“Fucking hell” he croaked out on as he carried on spurting into me, shuddering and his head rested on my back as I reached round and slid my hand round the back of his thigh, just for need to touch him.
“Nate” I wheezed and he gently slipped out of me, turned me to face him, lifted me onto the counter and stood between my legs, embracing me as he rested his head between my breasts.
“Angel,” he sighed “please don’t leave me” he pleaded, the yearning in his voice.
I shook my head, “Never, Nate” I told him as I laid my hands in his silky curls as he exhaled profoundly, “Never” I repeated on a whisper.
CHAPTER 21
We lay in Nate’s huge, sumptuous bed; my head resting on his chest as he trailed lazy circles on my back. I could tell there was something on his mind but we were both quiet.
“Talk to me Nate, tell me what’s on your mind” I implored.
He shook his head “It doesn’t matter, Angel” he said softly.
“Nate, tell me” I urged.
He sighed heavily “Did James, did James ever hit Jay?” he asked slowly and I felt him stiffen in anticipation for the answer.
“No,” I said quietly “I wouldn’t let him.”
Nate turned slightly into me, his hand moving to stroke my cheek “But… but how did you stop him, Liv?” he asked hesitantly.
I sighed and turned to sit on the edge of the bed, so I didn’t have to see his face as I said the next words. “I made him take his temper out on me instead” I told him grimacing.
“Fuck, Liv” he puffed, knowing exactly what I was saying “You let that bastard beat and rape you to protect our son!”
The rage in him was seeping out of his pores and I stiffened, ashamed of my life.
He came to sit behind me, his legs on either side of me and brought his arms round my stomach to encircle me protectively. “The thought of him having to listen to your screams hurts me so much” he murmured, resting his cheek against my back and I bit my bottom lip and swallowed.
“I’m sorry I did that to him Nate, I’m sorry” he slid round to the side of me and grasped my chin, turning my face to look at him.
“No Liv, you have nothing to be sorry for. The courage of what you did to protect Jay, when I was probably sunning myself in some fucking hot non-descript bloody country, shagging anything with tits, it makes me so fucking angry at myself, Liv.”
I became rigid at his words. “Shit Liv, I didn’t mean it to come out like that. I just meant while you were going through that, I didn’t have a care in my bloody farce of a life, because that’s what it was without you Liv, a shitty meaningless life and every day was filled with a bloody desperate longing for you.”
I wrapped my arms around his, holding him tightly to me and nuzzling my head into his neck. “I won’t ever let you go, Liv. I won’t let him hurt you and the kids anymore, Okay?” he told me.
I gave him a hint of a nod, “But you don’t know him Nate, you don’t know what he’s capable of” I cautioned.
“I do, Liv” he said gently “I see it in your face, in your daily fear, the scars on your beautiful body and in your eyes; the hurt, devastation and utter terror in your eyes. I see it all, Angel” he revealed.
It was late afternoon and we were in the lounge, curled up together on the couch chilling as music played in the background while we chatted and I brought him up to speed on Jay’s life.
“The memory Box was a great thing to do Liv; it’s helped me so much. It’s like I haven’t really missed too much of his life, like it’s all there in glorious Technicolor. Thank you for that, for bringing him up as though I was there with you both.”
He chuckled to himself, “My favourite piece from the box is the video of his 5th birthday, the one where he’s telling me everything what he’d had, and the slice of cake he had saved for me sat on the paper plate on his knee” Nate chuckled, a happy grin on his face.
“Oh my God, I remember that one. He was adamant he was saving that piece for you, on that little paper plate but James had told him to stop been so bloody stupid” I shivered, remembering James’s rage that day but then I laughed and turned my face to look at him.
“Do you know, after that day I kept going in his room for weeks and there was this god awful smell, I couldn’t figure it out, I eventually found the paper plate complete with mouldy cake in his toy box. He said he had put it in there so his toy soldiers would protect it from James” I laughed with Nate.
“That’s so sweet” he chuckled and I nodded slowly “He was a good kid Nate, he still is. He got your determination and grit in life as well as your beautiful eyes.”
He smiled and kissed the top of my head. “Liv?” he asked quietly and I turned to face him again, the seriousness in his voice attracting my attention, “Why can’t you have any more kids?” he murmured as though frightened to ask or if I would take his question the wrong way.
I smiled at him “Nothing what you’re thinking, Nate. I’ve been clipped, that’s all.”
He frowned at me, puzzled “I had a C-section with Matt and I asked them to clip me while they were there.” He nodded slowly.
“I didn’t want to bring any more children in to my sorry life, Nate” I shrugged and his eyes locked on mine, searching the depths. “Are the… are the clips permanent?”
I frowned as I also searched his gaze. “What are you trying to say, Nate?” I asked slowly and he shifted in his seat, uncomfortable, “Nothing I…”
He didn’t finish as my phone rang from across the coffee table and Nate bent over to pick it up and saw the unknown caller alert, “I’ll answer it, okay?” he said in a way that told me not to argue and I nodded to him.
“Hello” he frowned slightly “Yes, can I ask who’s calling please?” and his brow wrinkled again, “DC Mandy Yale” he told me with uncertainty.
I sighed and nodded. “It’s okay, Nate” I told him despondently as I took the phone from him.
DC Mandy Yale had been my personal police officer when I had to take James through the courts to finally send him down; she had been there every step of the way and done her upmost to take him there.
She had seen what he was capable of and the kind of bastard he really was and for that I would be in her debt forever.
“Mandy, it’s Olivia Adams” I said into the phone as Nate continued to look at me with confusion.
“Olivia, Mandy Yale. Listen I have some news for you” she paused as if not sure how to tell me, so I helped her along, “I know Mandy, James has been released” I sighed down the phone to her.
“Olivia, I’m so sorry. I’ve only just found out, if someone had informed me earlier I would have rung you straight away. How do you know?” She questioned as an afterthought.
“Because he’s been sneaking into my house and he sent me a dead cat with a noose around its neck” Nate stiffened and I heard him suck in a breath.
“Olivia, why the hell didn’t you ring me?” she asked, sternly.
“Because I didn’t know it was him until he rang me last night.” I answered and I heard her gasp “He rang you?”
I sighed again “Yes, he rang on a withheld number, probably from an unregistered phone, so there was no point in reporting it, Mandy.”
I heard her pull in a breath through the phone. “He’s been released early for good behaviour and he did a deal of some sorts with the prison and CID. I don’t know what it was because it’s all quite hush, hush” she told me, “But there is a restraining order out Olivia and he isn’t allowed near you.”
I laughed bitterly. “Mandy, he doesn’t live by the rules, you know that as much as I do” I took a deep breath. “He will get to me Mandy, we both know he will and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it until it’s too late” I said dejectedly.
Nate’s hand grabbed my hand and I turned to look at him, his face was completely and totally broken, the realization of what might happen snapping into his brain and building his fear for me, for his son.
***
Monday morning came and Nate was very pissed off with me. “Liv, you’re not going into work!” he notified me, his face tight. “Yes. I. Am. Nate” I said slowly “I am not gonna let him dictate my life again.”
I sighed as he groaned in frustration “And I’m going home tonight.”
These words pushed him over the edge. “YOU ARE FUCKING NOT!” he bellowed, angrily. Rolling my eyes at him I took his hand “Nate, wherever I am, he will get to me and if I’m honest I just wanna get it over with.”
He pulled me into his arms. “Please, baby” he begged and I shook my head, determined. “You can come with me if you want, but I need the familiarity and comfort of my own home. Can’t you understand that, Nate?” he nodded slowly, accepting it now I said he could come with me.
“Okay, let me pack a bag and I’ll drive you home to get changed for work. Only trouble is I have a meeting across the other side of London at 5pm so I’ll have to run you home about 4.30pm.”
I was still dressed in my green dress from Saturday night as I hadn’t been home since, “I need to pick my car up, Nate. I have to work late because Grace needs me for the online conference with China.”
He nodded “Okay, but anything dodgy, you ring me and I’ll get Blake to pick you up.”
I smiled at him, happy that he was been so lenient given the nervousness he had about the situation. “I should be back about 8ish, so be ready for me” he gave me a suggestive grin and I laughed as he smacked my backside to push me towards the car.
Nate insisted on coming in the house with me while I got changed, he wouldn’t leave my side. Everything was as it should be and I gathered my work things and opened Betty’s boot to place my things in and discovered my red dress and favourite shoes. “Ah ha” I triumphed “That’s where you are my beauties.”
I laughed at Nate’s confused face. “Why are you talking to inanimate objects, Liv?” he frowned comically.
“They are not ‘inanimate’ Nate, they are my babies” I huffed and stroked my shoes as I pursed my lips at him with a glare.
“Okay, Okay” he held his hands up, submitting and laughing.
Following him we arrived at work, late as usual and as I was rushing up the steps and into the main foyer Nate grabbed my hand. “Relax Baby, it’s okay to be late. I’m your boss’s, boss’s, boss. I think I can cover your back” he told me and I grinned mischievously, “And I must say, you cover my back very well, Mr Carter” his gaze was indecent and I pulled in a breath, shocked at its intensity.
“Let me just retrieve my messages from Samantha and we’ll ride up together” he commanded and I rolled my eyes at him.
“I don’t think he’s gonna get to me in the NSC elevator, Nate” I huffed and he looked at me sternly and narrowed his eyes on me.
“Wait!” he ordered again.
“Okay” I squeaked out.
Miss Wet Kipper actually waved to me and I guiltily told myself to start calling her Samantha from now on, although I was now wavering on that choice as she openly flirted with Nate and my hackles rose.
Nate looked at me confused when he came back to me and I grabbed his hand and pulled him close to give him a long lingering kiss as I gave Samantha a ‘He’s mine’ look.
The day passed by quickly with reports, emails and presentations and 5pm soon crept up. Nate had come down to check on me a little earlier and claim my spare house key. He’d given me a bloody wonderful kiss and told me he was off to his meeting and he’d see me at home later.
I was getting ready for the Chinese conference when something shook the building slightly and I frowned, shook my head in bewilderment and entered Grace’s office.
Halfway through the video link a knock came at the office door and Leah peered her head round, “I’m really sorry but I need Olivia” she apologised, concern on her face.
Frowning I apologised to the lovely Chinese gentleman who had been making me laugh with his humour and light-heartedness, in an attempt to alleviate the seriousness of the boring conference.
Accepting my apology, I exited the room and closed the door quietly behind me and Leah put her hand on my arm, her face full of sympathy and my nerves exploded.
“Leah, what is it?” I asked on a swallow.
“It’s your car, Hun” she sucked in her lips.
“Yes and...” I urged.
“Well it’s… it’s just blown up.”
I grabbed her hand to save me falling over. “What?” I puffed, my eyes wide and my mouth open.
“It just kinda… kinda blew up.”
I sank into a chair and shook my head, stunned “My beautiful shoes” was all I could say “Oh God, Betty” I wailed.
Leah dropped down on her haunches panicked “Oh God, Olivia, who’s Betty?”
In shock, I laughed hysterically at her pale face. “My car, Leah! I called her Betty” I answered her as if she was stupid.
She huffed loudly; “Dear God, I thought it was your grandma or somebody sat in the car waiting for you” she flopped down onto the floor.
“I’m so sorry, Olivia” she sighed “Somebody has sure got it in for you, Hun.”
I laughed bitterly again, “They haven’t got ‘it in for me’ Leah. Somebody is trying to kill me” I laughed hysterically again, the shock muddling my brain and the grief of losing Betty shutting down my already frayed emotions.
I suddenly stopped laughing and stared at her “I need Nate, Leah. I need Nate” I whispered.
She nodded her head and hurried over to the phone as Grace came out of the office and noted my face, “Oh bloody hell Sweetie, what now?” I just stared at her and Leah walked back to me and handed me the phone.
“LIV?” Nate shouted down the phone.
“I’m here, Nate” I said quietly.
“Baby, stay there, I’m coming to get you” he wheezed down the phone as I just nodded. “Liv?” he persisted.
“I’m here, Nate” It was all I could manage.
“Put Leah back on, baby” he demanded gently and I passed her the phone.
Thirty minutes later Nate charged through the doors to get to me just as the reality of the situation dawned on me. The knowledge that it had been perfectly timed to blow just as I was usually leaving work.
He reached me as I vomited all over the luxury plush deep pile NSC logo carpet.
CHAPTER 22
It was DC Mandy Yale that came to interview me in the 44th floor conference room and I was grateful for that. Nate was sat at the side of me refusing to let go of my hand, his expression troubled and furious both at the same time.
Mandy reached across the table at the end of the interrogation and took my hand. “Olivia, I promise I’m going to do everything I can to stop him” she smiled tightly and I could read the truth behind her words, though I laughed without humour.
“Sure Mandy. I know you’ll try but tell me, do you think you’ll get any evidence of his involvement in this?” I asked sceptically “Because I know you won’t.”
She lowered her eyes in an admittance of my words and Nate stood sharply “Is there nothing you can fucking do? Question him at least? Track his movements, anything for god’s sake? He’s trying to fucking kill her” he shouted and I took his hand, “Nate please” I pleaded and tried to pull him back into his chair.
“Mr Carter, I promise that I will do everything I can… and everything I can’t!” She added with a whisper.
He slumped back down in his chair and huffed, running his hands through his hair in exasperation and looked at her, “Well what do we do now?” he asked formally.
“Just keep an eye on her” she said softly.
Nate and he pulled a face as if she was stupid and shook his head slowly “I’ve hired a bodyguard for her and she’s not leaving my sight” he told Mandy.
I jumped up, glaring at him, “Nate! I’m not having a bloody bodyguard!” I declared and he scoffed at me and pursed his lips as he glared back at me.
“Yes. You. Are.
” he growled and his expression was full of rage and determination, making me wither slightly.
His face softened when he picked up on my anxiety and he took my hand, “Liv, let me do this. I need to do this.”
I nodded slowly, pacifying him but a little part of me was grateful for what he’s done, “Okay” I murmured.
He nodded sharply and turned back to Mandy. “If that’s all, DC Yale, I’d like to get Liv home” he addressed her formally, every inch of the billionaire mogul in his stance and manner.
She nodded and collected her papers and approached me “Olivia, please be careful. Don’t do anything stupid, please.” I lowered my eyes to the floor and she cocked her head, “Olivia, please.”
I looked her straight in the eye, “Mandy. If he touches the kids or Nate… I will finish him, if it’s the last thing I ever do.” The truth in my voice told her that I would do just that, even if it meant prison or my own death.
We arrived home a little after 7pm and I kicked off my shoes and slumped on the sofa, “Ahhhh” I groaned, rolling my head on my shoulders.
Nate walked in from the kitchen with a glass of wine, passing it me he sat down beside me and lifted my feet to his lap and started the most delectable foot rub I’d ever had. “That good, baby?” He chuckled as I groaned loudly.
“God, yes. Where did you learn to do that?” I asked idly, closing my eyes and he stiffened a little. Raising one eye to look at him I smirked, “I don’t think I want to know.”
He grinned sheepishly and slid his hands to my ankles, his fingers lightly massaging my tight, pale skin. “You need some colour on these beautiful legs, baby. What do you think about a few days away?” he asked cocking his head.
Angel (NSC Industries) Page 22
