by Wade, Maddie
“She went for a lie down about an hour ago,” she hesitated. “Is there any news?” she asked, hopefully.
“We have some leads, but nothing concrete. It’s a start, though. I’m going up to her,” he said, anxious to get to Skye and hold her in his arms.
“Okay. I’m going to head off if you’re going to be with Skye. I need to see Mateo.”
“Okay, Liz. Thanks for staying with her,” Nate said.
“She’d do it for me. Honestly, I can’t imagine how she is feeling.” Lizzie dried her hands and grabbed her bag. “Tell her I’ll call her later,” she said, going on tiptoes, kissing Nate’s cheek.
“I will, Liz,” Nate said, walking her to the door.
Nate walked back into the kitchen and through to the living room. Reg was sitting in the armchair, with his gun by his side, watching football. Somehow, Nate hadn’t pegged him as a football fan.
“Hey, Reg. How has she been?” Nate asked, sitting on the arm of the sofa across from Reg.
“She had a bit of a wobble earlier, but I gave her some gentle truths and she seemed to rally. She had some food Lizzie made and then went to her room for some quiet time. She’ll be okay. My girl’s a fighter.” He turned his head as if listening to someone else and Nate assumed he was listening to Tilly. He turned his attention back to Nate after a second, “Is there any news?”
“We have a lead. We think her ex might be involved, somehow so we’re going to put some surveillance on him and his home.”
“No good, piece of shit, bastard. I knew he would be trouble the moment I met him. Got to my girl when she was young and vulnerable.” Nate nodded knowing that that was exactly Hugo’s MO.
“Yeah, I had some dealing with him in the past,” he said, not elaborating. “He is a narcissistic asshole, and that grandmother of his is even worse.”
“I can agree on the first, but haven’t met the granny, so can’t comment on her,” Reg said softly. Nate was about to reply, but Tilly beat him to it.
“Woman, I never met her…I don’t remember no garden party! Oh, that pinched faced old biddy, I remember.”
He turned back to Nate, “I remember her, now. Met her about twenty years ago at some swanky party my brother had. Tight-faced old cow. All rigid and looking down her nose at everyone. Her husband seemed okay, though. A bit beaten and hen pecked, but okay. He’s dead. Died about eight years ago, probably put himself out of his misery from that nagging, old cow.”
Nate filed all this information to give to Lucy and Drew.
“Well, I’m going to check on Skye. You good here?”
“Boy, got food and football. I’m all good.”
“Cool.” Nate patted Reg on the shoulder and left to find Skye.
He looked for Skye in her bedroom, but she wasn’t there and didn’t hear her in the bathroom. He left her room and crossed to Noah’s. Pushing open the door, he saw her lying on her side on Noah’s bed, his brown teddy held tight to her chest. She was sleeping so peacefully. He was loath to wake her, but knew she would want him to.
He sat down on the bed in the gap between her knees and her chest. He studied her face, relaxed in sleep. The soft skin pale and marred only by the dark circles under her eyes. He reached out a hand and gently brushed a lock of silky hair from her face, tucking it behind the delicate shell of her ear.
Running the backs of his fingers down her cheek, he whispered softly, “Skye, baby. Wake up.” She started to shift slowly, and her eyelids fluttered open.
“Nate.”
“Yeah, mi cielo. I’m right here.”
“Have you found anything?” she asked, sitting up and pushing her hair from her face.
“We have some leads. Why don’t I get you some coffee while you wash your face and wake yourself up?”
Skye nodded, “Okay.” She still looked a little foggy from sleep. Nate couldn’t resist, he pushed his hand into her hair and cupped the back of her neck. Leaning in, he brushed his lips over hers, lightly touching his tongue to her lips for a taste of her sweetness. She surrendered instantly, softening under his kiss. Nate pulled back and touched his forehead to hers.
“Get yourself sorted. I’ll make coffee. Okay, baby?”
“Okay, Nate.”
~~~
Skye quickly washed her face, trying to wash some of the grogginess from her brain. Nate had looked at her with so much love and compassion, it had almost made her cry. She prayed there was some news. She needed her baby home. She clutched the edge of the sink tightly as she thought of her boy. Legs almost buckling with emotion as she thought of what he’s going through–frightened and wanting her.
Taking a deep breath, she locked her knees–she was stronger than this. Reg was right. Everything she’d been through with Noah and her parents, she had never let any of it beat her. She owed it to Noah not to start wimping out now. She needed to take control and help Nate and the team find her boy. Not wallow in pity and pain.
Feeling marginally better, she left the bathroom and headed for the kitchen and the smell of coffee.
Nate was pouring her a cup and she went to him and took it, leaning into his strength as he opened his arms for her. She felt Nate kiss her hair and wished this was all under different circumstances. Reg was standing against the counter, a mug of tea in his hand.
“You okay, sweetheart?” he asked, holding an arm out to her. She snuggled into his side, accepting his silent invitation. She adored her Uncle Reg–always had, always would.
“I’m holding up better, thanks, Uncle Reg.” He kissed the top of her head.
“Good, sweetheart.”
“Skye,” Nate said, snagging her attention. He was leaning against the counter, arms braced behind him. The material of his top pulled tight over his powerful chest and arms. His denim clad legs crossed at the ankles in front of him.
“Zack and I went to visit Hugo and Felicity Lockwood,” he said, breaking her out of her perusal. “We think they might be involved,” he stated calmly. Skye pulled away from Reg and went to Nate. Looking up at him, she grasped his upper arms.
“Tell me,” she demanded, urgency in her tone.
“Hugo seemed to know that Noah had been taken from here. He unconsciously gave that away, though. He has an alibi for the time Noah was taken, but that is not a surprise, as we’re sure Kanan took Noah. We have Eidolon providing surveillance on both Hugo and the property.
“Fortis will put an operation together to search the property as soon as we get the information we need on the security. We don’t have the men to do a full breach, so it wouldn’t be wise. If Noah is there, he could be hurt in the chaos, so we need the info first so we can go in quiet.” Nate reached for her, pulling her into him. Resting his hands on her hips, she went willingly.
“We still have Drew and Lucy looking for other leads and Detective English and his team are following other avenues. This is by no means concrete, Skye. I don’t want you getting your hopes up.”
“But it’s the best lead you have, right?” Nate nodded and pulled her head to his chest, cradling her gently against his body. He put his arms around her waist as she raised her hands to rest them on his chest.
“Yes, I believe so.” He didn’t tell her about what Felicity had said or his history with Hugo.
“Well, what can we do to help? Maybe I could go and talk to Hugo find out if he knows anything.”
“No. You are not to contact him or anyone else. Do you hear me Skye? I’m serious on this,” he said sharply.
“God, okay. No need to be mean about it.”
“I’m not, but I just need to know that you get me,” he softened his voice this time.
“Fine. I won’t contact him,” she said, slightly testily. She put her head down and crossed her arms across her chest, but stayed in the circle of his arms.
“Skye. Mi cielo, look at me,” his voice gentle. She raised her eyes to his.
“What,” she snapped. Seeing Nate`s lip’s twitch, she smothered the desire to hit him in the
gut. He let go of her waist and wrapped his hands around the back of her head, he tunnelled his fingers into her hair, running his thumbs across her cheekbones.
“I won’t risk you, too. I can’t concentrate on getting Noah back if I have to worry about you. I need you to stay safe. Please, do this for me.” The genuine emotion in his voice was disarming.
What could she say to that–how could she stay angry? He was the first man in her life to protect her and want to protect Noah. Yes she had Reg who protected her and looked out for her, but emotionally she always felt like she was the one protecting him. First from her parents hateful attitude and then from the pain of losing Tilly. With Nate she felt she could lean on him and not be strong for every waking moment. Nate would lay down his life for them both. That was just the kind of man he was and she was lucky enough to have him care about her and her son.
Her body softened and relaxed into his. He kept his hands where they were for a minute, and then stroked his fingers through her hair and down her back, coming to rest at the top of her ass. Despite the situation and the fact that Reg was in the room, she felt her heart beat faster at the feel of Nate touching her like that.
She wanted to drag him into her room and get lost in him. The feel, the smell, the taste. She knew it would be amazing between them and she knew it was wrong feeling like this when her son was missing, and yet, she couldn’t turn it off.
“Okay, Nate. No contact with Hugo or anyone else.” She felt him shift and bury his face in her neck, touching his lips to the pulse that was pounding there.
“Thank you, baby.
They stayed like that for a while, and when Skye raised her head, she noticed Reg had left the room.
“Have you eaten?” she asked him, looking into is handsome face.
“Not since breakfast,” Nate replied.
“I’ll make you something. Is a sandwich okay?”
“Yeah, mi cielo, that is perfect. Thank you.”
Skye eased out of his arms and set about making him a beef and horseradish sandwich–with lots of beef, just how he liked it. She had started buying it in since they had become close and started seeing each other. Noah liked it too, even though he said the horseradish made his nose tingle.
This thought made her heart heavy, that sick feeling coming back into her throat. Tears pricked her eyes and she quickly blinked them back. Knowing that if she let them go again, she would quickly fall apart.
Skye turned her head to the side when she felt Nate gently touch her hip. She felt him lean his front to her back, sliding his arms around her waist and resting his chin lightly on her head. His strong, warm body offering comfort and safety. He seemed to know intuitively what she needed and when she needed it. She leaned back slightly after she finished making his sandwich, taking his support.
Turning back to the counter she reached a plate from the cupboard in front of her head and got some crisps from the one beside it. Adding some fruit from the bowl in front of her she turned and handed it to him. He stepped back and took it from her. He grabbed her hand with his free one, pulling her with him to the living room. Settling down together on the couch opposite Reg, she silently watched Nate talk with Reg. He seemed comfortable with him.
She let the mundane chatter lull her as she thought about how Hugo might be involved with her son’s abduction. It was troubling her, because in the beginning, she had encouraged him to be part of Noah’s life. Yes, he’d left her and she had quickly seen him for what he was–but she had still wanted him to be part of his son’s life.
He’d shown no interest, whatsoever, despite her countless attempts. She had even sent baby pictures for the first year. Every milestone photographed and recorded. Eventually she came to realise he didn’t want to know and if he didn’t, she didn’t want to force it. It was a privilege to be a parent and if he couldn’t see it, that was his loss.
So, why after all this time had he just kidnapped him? Why not come to her and ask about visitation? She had never been unreasonable, and if he did want to see Noah, she would have expected a solicitor’s letter, asking for visitation. But this seemed off assuming of course that he was involved. She hated not knowing for sure.
She trusted Nate and Zack, and how they read the situation, but her gut said something else was going on.
Deep in thought, she didn’t realise Nate had been talking to her.
“What? Sorry…”
“I said, do you want to get some fresh air? Take a walk now that the rain has let up. Reg can stay here by the phone and we’ll have our phones with us.”
“Yeah, sure, that would be good. Let me grab my boots and a coat.”
She and Nate left a few minutes later after Nate had given instructions to Reg and told him where they were going.
Chapter Twelve
They drove into town and parked on the road by the duck pond. Grabbing Skye’s hand, Nate pulled her close, and slung his arm round her shoulder. They didn’t talk as they walked towards the Victoria Bridge and crossed the river. Following the river footpath, they walked around the St Georges playing fields.
Skye was, once again, lost in thoughts of her son. She was trying hard not to let the overwhelming feeling of fear and hopelessness suffocate her. After a few minutes, Nate stopped and turned to face her.
“I know Hugo from my childhood,” he said, watching her intently.
“You do? How?” He took her hand and they carried on walking.
“When I was a kid, I was in the scouts. Every summer we would do camps and stuff. There was this boy, Sam Reeves. Everyone knew he was a rich spoilt brat, but every year he came and made everyone’s lives a misery. He bullied everyone, but when I was about eleven, I found him and a few of his friends beating up this other kid. He was only nine and I stepped in. I knew they would probably kick the shit out of me, but I couldn’t stand by and watch.” Nate paused. She squeezed his hand to let him know to go on. “I was lucky, one of the scout leaders came just as they turned their attention to me, and I got away.
“But, after that, Sam and his friends made it their mission to make my life hell. Every summer I had to constantly dodge being alone with them. Sometimes it worked, other times, not so much. When I was about thirteen, I discovered martial arts and started karate lessons. The next summer when they started hitting on me, they came off worse than I did.
“It never stopped for Sam, though. He just started the mind games, then. He started making sexual advances at me the next year, and let me tell you, as a fourteen-year-old boy, that freaked me the fuck out. I would much rather have had the kicking. When that didn’t work, he seduced my sister. She was sixteen and he told everyone about it. I could take whatever he dishes out but, to see him mess with my baby sister just to fuck with me? I lost it and went looking for him.”
“What happened?” Skye asked, almost dreading the answer.
“I gave him a hiding he wouldn’t soon forget. I went home and sat, waiting for the police to come and arrest me, but they didn’t. It seemed Sam had my attention and he loved it. He loved that he had gotten to me. I had stopped going to camp by then. I would see him around town in the summer. He would watch me, but he didn’t approach me again. He always seemed to be there, though, wherever I went.”
“I went into the army when I was eighteen, and obviously filled out a bit and kept on with the martial arts. Anyway, when I left the para’s, I met a girl named Nikki. I thought she was the one. We got engaged and it was going well, until one day I went to her place and caught her in bed with Sam Reeves. He’d known all along she was my fiancé and had deliberately set it up so that I caught them.” He stopped their walking and looked at her. “The thing is, Sam Reeves is actually Hugo Lockwood. I didn’t know until today.”
Skye was shocked speechless. She felt her hands start to tremble and her stomach churned.
“Oh my God, Nate. I’m so sorry. Why would he do all those things?”
‘Don’t be sorry, you aren’t responsible for it. And to be honest
, he did me a favour with the whole Nikki thing, and he does it because he is a narcissistic sociopath.”
“How did I not see this when I dated him?”
“That’s the thing with people like him. They can be extremely charming and you only see what they want you to see.”
“Do you think he knew about you and me?” she asked quietly.
“No. He seemed genuinely shocked today. That is another reason I think he knows about Noah. I can read people really well, and I have known him a long time. He knows something, Skye.”
“Does Zack know about your past with him?”
“He does now.”
“I’m so sorry I brought him back into your life, Nate. If you don’t want to carry on with this,” she waved her hand between them, “I will understand.”
Nate lowered his head so that he was looking into her eyes. He cupped her jaw in his big hands, “I don’t care about him being Noah’s father. I want this, I want you and Noah in my life. I know now is not the time for these kinds of discussions, but I will say this, I like what we’re building, and I want us to continue that. I plan to be in your life for a long time and not as your friend, but as your man. Do you get me?” The intensity and feeling shone in his eyes, making Skye feel warm all over.
“Yeah, I get you and I want that, too,” she whispered. He rested his forehead against hers and then tilted her head so he could kiss her.
He was gentle and it was feather light as his lips brushed hers. He deepened it when she touched her tongue to his lips. Skye gripped onto the material of his coat when he took the kiss deeper, forcing all thought from her head except him and this moment. It felt wild and hot and full of promise. Feeling him pull back, she opened her eyes, but kept his lips lightly touching hers. He smiled then, “Come on. Let’s go to Fortis and get an update.” They walked back to the car, both lost in their own thoughts but feeling more positive.
~~~
Nate parked outside Fortis and noted that Zin’s bike was parked near the door, and Lucy’s beloved yellow Mazda was in its regular slot, despite Zack asking her to park it round the back. Zack tried to be strict with Lucy, but Nate thought Zack secretly admired her feisty nature, even if it did give him grey hair, or so he said.
