Chapter 20
Ethan
“You did great,” George says as we continue discussing the new electric train project. “The board members are pleased. They think they made the right decision standing by you.”
“Ethan’s my grandson,” my grandfather adds as he pats my shoulder. “He’s a bit immature sometimes, but his heart is in the right place. Now that he’s found himself a wife and has cleaned up his playboy image, he’s more focused on work than ever.”
My grandfather’s smile widens, and it seems George doesn’t take the comment about a wife too personally.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did to my sweet Julia, boy,” George jokes, but the stern frown on his lips fades before he bursts into a joyous laugh alongside my grandfather.
My heart lightens at the sound, and I suppress a chuckle before glancing around again to find Nelly. She’s nowhere in sight, and the smile on my lips dwindles when I spot only her brother and Robyn conversing with a few businessmen from our social circle.
I lost track of time while in a discussion with my grandfather and his friend, and now I have no clue where Nelly went. My keen gaze scans every face, but she’s not present.
Where did she run off to? I planned to talk to Nelly tonight and find out how she’s been. Avoiding Nelly this past week has been tough, and I’ve gone over every possibility in my head.
Every possibility as to how things will end if I decide to give our relationship a try.
It’ll be different this time … Higher stakes. With Julia, she was a girl I could simply cut off after she hurt me, but with Nelly, I wouldn’t be able to. Not when she’s this much a part of my life.
Of my heart.
“I’m sorry, Ethan.” Julia’s grim tone stops my train of thought, and I turn to find her standing next to George, tears in her eyes as she stares at him.
“Why?” I question as her quivering gaze pins mine down while she struggles for air. There’s a wild look in her eyes that makes me queasy. “Julia?”
Sweat beads form on her forehead and her eyes dart from mine to her grandfather’s before she looks at me again and gulps in air. “Nelly is in trouble, Ethan. I tried to stop him … I begged … I think he’s out of his mind. He thinks you caused his bankruptcy, and he’s losing it, Ethan. We have to do something … He’s desperate …”
“What’s going on?” My grandfather chirps in and exchanges confused looks with George, who’s also staring at Julia sternly.
The other guests around the garden start whispering in hushed tones, and it gains the attention of many others.
Tom and Robyn are staring my way too, as Julia keeps struggling with her frantic words.
“Joe took Nelly, Ethan. I told him I wanted no part of this. I wouldn’t help him hurt anyone, so he acted on his own. He’ll call soon and ask for a ransom.”
“Where did he take her?” I growl, my entire body stiffening with the build of my anger. “If you know where, then you’ve got to tell me.”
“Ethan, you can’t go there on your own. It’s too dangerous,” Tom stops me, and I realize then that he joined us and has heard every word Julia said.
“I can’t let him hurt her, Tom. This is all my fault … I shouldn’t have let her go. I shouldn’t have …” The thick lump in my throat stops me from saying anything else. I can’t think properly as intense fear grips and tightens my heart.
The only thought pounding through my mind is finding Nelly.
All night I’ve tried to talk to her and say how I’ve missed her, but each time she’s close and I stare into her eyes, I freeze and forget all the words I have lined up in my head.
Tom’s eyes land on mine as he continues. “Still, we should call the cops and …”
“Tell me where she is, Julia,” I say through gritted teeth, facing her with the full blast of my growing anger. “If he hurts her, I’ll …”
“Easy, son,” George speaks in a collected tone, and he steps between me and Julia to keep me from advancing any further.
Julia keeps murmuring her apology while keeping her chin low, but her tears don’t move me. Nelly’s the only person on my mind. Losing her would mean the end for me.
How did I not realize it until now?
I’ve been so focused on protecting my heart, I failed to realize she’s my heart.
Now I might never see her again.
Fear grips my insides and twists until I recoil from the ache. It’s a relentless pounding in my heart and temples. It suffocates me, pressing down on my chest till it’s impossible to breathe.
A frustrated growl follows as I feel my eyes sting.
“We can get to Joe in time and find out what he wants while the cops try to catch up. I’ll go to the station in person.”
“I’ll go with you,” Tom adds, and my grandfather gives me a soft nod of encouragement.
“Julia will take you to where Joe is holding Nelly,” George says, and Julia only nods before wiping her cheeks with both hands.
“I’ll go too,” Robyn volunteers. "I've got tons of experience dealing with people like Joe. Tom knows that really well."
“Good,” I say, then motion for Julia to lead the way to the parking lot. “We’ll use my car.”
I race down the road at full speed, not caring for anything else but the woman I’ve fallen in love with. I hope I can get to her before Joe tries anything.
And I hope she’ll forgive me. Even though it took me this long to admit to myself that I love her.
***
Robyn texts the address to Tom while we’re parked outside of the warehouse.
The night’s full of stars today, and there’s a chill in the air that leaves an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. I never would have expected Storms to go this far.
Plotting to hurt Nelly or make me pay ransom for her is a criminal offense. He will pay for this and I will make sure of it. My right-hand forms a tight fist on my thigh, and I struggle to contain my boiling rage.
“I’ll go in alone. You two stay here and wait for the cops to arrive, got it?”
“No, I have to come with you,” Julia answers before she hiccups. “If you walk in there alone, he might hurt you. We don’t know how far he’s willing to take this, Ethan,” she insists, her eyes bulging out to show her terror. “I can’t let you or her get hurt.”
“Will you say those exact words in court?” Robyn asks, and I glance at her, noting how stiffly she’s poised on the front passenger seat while Julia cowers behind.
“Yes,” Julia agrees with a nod. “If that’s what you need me to do.”
“We go in together,” Robyn says, then reaches into her purse for a cuff. “I keep this with me all the time because it might come in handy.”
“Robyn,” I object. “Joe wants me. He wants my money. I can’t put you in danger, too. If anything happens to Nelly or you, Tom will never forgive me. I can’t have that.”
“You’re not changing my mind, Ethan. I’m a cop. I’ve got more experience than you two combined, so we’re going in together.”
She meets my gaze defiantly, and I wonder how Tom ever wins an argument against her. “Fine.” I release an exasperated sigh, then unlock the car’s door.
We don’t make it far toward the entrance before Joe wanders out, a crazed look in his eyes. “I knew you would find me,” he says before bursting into a riotous laugh. “Julia told you, didn't she? She couldn’t keep her mouth shut!”
“It’s over, Joe … You have to let Nelly go.”
“Do I?” he taunts. “You’re going to pay a lot to make me do that, Ethan. You see, here's the thing, I've lost everything, and it is all because of you!” His eyes widen and darken with a bulge as he yells. I notice the sheen of sweat on his forehead and his rapid breathing.
Joe’s right-hand trembles as he continues. “You have to pay.”
“I’m not the one to blame, Joe,” I respond, knowing I have to buy some time till the cops get here. I can’t let Joe do anything stupid, like hurt Nelly.
The thought leaves a tight lump in my throat, and that makes me feel queasy inside.
“I’ll pay what you want, so just please …”
The first distant wail of a siren erupts in the air, and Joe’s eyes widen. “You called the cops?”
He turns to run back into the warehouse, and I lurch forward right then, tackling him to the ground before Robyn joins and bends his hand behind him in a classic cop move.
“You’re staying with me, buddy,” Robyn says as she cuffs Joe’s wrist to hers, then motions for me to rush into the warehouse.
Julia’s sobbing in a corner as I scramble to my feet and rush in.
“Nelly,” I scream at the top of my voice, shaking with the slice of terror cutting through me. “Nelly …”
Her muffled cries fill the air and I follow the sound, rushing over to find her tied to a chair, a cloth stuffed in her mouth.
Nelly collapses in my arms once I untie her. “I’m so sorry,” I murmur amidst my tears, then stole my hands over her face to smooth away her hair.
“I should have protected you better. Knowing Joe was desperate, I should have known he’d try something to hurt you just to get back at me. I should have told you how I feel. I should have….
“I thought I would lose you … I was so scared, I thought you …”
I frame her cheeks, and she sniffs before I wrap my arms around her and help her to her feet.
Cop sirens surround us as we exit the warehouse together, and I find one releasing Robyn so he can cuff Joe properly.
“This isn’t over, Everhart,” Joe warns as the cop leads him away. I help Nelly get to the back of the cop car, and one of them throws a blanket around her shoulders before I’m led aside to give my statement.
Tom and Grandpops arrive at the scene a minute later, and they rush to Nelly’s side. I can’t take my eyes off Nelly while I’m giving my statement. The entire time, I’m thinking of how foolish I’ve been with my fear of loving her when she’s been in my heart all along.
When I reach her, Nelly’s still shivering and hugging her sides tight. I sit by her side and pull her into my arms.
“I’m so sorry, Nelly. All of this is my fault … Joe tried to hurt you because of me.”
“It wasn’t,” she murmurs and tears shimmer in her eyes when I look deep into them. “Why do you think he did this? Why does he hate you so much?”
“I considered Joe a friend, but he wasn’t. He’s been bent on proving himself better than me all this time and he got desperate because all his attempts failed. I didn’t let his betrayal years ago affect me and that enraged him the most.”
“I was so scared,” Nelly whispers and swallows hard as she stares at me. “Thank you … For being here, for saving me … Thank you, Ethan.”
Now’s your chance, Everhart, I think as my chest swells with the weight of all my feelings for her.
“Nelly,” I murmur, my breath hitching in my throat as I know I can’t hold back now.
“I love you, Nelly,” I blurt, not knowing how best to say the words pressing on my heart. My eyes search hers, and confessing the words out loud for the first time feels like a weight has been lifted off my chest. “I just … I …”
Nelly’s eyes soften as she puts a hand on my cheek, then slowly shakes her head. Her words silence me. “You got scared,” she murmurs. “You thought something bad was going to happen, and you got scared, Ethan. That doesn’t mean you’re in love with me especially since you’ve been so clear about what you want in the past … This … This isn’t what you want, Ethan.”
“Nelly …”
“It’s been a long night,” she stops me as a tear slides down her cheeks. “I just want to go home, please.”
Her faint plea breaks my heart, so I swallow my words and kiss her forehead instead. “Let’s go home,” I murmur, knowing I will get my chance to tell Nelly the truth once we’ve put this horrible day behind us.