by Kailin Gow
Nat threw another punch but Sloane caught his wrist and head-butted Nat who fell back.
“I don’t know who you are, but you better mind your own business,” Sloane said. “I have unfinished business with Summer and her two loverboys. One of them tried to kill me – Drew wasn’t it? And the other one, Nat…got me time in prison. Luckily, thanks to some corrupt politicians, my guys got me out for helping law enforcement hack into child molester sites and sending them to prison.”
“Trading one sick bastard for another I see,” Nat said.
“So I’m free to go as I please and now I’m free to seek revenge out on Drew and Nat. Do you know there’s a bounty on Nat Donovan? Pretty huge too. Not nice to cross the head of the cybercrime syndicate. Now it looks like I’m getting the bounty.”
He approached Nat, producing a knife from his pocket. Nat kicks at him, but Sloane twists and grabs hold of Nat’s leg, pulling him forward and down, causing Nat to fall.
“No!” I shout, rushing towards Sloane. He turned around and stabbed me in the side, and I fell to the ground. “Na…” I almost shout, but realized Sloane didn’t know Cooper was Nat, and saw Sloane handcuff Nat to a chair, then turned to me to cup my face. “Since you’ve been doing the wild thing with him, you would know where Nat is, wouldn’t you, Babe? But first, looking at your hot body, I’m not through fantasizing about you. That stunt you pulled with your three loverboys that got me into prison, only made me angrier and more determined to have you. Now, the first place I’m going to fuck you in is your office. Then…” he place his knife against my neck. “You will strip for me starting right about…”
Booooooooom!
It sounded like a firecracker had gone off in the room, and I reached up to cup my ears.
Sloane had been kneeling over me, but now he was down on the ground next to me. A bullet hole in his head.
I looked over to the doorway heading to the hallway and saw Drew standing there, a gun in his hand, looking shock.
“He had a knife to Summer’s neck,” he said. “He was going to kill her.”
I got up, clutching the side where Sloane had stabbed me. “Drew!” I said, trying to get to him. “It was self-defense. He had a knife to my throat, and he was going to rape me. He stabbed me, and…”
“About time someone got that Motherfucker,” came a deep booming voice behind Drew.
A tall and muscular man in his late 30s stood behind Drew.
“Who are you?” I asked, wanting to protect Drew. If this was the police…
“I’m Lamar,” the man said. “And no, I’m not with law enforcement. I’m with the FBI.” He looked over at Nat handcuffed to the chair.
“Lamar,” Nat said. “I had to see Summer…and if I haven’t been here to check out the Academy, Sloane would have gotten to her earlier.”
Lamar gave Nat a pointed look but said, “I’ll talk to you later, but now, what do we do with these two?”
My eyes grew wide, realizing that Lamar may not want me and Drew to have witnessed what happened to Sloane.
“It was self-defense,” I said. “Drew was just helping me and Nat…”
“Nat?” Drew’s eyes traveled to Cooper. “You mean…he’s Nat?”
I closed my eyes. Now we were in trouble. I blew Nat’s cover, right in front of the FBI.
“So you really didn’t know?” I asked Drew.
“No, I was even suspicious of Cooper, how fast he moved in on you and how quickly you two were already friends…”
“Drew,” Nat said, “I couldn’t reveal myself to you, too. As much as I wanted to, I could only see you two as Cooper.”
“The cover, it was so good,” I said. “Nat acted like a Cooper, and he looked different.”
“I used what I knew about stage makeup from what Aunt Sookie taught me at the Academy,” Nat said, “And Lamar changed my identity through forms, paperwork, etc. I was acting, Summer. Playing a role, bleached my hair for it, got more buff to fill out, wore contacts, and wore clothes I’d normally wouldn’t wear. Something Aunt Sookie taught me again. Lamar helped me through it all.”
“Nat’s a rare guy,” Lamar said. “Smart, talented, and very mature beyond his years. His situation is rare. We don’t have cases like his where a civilian is brought in to take down a crime syndicate, and lived to live a normal life.”
“Is that what Nat did?” I asked. “I thought he went to Afghanistan to help bring his father back. I didn’t know he was there to do FBI type of work.”
“Donovan Dynamics do government jobs, Summer,” Nat said. “This one happens to involve my dad and also your mother.”
“My mother?”
“She was handling investigation of an international cybercrime ring and was taken hostage, so my dad went over to try to get her out, but he was taken too. That’s when I went…”
“So it was a matter of extreme danger and secrecy,” I said. “I wished I knew. I was so worried. I would have understood and kept your secret.”
“It’s not my secret to keep,” Nat said. “It was strict orders from the FBI. Still is…this thing here, was all a mistake, an accident.”
“Sloane was connected to that cybercrime unit your mother was investigating,” Lamar said. “The fact he got out because he helped some corrupt officials is horrendous. Look what might have happened. He went out to seek revenge immediately after he got out, and tried to rape and kill you.”
“What can we do about this?” I asked. “If the officials who let him out were corrupt, then they would want to get his killer.”
“I’ll handle this,” Lamar said. “That’s what I do. I make people disappear. Alive or dead. But now you two know Nat’s cover as Cooper. That puts you two in greater danger than before.”
Drew and I looked at each other nervously. What was going to happen to us?
“As far as all my intelligence tells me,” Lamar said. “No one knows Sloane was here. No one besides you two have seen Nat as Cooper. His cover is still safe…as long as you two can act like he is Cooper.”
“I can do that,” I said.
“Same here,” Drew said.
“Will someone get these cuffs off me?” Nat asked. “I’m beginning to lose circulation.”
“In a sec,” Lamar said. “This is important stuff, Nat. Your cover could have been compromised.”
“Not if no one knows Cooper is Nat,” I said.
“If you let that out, remember, you two become targets of this crime ring who’s after Nat,” Lamar said. “And it’s getting ugly. Sloane showing up here looking for Nat is a very bad thing. It means they got whiff that Nat is alive. That was one cover we created for Nat. Now the only thing keeping a bunch of assassins going after a bounty on Nat, is this cover. Sloane is just the beginning, I’m afraid. And he was an idiot. Other assassins wouldn’t hesitate to shoot all of you, and ask questions later.”
I gulped. Nat really was in big trouble…just because he was trying to save my mother. I owe Nat everything. I walked over to Nat, attempting to take off the handcuff. “I’m so sorry, Nat,” I said. “I didn’t know everything you were handling, including this. I didn’t know how much you’ve sacrificed for me and for my mother.”
Nat was silent as he looked at me with the most loving eyes. “It’s no sacrifice, Summer. You were there for me when my world came crashing down. You’ve already lost Aunt Sookie and was so distraught, I couldn’t let you lose your mother, too.”
I cupped his cheek with my hand and leaned in to kiss him. “I love you, Nat,” I said. “No matter what happens, I’ll always love you, please remember that. You don’t need to prove to me your love. You don’t have to go risking your life for me.”
“Guess you fell in love with a guy who still believes in chivalry, who still believes in being a knight to his lady. I will follow you to the ends of Earth for you, Summer. You should know that about me already.”
“Even pushing me towards Drew,” I said. “I love him, too,” I said. “But it should be my cho
ice who I want to be with, not because you gave up on me. I understand why, but I couldn’t go through with it, although I loved Drew already.”
Nat turned his head to the side to look up at a spot above me.
Drew and Lamar had approached us.
“Guys,” Lamar said. “Time to get moving. You know the guys Sloane got word Nat was still alive? They’re out in droves, searching for Nat’s whereabouts. It’s not safe here, at the Academy. It’s not safe at Summer’s house. Is there anyone staying there at the moment?”
I shook my head. “No, Rachel and my mother left yesterday for San Francisco.”
“We’ll make it so they stay there right now.”
“Mom is there for a while anyways, but Rachel…”
“Rachel is into Astor Fairway?” Lamar asked.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“Most girls are…” Lamar smiled wryly. “Even my 7 year-old.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
“Astor is about to get called to San Francisco for a sudden promo blitz for his upcoming film,” Lamar said.
“You could do that?” Drew asked.
“Like I said,” Lamar said, “I make things happen.” Lamar grabbed hold of the handcuff holding Nat to the chair and with one swift kick from his boots, broke it off. “Come on, guys,” he said. Clean up whatever needs cleaning to show you weren’t just here. Leave no trace.”
He produced some rags from his bag, sprayed it with some cleaning agent and handed it to Drew. “Wipe the ground clean from where Sloane fell. And everywhere there is some blood, then put it in this trash bag.”
“Summer, go clean up your computer. Better yet,” Lamar went to the computer, unplugged it, and handed it to Nat. “Carry this. We’ll take whatever that can have personal imprint on there with us. Who knows what these guys will go through. How fast can Donovan Dynamics get here to install your newest baddest high-tech security system?”
“They’re coming tonight,” Drew said. “I’ll text them to come faster.”
“Right away,” Lamar said. Lamar produced a plastic sheet from his bag, and wrapped Sloane’s body in it. He hoisted him up and carried him to the lobby where there were standees of popular actors. He carried two of the standees and went out.
Drew followed him with the trash bag full of soiled rags. I fixed the chair Nat was handcuffed to and everything that seemed out of place. Nat joined me as I made my way through the theater’s main room, lobby, and out. Lamar had packed a non-descript black van with the standees, Sloane’s body, and the trash bag. He closed the van, and went to Nat, Drew, and I.
“This is where I say ‘good-bye’ until next time,” he said. “You are all not to return to the Academy for a while. Nor Summer’s house.”
“What about the students and classes here?” I asked.
“The theater is closed for renovation. An email will be sent out tonight. They will come back when it’s done.”
“So where do I go if I can’t go back to my place?” I asked.
“The Fortress,” Lamar said. “The safest place in the U.S…Drew’s place. Built like Fort Knox.”
“Really?”
Drew looked embarrassed. “It’s our data warehouse. That’s why you don’t see anyone there. And that’s why I’m at the top floor.”
“And Nat?” I asked. “Where is he going?”
“With you,” Lamar said. “He’ll keep you safe until you get to Drew’s. And besides, he’s Cooper, your new best friend.”
I turned to Nat and smiled, relieved he wasn’t going to be whisked away from me again.
“Come on,” Drew said. “We better get going. Donovan Dynamics is coming now. I don’t want them seeing Nat, um, Cooper here.”
Drew got in his car and drove off, while I got into my SUV, where Nat loaded my computer into, and Nat hopped in.
We drove off, close behind Drew and away from Aunt Sookie’s Academy and away from the Pad, heading to the Fortress.
“Summer,” Nat said, “Sorry to drag you into this…”
“Don’t say that, Nat,” I said. “I want to be a part of your life no matter what. I’m just so grateful to have you back…you don’t know how much I cried for you and grieved for you when I thought you’d died.”
“Summer,” Nat said. “I’m so sorry you went through all that. I didn’t know how much it would affect you.”
“You don’t?” I asked. “You are my life, Nat.”
“I thought you wanted Drew, Summer,” Nat said.
“I was confused. I wanted both of you, love both of you, but even when I had Drew, I kept wanting you. Even when Drew changed to be with me, I realized he had changed to be more like you for me. It’s you who I want, Nat. Always and forever.”
Nat leaned over and kissed me on the cheeks. His cheeks were wet from tears. “This makes everything so much harder, Summer,” he said. “I’ve put away so much of how I feel for you so I could be away from you. I don’t know what the future will hold, but I know that you being with me will be dangerous. My life’s in danger, Summer, and I don’t want you to be put into danger.”
“I can change and hide my identity, too,” I said.
“No!” Nat said. “No, please,” he said more gently. “I don’t want you to change at all. What’s the point when we have to hide who we are to be with each other? It’s bad enough that I have to change, but I never ever want you to change who you are, Summer. Keep on being Summer for me, Summer. It’s the memories of Summer that keeps me going.”
Ch. 16
Summer
We made it to Drew’s place without a problem. As soon as we entered the lobby and went up the elevator to Drew’s suite, we were able to finally relax.
“That was intense,” Drew said, grabbing bottles of water and handing it to Nat and me, before gulping one down. He was trying to stay calm, I could tell, especially at his own place, especially in front of Nat. But his hands were shaking, and I could see how his jaws were tensed. Poor Drew. I didn’t know how I could possibly take back what happened tonight. Everything happened so quickly. We both had planned on checking the Academy out, just a routine check, just two college students, just worried about classes, relationship issues, family obligations, and our sports or extracurricular activities.
Now things would never be the same again. Drew would never be the same again.
Although it was in self-defense, where it was either kill or be killed by the rapist/stalker, Drew had killed a person – a criminal, and he was shaken up about it.
“Nat,” he said, “You can take my spare bedroom, and use my clothes. Last time I checked, we were the same size, but from the looks of it, you’ve been working out like your life depended on it.”
“Well, bro,” Nat said. “It kinda did. I was in training with the Elite group to be able to handle the physical part of the mission alone,” Nat said. “I thought I was in good shape because of football and sports at home, but out there, you really have to be able to take it all – the elements, starvation, carrying heavy equipment all day, and being shot at.”
“Man, I didn’t know it was that brutal out there,” Drew said, his eyes going wide and face in concern. “I bet you saw some real tough shit.”
Nat nodded. “I did. Didn’t think I’d make it out alive even, but I did, thank God!”
“I’m sorry,” Drew said to Nat. “Man, I didn’t realize how much you went through, and here I was enjoying life back home while you were being a man, a real man for Dad, Donovan Dynamics, the FBI, and Summer.”
Nat got up and went over to Drew. “Don’t be hard on yourself, Drew. Don’t feel guilty. I chose to go. For me, it was the thing to do.”
“I could’ve gone in your place if I had the training, and they got me up to speed. Then you could’ve stay back home with Mom, Rachel, and Summer,” Drew said.
“If it was that easy,” Nat said. “I had to go because I had the ability to break into their system and hack through their barriers to retrieve importan
t well-guarded information. The Special Forces were there to help get me in and out as best as they could without getting me killed.”
“So the FBI was involved?” Drew asked.
“Not until the end. That’s where Sloane was involved, too. I got the FBI involved to put Sloane and others like him away. He wasn’t just an ordinary perv, stalker. He was a hacker who was part of a crime ring overseas so I needed the FBI to help, plus I helped them get the names and identities of the cybercriminals.”
“That’s why this ring leader’s after you?” I asked.
“That, and that I destroyed one of his branches, and took valuable intel from his system that sent him and his men to prison.”
“What’s his name?” I asked. “What does he look like?”
“Xavier,” Nat said, “Here’s a photo Lamar sent me of him.” He showed me a photo of a handsome man in his thirties with dark hair and dark eyes. He was good-looking, but he looked dangerous and devoid of any kindness.
Drew came over to look at the photo.
“Wished they included height,” he said. “You can change everything else about him through surgery, make-up, contacts, whatever, but you can’t change height. I’m sure this guy has multiple disguises so he wouldn’t look like that for long.”
“Right,” Nat said. “You can bet on it.”
“So, in other words, we can’t tell who to trust,” Drew said.
“He can be someone from class, someone visiting the Academy, a mailman, pizza delivery guy…” I said.
“I was suspicious of Cooper at first,” Drew said, looking at Nat. “The way you got close to Summer so quickly…”
Nat grinned. “Must be my charm, but it was because I already know Summer so well, I understood what she was going through and responded to it. Something, you still have to learn about our Summer, little Bro,” Nat said.
