brent’s father, so if we can manage to avoid Miss West having to speak to him, we will.”

  “No,” I cried. “I want to speak to him as soon as possible. I need to know where Frankie is.”

  Dan nodded. “We know and we will do whatever possible to make that happen. I promise.”

  We sat in silence for a few minutes, Sam’s thudding footsteps the only sound, that and the crackle of anticipation at when I would be face to face with Josh.

  I could tell Sam was getting more agitated with each passing minute, so I wasn’t surprised when a door opened and two policeman came through guiding a cuffed Josh in front of them that Sam erupted with rage and went for him.

  “You fucking bastard. Where is he? Where’s our boy?”

  He lunged for Josh, but Dan was too quick for him and with an arm around Sam’s waist dragged him back.

  “Sam, no,” I cried pushing up from my chair.

  “Mr. Cooper, leave it. Get back,” Dan grunted as he tried to drag Sam away from getting himself into trouble.

  As they struggled, with Sam throwing punches at Josh, a door swung open and Tracy came rushing out.

  “What the hell were you doing bringing him through here, you pair of idiots,” she yelled at the two policemen. “Get him out of here, now.”

  “I’ll fucking end you, Brent, if you’ve harmed my boy in any way, I swear down I’ll kill you.”

  The whole time Josh didn’t say a word, but unflinching at the blows thrown his way, he watched carefully, his eyes on Sam the whole time.

  “Sam.” I wrapped a hand around his wrist and pulled on his arm. “He’s not worth it.”

  “He’s a fucking psychopath. Why would he do this to you?” His voice was strained with the pain that he was feeling as much as the rest of us.

  “I’ll talk to him,” I whispered as Sam staggered back against my chest. “I’ll find our son.”

  Sam swung around and let out a jagged sob. When I saw his eyes were filled with tears and his chest was heaving with emotion, I pulled him to me and wrapped my arms around him, feeling his anguish pulsing from every pore in his body.

  “We’ll find him, Sam.”

  “I’m so fucking sorry, Maisie,” he whimpered against my neck. “So, so, sorry.”

  As we embraced, sharing our emotion, Tracy reappeared and gently touched my arm.

  “I’m sorry about that,” she said. “Some people just don’t listen to instruction.”

  I pulled away from Sam, who wiped at his face and gave Tracy a small smile.

  “It’s fine.”

  “No it’s not, but anyway, we’re ready for you now.”

  “You sure about this?” My dad asked, appearing beside me.

  “Yes. I want Frankie back.”

  I took a step toward Tracy when Sam pulled me back. He didn’t say anything but hugged me tightly and kissed the top of my head before letting me go.

  Maisie

  the present

  Walking to the interview room, my hands began to shake and my heart beat picked up its pace. I hated that I had to sit in front of Josh and listen to whatever crap he wanted to say, but I wanted Frankie back more. I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t jump across the table and try and kill him, but I knew I had to stay calm if he was going to tell me where my son was. Tracy had said I didn’t need to do it, and they would question him alone, but if there was any chance I could get
my baby home then I’d take it.

  “You okay?” she asked, placing a hand on my back. “You still sure?”

  Biting my bottom lip I didn’t hesitate and nodded.

  “Right, well try and stay calm. Let him speak and don’t rush him into telling you where Frankie is.”

  My face crumpled and Tracy sighed.

  “I know, but we don’t want him to clam up and if you don’t let him speak, he may just do that. Like I said, we can’t keep him much longer once we’ve put the charge through.”

  I managed a smile and nodded. “Okay.”

  “Good girl. I’ll be in there with you and the duty solicitor, so you’ve nothing to worry about.”

  She pushed open a door and stood aside to let me into the small square room that held nothing but a table, four chairs, and one of the huge tape recorders that I’d seen countless times on TV police shows.

  Josh’s eyes met mine as I walked forward and I drew in a breath. I had to curl my fingers into my palms, my nails digging into the skin to stop myself from lashing out in his direction, especially as the look on his face was one of smug arrogance. He was dressed in a t-shirt that was torn at the neck and I wondered whether Sam had managed to do that when he’d lunged for him.

  As I sat down I tried to keep my eyes off Josh, but it was difficult to ignore him when he was only a foot away from me. Tracy sat next to me and while she completed all the official procedures, Josh slumped back in his chair, his hands deep in his jeans’ pockets.

  “Okay,” Tracy said, clearing her throat. “Do you want to start Mr. Brent, seeing as you were the one that asked Miss West to come here?”

  Josh shrugged. “Just want to know why she threw me out.”

  “You know why.” I rubbed my temple beginning to think this was a total waste of time. It was not only stupid, it was cruel of him to put me through it when all I wanted was my son back.

  The tears I’d been trying to hold back started to creep down my cheeks as the pain gripped at my stomach. I wanted to get on my knees and beg him, but that would be what he’d want. He’d be loving having power over me; he always had to be in charge. I guessed over the last couple of years that was why he’d demanded I stop taking money from Sam for Frankie, because without it he was in control. I only wished it hadn’t taken a bowl of cereal being thrown for me to realise it.

  “It was one argument,” he replied leaning forward. “One argument and you threw me out without one shit whether I had anywhere to go.”

  “You have your dad.” I tried to keep my voice steady as I swiped the wetness from my cheeks and chin. “You raised your hand to Frankie and threw a dish of food at me, so I had no choice. Anyway, it wasn’t just one argument and you know it, but it doesn’t matter, you raised your hand to my son once too often.”

  Tracy placed a calming hand on my knee that was bobbing up and down. “You okay?” she asked quietly.

  I nodded and turned back to Josh, waiting for him to continue.

  “So you shagging him now, the kid’s dad?”

  “Mr. Brent,” Tracy said with a sigh. “Is that really relevant? You asked to see Miss West, you’ve seen her so maybe you should tell us where Frankie is.”

  “I said I wanted to talk to her,” Josh snapped. “And I haven’t finished.” His eyes were narrowed onto me as he tapped a finger on the table. “So answer me.”

  I straightened my shoulders and looked him in the eye. “No, I’m not. He wants to have a relationship with Frankie, but there is nothing at all going on between me and him.”

  Josh studied me for a few seconds and then whispered something to his solicitor.

  “Mr. Brent would like it be known that he was still down as an authorised person on the pickup list at school and has been like a father to the boy for four years. Giving him guidance and providing for him financially.”

  My heart dropped because he was right – anyone on the outside of the nightmare would probably agree he hadn’t done anything wrong. He was simply a man wanting to see the boy he had raised as a son.

  “You shouldn’t have taken him, Josh.” I couldn’t help the sob that came with my words, for all I was trying to appear strong in front of him, I wasn’t and I would feel empty and lost until Frankie was in my arms. “You don’t care about him, you don’t even like him.”

  “Just catching up with him,” he replied nonchalantly. “Are you going to let them have a relationship?”

  I leaned forward, shocked that he would even care. “Yes, he’s his father.” I said the words without even thinking. Even after what Sam had told me and the latent anger I had at him not wanting Frankie, even questioning he was his, I had no doubt that I would let him have a relationship with his son. After a few short days I already knew he would be better for Frankie than Josh had ever been.

  “So everything I did for him counts for shit. I raise my hand once and that’s it, all the money I spent feeding and clothing him, the time I had to listen to that shit music he likes, take him to damn parties and swimming club, it’s all for nothing because I’m not his father. Whereas his father,” he said with venom, “can swan into his life after eight fucking years and do no wrong. Which kinda leads me to fucking believe you were already shagging him.”

  I shook my head breathing heavily through my nose as the anger rose up in me. “No, I wasn’t. I haven’t seen him for years, not until he took over coaching at the swimming club and you resented every single thing you ever had to do for Frankie, so don’t pretend to me that you’re hurt.”

  His eyes went dark and he shifted uneasily in his seat.

  “Whatever,” he scoffed.

  A cloying silence fell over us as we watched each other warily. It was almost a battle of wills, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break in front of him.

  “Where is he, Josh? My son that you don’t care about, where did you take him?” I kept my voice strong and looked him directly in the eye. “You’re on the school CCTV taking him off the premises, so you’re not going to get away with it, so just tell me where he is because I know you only did this to get at me, to upset me. Well you’ve managed that, so tell me where Frankie is, now.”

  Finally Josh curled his lip at me and spoke.

  “He’s with Marie and Carl Roberts, he’s a guy I work with. Frankie is playing with their kids.”

  “Address?” Tracy demanded.

  “Seventy-nine, Primrose Avenue and Marie and Carl have no idea we split, so don’t even think about dragging them into this.”

  Tracy looked up at Clive who had come into the room without me realising. “Book him for the assault and Child Abduction.”

  “He hit me first,” Josh bellowed. “And I was on the fucking list.”

  “You took a child out of the unlawful control of his parent, so it’s abduction,” Clive snapped.

  Ignoring Josh’s protestations Tracy got up, scraping her chair on the floor. “Okay, Maisie, let’s go and get your son.”

  Sam

  the present

  The minute Frankie ran into Maisie’s arms, I knew I would do whatever necessary to protect him in the future. He was fine at Josh’s friend’s house, playing with their kids, but he was obviously confused and worried and as soon as we got him outside and into my car, leaving the police behind to question the couple, Frankie burst into tears.

  “Hey, come on,” Maisie soothed, cradling him against her chest. “You’re okay.”

  “You’re not mad at me for going with him?” he sobbed.

  “No, not at all. He was the one who knew he shouldn’t have taken you.” Maisie’s voice cracked and she looked at me over the top of his head.

  “But he said you’d said it was okay because you were at work and Nanna couldn’t pick me up.”

  When Frankie let out another shuddering cry, I pushed my arm through the two front seats to the back where he and Maisie were huddled together. I placed my hand on his back, feeling the rise and fall of his sobs and I had to force myself not
to push over the seats and wrap them both in my arms. I hated seeing my boy so upset, and I hated seeing how much pain Maisie had been in – I wanted to protect them both with my life.

  As I tried to regulate my breathing and remember that he was safe, a soft, warm palm cupped my cheek.

  “He’s okay,” Maisie whispered. “We have him back.”

  I nodded and swallowed hard. “I know.”

  As we both stared at each other, Frankie lifted his head and sniffled.

  “Can I have ice cream when I get home?”

  His voice was quiet and timid, but the glint in his eyes was one I recognised from myself, and I let out a laugh.

  Maisie rolled her eyes, holding Frankie away from her body and looking into his face. “You can’t trick me Frankie James West. It’s bed time when you get home and you know it,” she said, with a little smile tipping her lips up at the corners. “Maybe tomorrow.”

  “Okay,” Frankie sighed and snuggled back against her.

  I watched them both and felt something in my world shift. My heart had never felt so full and despite the absolute fear that we’d experienced for the last few hours, I didn’t think I’d ever felt more content. This kid was working his way into my soul. Every day he claimed another little piece of my heart, and with each piece he took, my guilt grew at a rapid rate. He had no idea I was his dad and that was all on me for being stupid and selfish, for being pathetic when I should have been strong and supportive.

  Clearing my throat, I pulled my hand away from Frankie’s back and started the car.

  “I told the police if they need to question him, they can’t do it until tomorrow. Is that okay?” I looked at Maisie through the rear view mirror, wondering if I’d over stepped the mark when she didn’t answer immediately.

  “Yes,” she finally breathed out. “That’s fine, Sam.”

  I waited to see if she was going to say anything else, but when her head dropped to rest against Frankie’s, I put the car in gear and drove them home.