by Wade, Maddie
Stolen Dreams
Note from the Author
This book is set in the town of Hereford in the United Kingdom. It is a town of about 60,000 people and is in the West Midlands. It borders Monmouthshire, which is in Wales.
Hereford is famous for its being the home of Strongbow cider and the Hereford Bull.
It is also the base for the SAS. The SAS are the elite Special Forces unit of the British Armed Forces. The unit undertakes a number of roles including covert reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, direct action and hostage rescue.
Hereford Cathedral dates from 1079 and houses the largest Mappa Mundi in existence, which dates from 1300.
It is a market town and has a large mix of Tudor, Victorian and new buildings.
I hope you have enjoyed this brief history.
Fortis Security, Book Two
Maddie Wade
Published by Maddie Wade, September 2016
This is a work of fiction.
Any similarities to real events, people, or places are entirely
coincidental.
First edition, September 2016
Copyright © 2016 Maddie Wade
Written by Maddie Wade
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Crystal Cuffley of Rockin’ Redhead Promotions for the wonderful cover and editing.
I would also like to thank Matthew Parsons for the technical help.
My wonderful beta readers who have picked up the blips and told me when things suck!
Greta Branas for helping with a name for Nate’s Mum.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my wonderful family, who put up with sandwiches for tea, when I am busy writing. Also my lovely mum who has always supported me.
I love you all so much.
Stolen Dreams
Glossary
The Divine Watchers: A rich, evil cult who believe that people with special abilities will save the world. They wish to control gifted people and cause Armageddon to cleanse the world so they and the gifted can rule.
NHS: The National Health Service is the publicly funded healthcare system for England. It is the largest and the oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world.
Boot: Trunk
Parachute Regiment: The Parachute Regiment, colloquially known as the Paras, is an elite airborne infantry regiment of the British Army.
S.A.S: The Special Air Service (SAS) is a Special Forces unit of the British Army. The SAS was founded in 1941 as a regiment, and later reconstituted as a corps in 1950. The unit undertakes a number of roles including covert reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, direct action and hostage rescue
Cockney wide boy: Wide boy usually refers to a working class male who lives in London, and who lives by their wits and wheeler dealings
Mi cielo: Spanish term of endearment meaning my sky/heaven
Carazon: Spanish term of endearment meaning heart.
Cwmbran: Cwmbran is a town in South Wales and is in the County borough of Monmouthshire.
Mucka: Urban Slang for friend.
Mulyutka: Russian for little one, babe, baby
Toff: A rich or upper class person.
Charlie: Cocaine
Tidy: Slang, Okay, good, I agree
The Shard:The Shard, also referred to as the Shard of Glass, Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London, that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. Standing 309.6 metres (1,016 ft) high, the Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom
Plaster: Bandaid
Slag: An individual who cares not for relationships beyond the realm of the sexual, these people sleep with many partners not caring about anything save for the moment of climax
Table of Contents
Note from the Author
Title
Disclaimer
Acknowledgments
Dedication
Glossary
Table of contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Epilogue
Sneak peek
Thanks
Social Media links
Stolen Dreams
Fortis Security
Prologue
Nate Jones walked past the football stadium on his way to see his fiancée. It was early autumn and he could smell the sweet scent of apples from the cider factory across town. Every year that smell of apple pie signified the start of autumn.
He loved this time of year; it was cooler, and everything seemed calmer. The hot summer nights had cooled, the kids were all back to school, and life quieter as if everyone was taking a breath before the madness of Christmas began.
He wasn’t thinking about any of that right now, though. Nate was wondering how he was going to break the life-altering news of his diagnosis to his fiancée, Nikki.
He hadn’t worn a jacket as the air had been relatively warm earlier, but now the wind was picking up. He tucked his hands in his pockets as he crossed the busy road by the football ground.
You couldn’t really call it a stadium. He was more of a rugby man himself, but he had admired the way the fans had stepped up to keep the football club going after the last owners had run it into the ground. He and Nikki had even gone to a few games. She was big fan.
He knew what he had to tell her would upset Nikki. She wanted everything in life to be perfect … and now he wasn’t. He had been pretty upset, too, but he was sure they could get through this together. They just had to figure out a way to move forward. Maybe they could look at some different treatments? That was what commitment was about, he thought. Figuring out the tough stuff together.
So why was he feeling so unsure of the future? Why was his heart pounding so hard? It was just shock, he reassured himself, it, would be fine. His parents had gone through some really tough times and they were like newlyweds half the time.
His mum was a force of nature. She was the kindest, strongest person he knew. Always there with a wise word or a tongue-lashing if you needed it. Even now, at 32yrs old, he wouldn’t dream of swearing in her presence and neither did anyone else.
She was from a province in Castile-La Mancha, in Spain, called Cuenca. She was a practicing Catholic and had raised her children that way, although Nate was very much lapsed. His parents had met when his father had gone out there for work. From all accounts, it was a whirlwind romance. They had married and moved back to his father’s native Wales soon after.
Nate had been brought up speaking English and Spanish in equal measure, so he was fluent in both. His mother had felt it was important for her children to know and embrace their Spanish roots and had often spoken only Spanish to
them.
His parents were the best and had always had his back. He wasn’t sure if he was going to tell them this latest news, yet. He didn’t want to worry them.
As Nate crossed behind the Courtyard Theatre and walked around the back of the garages, he thought about Nikki. She had seemed off lately and he couldn’t put his finger on why. He wondered, not for the first time, if maybe he was making a mistake by ignoring his mum’s cautious words about her commitment to him.
Mimi Jones possessed an innate sense for spotting a person’s true nature and he had followed in her footsteps. It was very rare for him to be wrong about someone. Nobody was infallible, though.
No, he was being paranoid. Nikki would support him and they would be fine, he knew it.
~~~
Nate used the key Nikki had given him to quietly let himself in so he didn’t wake her. She’d worked a night shift at the hospital and knew she would be tired. She had one more night shift then they had a few days off together.
He would wait until she woke up to talk to her, maybe surprise her with breakfast in bed. Although, it would be dinner for him by then.
He wasn’t supposed to see her today. He was working a VIP close protection job, but Daniel had agreed to swap with him and he didn’t mind owing him a favour. He could have waited until the weekend, but he hadn’t wanted to let this news fester.
Easing open the new front door that he’d fitted in the summer, Nate entered the two-bedroom, mid-terrace house Nikki called home. It was a quaint little house on a street filled with 1920s terraced houses. It backed onto the new theatre and the noise from the football stadium across the road was deafening on match day. She liked it though and had decorated it herself.
He found the large amount of black and purple she painted on the walls a bit harsh, it wasn’t to his taste at all, but she liked it and that’s all that mattered. She’d agreed that once she finished her nursing degree, she would move in with him. She was waiting to move in together since they were going to be married and he hadn’t pushed it.
Cocking his ear towards the stairs, Nate thought he heard a noise. It sounded like a giggle. Maybe she was awake? He quickly bounded up the short flight of stairs and froze when he heard the unmistakable sound of people having sex. His stomach flipped as he listened to Nikki moaning and mewling.
His mind went blank, his fists clenched as he listened. Anger made his hand tighten on the bannister and he realised he was pulling it off the wall.
Nate pushed open the door of her bedroom and stopped short. In the middle of the bed was his fiancé. She was so intent on riding whoever was underneath her, she didn’t see him. His vision turned red, all he could hear was the roaring in his ears. The room reeked of sex and perfume and almost made him gag.
He stepped forward, intent on seeing the motherfucker that Nikki was going all cowgirl on. She turned, sensing his movement, and gasped. Jumping up from the man, she tried to cover nakedness, to deny what she had been doing.
Nate wasn’t looking at her, though, he was looking at the arrogant, self-satisfied smile of his childhood nemesis.
“Nate, it’s not what you think,” Nikki whimpered as big tears fell from her lying eyes.
“Oh, of course it is sweet Nikki. You and I have been fucking like rabbits for months behind poor old Nate’s back,” said the arrogant twat who ruined his teenage life. He looked so pleased with himself, Nate wanted to smash the smile right off the bastard’s face. Nate knew that was what he wanted. Using every ounce of restraint he could manage, he turned his gaze to Nikki.
“It’s you I love, Nate! Please!” She had mascara streaking down her face, her nails gripping the sheet trying to hide her fake breasts, and he realised his mum had been right. Nikki was a scheming bitch. How had he been so blind?
Love. Ha! What a joke; she had never loved him. She simply liked the idea of a tough-guy boyfriend. She’d always bragged to her friends about him being an ex-para. He thought it cute that she was proud of him, but she wasn’t. He was just a trophy boyfriend.
Nate started to smile at the irony. How many times had he warned his sister about dating men who only saw her for her looks? And here he was, a victim of his own lecture.
He turned back to look at the man that had plagued his teenage years. The snide comments and sexual innuendo had crippled Nate`s shy teenage self. He’d spent years trying to ignore the teasing and jibes, the casual touches, and overall intimidation from this man and his friends.
Nate thought it would end after he came back from the Army, but it gotten worse. This asshole always wanted any and everything Nate had and he`d made it his mission to take things from him including girlfriends and friends. He didn’t understand it. This guy could literally have anything he wanted. Women fell for his charm and looks and still it wasn’t enough. He had to torture Nate.
He couldn’t put in words why, but had a feeling it was a power thing. During his school years, Nate was always the quiet, scrawny kid. It wasn’t until college that he started to develop into the man everyone saw today.
He hadn’t seen the asshole for years, not since he’d joined the Army and then the Parachute regiment. Bloody typical. Now a shit day had turned into an even shittier day. And he was back on this prick’s radar.
Well, no more. He was sick and tired of this sick, evil bastard taking from him.
“You can have her,” Nate sneered at the man, causing Nikki to cry harder. “I’m done with her, she’s all yours. You and your games? Won’t work. Get this through your thick head asshole. You cannot bully or manipulate me for your own sick reasons anymore. You’re a sociopathic motherfucker who relishes in other people’s pain. You make me want to vomit. Just looking at you makes my skin crawl. Stay the fuck away from me and my family, or you won’t like what happens next.” Nate glowered at the man with so much disgust and fury it was almost tangible.
He turned then and walked away. His news didn’t matter now.
~~~
Calmly picking his clothes up off the floor, the man contemplated what just transpired. He’d wanted Nate to catch them. It had taken months of fucking this pathetic bitch until Nate caught them. He had pictured what the expression on his face would be and it had not disappointed.
He’d wanted him for years and had done everything he could to manipulate him into bed, but Nate wouldn’t take the bait. He didn’t know what it was about Nate Jones that made him want to consume him physically and mentally. Perhaps it was because Nate had always evaded his charms?
He shook his head as he looked at Nikki crying in a corner of the bed. She hadn’t been a bad fuck, but she chose to betray her boyfriend so it was her own fault she was now left alone. Walking over to her, he leaned down and roughly grabbed her hair, twisted her face up to his and kissed her viciously, biting her lip hard as he did. She liked a bit of rough and knew her whimper wasn’t one of pain.
“Come on, Nikki, you knew it was going to end badly. Stop your crying and pull yourself together.” She looked at him with hate then, and it made him smile.
“I fucking hate you.” She spat which made him laugh.
“You might hate me, Nikki, but you sure did love my cock when it was pounding into you, making you scream.” He pushed her roughly onto the bed and turned to gather his things, as she curled into herself and cried.
When would people learn not to do stupid things if they didn’t want to get caught? He whistled as he turned and walked out of her tiny townhouse. Time to up his game with Nate. It would take time and careful planning. Luckily, he had lots of time and loved to make plans and strategize. It was time for Nate to see that he always got his way. People didn’t say no to him … ever!
Chapter One
Present Day
Nate and Skye had left the engagement party shortly after Dane and Lauren. The happy couple had decided to have their own party and he thought that was a good idea. He’d decided to hell with good intentions, Skye was his and he was going to show her tonight just how much he
felt for her.
Nate thought back over the over the last five months and how Skye and Noah had changed his life. He’d known when he saw them the very first time that they would, but he’d had no idea quite how profound it would be.
He and Skye had gone from those first, tentative phone calls to spending every minute together. She had become his everything. She was the first person he thought of when he woke and the last person he thought of when he fell asleep. Not a night, or morning, went by in the last four months when they hadn’t sent a good morning or good night text to each other.
In fact, they had taken to texting each other funny jokes or pictures. He looked forward to it and had become like a fifteen-year-old girl, carrying his phone everywhere with him. Her sense of humour was one of the things he loved about her the most. That and the fact she was such an amazing mum to Noah. Of course, he also loved how easy she was to be around. There was no drama if he did or didn’t call or if he had to cancel plans because of work. She didn’t take everything he did and examine it to decide if it was a slight on her.
He spent every spare minute he could with them both–be that at the hospital keeping them company with DVD’s and games, or at her place doing much the same. He couldn’t remember how many meals she’d cooked for him or how many nights they spent eating take-out and just chatting.
He wished he could have wined and dined her, but circumstances as they were with Noah didn’t allow it and she didn’t seem to want all the fuss. They cuddled on the sofa and he knew she wanted more, and so did he. He realised they had fallen into comfortable friendship, but the sexual fizzle and excitement when he saw or thought of her was there in spades.
Many a night he’d had to take care of things himself when he thought blue balls would actually kill him. He refused to rush this, though. It was too important and if he had his way, they would have years of using up all that sexual chemistry they shared.
