Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“HURTS LIKE HELL” BY TOMMEE PROFITT, FLEURIE
BLOSSOM
The days after Noah leaves I feel listless, lifeless, just going through the motions.
It’s like a part of me is missing, and I know the guys feel it.
Can see their concern as they trade worried looks at me.
They take it in turns to sleep in my room with me, and although I love it, it still doesn’t help fill this void that is inside me.
The guys and I are in the sitting room three days after Noah left when my phone starts ringing. It’s his number, and I fumble as I rush to answer it. As soon as I do, the sound of sobbing fills my ears and my chest constricts.
“Noah? Sweetheart, are you okay?” Steele stiffens beside me, and Nox and Ant straighten from their places on the other couch and armchair.
“M-Miss. Blossom? Please—I need—can you c-come get me?”
My body goes on high alert, and my voice is deadly calm. “Noah, are you hurt?”
One of the guys hisses a curse but I don’t look at them, just focus on the cries from the other end of the line.
“He—my dad—” more sobbing as he trails off and my pulse races around my body, my mind already making plans. “Please. I just want to come home.” Sob. “I want to come home.”
“Okay darling. Where are you right now? Are you safe?” I stand, my insides trembling as I feel steadier than I have the past three days.
“I’m in my room, the door is locked. But I don’t know how long—”
“Lock your window too, darling. Don’t open it for anyone but me or one of the guys. We’re coming to get you.” Another sob. “Noah, do you understand me? We’re coming so you just need to be brave for a little while longer.”
“B-but you can’t—the judge said—”
“I don’t care what the judge said, Noah. You are my son. I’m coming for you.” My voice is steel brokering no other argument. “I need to go now, sweetheart. But I will be there soon.”
“O-okay, Miss. Blossom.” He hangs up before I can, and I let out a shaky exhale. Then take in another deep breath.
“I thought there was nothing we could do?” Nox asks, him and the others having got up from their seats while I was on the phone.
“There is nothing legal we can do,” I tell him, watching as understanding dawns on his face, his eyebrows raising.
“But there is something we can do?” Ant asks, and I switch my focus to him.
“Yes. It’s very illegal.”
“How illegal are we talking?” Nox questions, and I know that I shouldn’t involve them, that I have no right to ask for their help. But I’m not sure this time I can face this alone. Not now that I know what it’s like to have them by my side.
I meet Nox’s beautiful green eyes. “Buying a child is illegal. Possibly kidnapping, depending on how you look at it. Definitely bribery. Most likely blackmail and threatening behaviour.”
There’s a single beat of silence as they absorb my words.
“Let’s go get him,” Steele commands, simple and certain and my shoulders sag in relief.
“Follow me, we need to get a few things first,” I tell them, heading out of the sitting room and down the hall to the study that I don’t often use.
I feel them follow as I open the top drawer in my desk and pull out one small size pair of black leather gloves and then three large size pairs.
“Put these on. Don’t take them off until we’re back in the car after getting him.
Don’t touch anything in Noah’s parent’s house. ”
Nox whistles as I hand him his gloves. “How long have you been planning this, Petal?” There’s a slight furrow to his bronze brow, but also admiration makes his green eyes sparkle.
“Since the judge made his ruling,” I answer, giving Ant and then Steele their gloves. I blow out a breath. “I hoped I wouldn’t need to, but…”
“It’s better to be prepared,” Steele says, and I nod, pulling my own fitted leather gloves on.
“Yes. And I was hoping you’d help me. Though I’d understand if you didn’t—”
“We will always help you, Bloom. Doesn’t matter if it’s pulling up a dead tree or kidnapping a child from piece of shit parents. We’ve got your back.” Ant is so resolute, unwavering.
My eyes sting, and I realise for the first time, I think, that I’m truly no longer alone. Not anymore.
Turning around before I can start crying, and Noah needs us to be quick, I go to a large painting on the wall. It’s actually of my mother, and I give her a smile before pulling it to the side. It swings open to reveal an equally big safe in the wall.
“Jesus, Petal. That’s some rich person spy shit,” Nox states, coming up next to me as I punch in the code. I glance at him as his eyes go wide. “Why didn’t you hide the code just then?”
I pause after the safe lock clicks. “Because I don’t have to, Nox.”
He swallows hard. “You really do trust us.”
“Of course, silly,” I reply lightly, knowing that this is big for him, and given his background, the fact that he’s not been able to trust many people, I’m not surprised at his reaction.
“Fuck me,” Ant breathes when I swing the safe door open.
On the shelves are stacks of cash, hundred dollar bills in bank bands.
Small bars of gold, plus my mother’s collection of jewellery which is worth more than this mansion.
Much more. There’s also important documentation in waterproof folders, plus another locked part to the safe. But first, I need the cash.
I grab one of the brand new duffel bags still with tags on and wrapped in plastic, ripping that and the tags off before handing the bag to Nox to hold.
He takes it, none of us speaking as I start counting bundles into the bag. “Ten thousand. Twenty thousand. Thirty…” My voice is mechanical as I fill the bag up.
“How much are we taking?” Ant asks from behind me.
“One million, one thousand. The extra thousand is to get in the door.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, Blossom,” Nox exclaims just as I finish up.
I can practically feel the fire coming from my eyes as I look up at him. “He called me sobbing and begging to come home.” I glance over my shoulder. “How much would it take for you to walk away from Justin?”
Ant reels back like I just slapped him. “Nothing.” His jaw clenches. “There’s no amount that would be enough.”
My heart twinges at that. This is why I trust them.
“Exactly,” I say, adding a contract that I had prepared and zipping the bag closed.
“But these people? They're not like us. They see Noah as property, as a check from the state, as someone to take their anger out on.
But they do understand money. So let's speak their language.”
“Okay, Flower,” Steele agrees, taking the bag from Nox. It’ll be pretty heavy with that much cash in it, but his arm hardly strains.
“Can any of you use a gun?” I ask, and they each still.
Ant nods. “We all can.”
“Good,” I reply, turning back to the safe, taking out a small key safe and punching in a different code.
It opens and I grab out the key, unlocking the part of the safe that stays locked unless you use this key.
There are a selection of handguns in here, so I grab three out, then shut the door and lock it, returning the key.
The guys’ are preloaded, which I know isn’t best practice, but they are for emergencies.
“Keep them out of sight. We may not need them, but it might help with intimidation.”
Nodding, they each take one, making sure the safety is on before tucking them in the back of the waistbands of their jeans, making sure their shirts cover them.
“When we get there, you guys need to let me do the talking, okay? You just need to stand there and look scary,” I inform them as I shut the safe and put the painting back into place.
“Yes, ma’am,” Nox teases, and a small smile flits across my lips.
“Let’s just tell Tina we’re off and then I’ll take you to the garage.” I go to step around Ant, but his tattooed fingers clasp around my wrist.
“You’re incredible, you know that?” Something warm fills my chest.
“Thank you for helping,” I whisper back, leaning up and placing a kiss on his lips.
“Always. I told you, we’ve got your back, Bloom.”
We find Tina in the kitchen, nursing a cup of tea, a Tupperware next to her and latex gloves on her hands. “Off to get little Noah?” she asks, and Ant pauses at my side but I’m not surprised that she somehow knows already.
“Yes. Not sure how long we’ll be,” I reply and she gives a solemn nod, picking up the Tupperware.
“I packed him a peanut butter and jam sandwich, some of his favourite chocolate chip cookies and a banana.” She hands me the box. “And you four were here all night, making a terrible racket upstairs.”
She gives me a wink and I pull her into a tight hug. “Thank you, Tina.”
“Just bring our boy home,” she instructs, hugging me back tightly.
“We will.” She presses a kiss to my cheek, then steps away, stopping in front of Ant.
“Well come on lad, I’m too old to climb you like this one.” She jerks her thumb in my direction and I laugh and blush while Ant bends down and she wraps her arms tightly around him. “Stay safe.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he agrees, his eyes closing briefly when his arms come around her and he squeezes back.
She releases him, then steps up to Steele, and looks up. “My goodness you are a big boy.” He chuckles and he too bends, more than Ant had to, and wraps his large arms around her. “Are you this big all over?”
“Tina!” I hiss at the same time as Steele replies, “Yes.”
She gives a dirty chuckle. “Lucky girl.”
“He’s not as big as me,” Nox declares, sweeping her into his arms as soon as Steele lets her go.
“If I was ten years younger…” she tells him with an affectionate pat on his cheek as they pull apart. “I’d give you a run for your money.”
“I’ve no doubt,” Nox replies, all of us smiling and some of the tension for what we’re about to do dissipating.
“Okay, off with you all,” she grumbles, wiping under her eyes. “Don’t get caught.”
With that, she leaves the room.