Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
NATE
What the fuck was I thinking? Spilled the words that have been locked away in the crevices of my heart only for her to shred it into pieces.
Rubbing my hand back and forth over the light stubble that has started to grow, I nurse a cold whiskey, sipping it as my eyes are locked onto my screen.
I am watching her, keeping eyes on her at all times. She's sitting, talking to her friends, margaritas are flowing, and she is smiling a wide toothy grin.
She looks happy. That's a good thing, right?
Annoyance burns at my skin, and I know sitting here wallowing is not going to help at all. Reluctantly, I click off the cameras and focus on the task at hand.
Bringing down Secure Corp.
Three attempts later and this is the furthest I have got past their wall; I am just hoping that third time is a charm and I break through it all.
Slipping my phone over, my chest rattles when I inhale heavily and click on the tracker. I needed to know where she was, needed to just keep an eye on her. You can never be too careful.
My phone vibrates with a message in the group, Kaleb thanking everyone for coming and how much it meant to him and Connie.
I reply with a thumbs up.
I am frustrated with myself. New emotions bubble close to the surface, but I am unsure on how I should be feeling and not being able to get a grasp on any of it is only making me feel worse.
My chest heaves as I inhale heavily, sucking in the oxygen to my lungs.
I should have never crossed that line.
Before, sex was just sex, but with her, sex was so much more.
I felt the connection; I knew as soon as we moulded, I was doomed. And by the way she rushed from the car, she didn't feel the same.
Anger nips at the base of my neck, hair standing for a moment before the goosebumps splinter over my skin. My computer pings and I find myself sitting tall, pushing my glasses up my nose.
“I'm in...” I whisper, glancing at the coding in front of me, “I’m fucking in,” my hand balls into a fist as I bang it on the table.
This has been ongoing for months, each time I tried something new, I only ever managed to get around the seventy percent mark, but not today, today I finally cracked it and managed to get past their iron wall security. Now, I lose myself in work, ignoring the way my heart slowly weeps inside my chest.
Hours have slipped past like seconds, and I sit back, lifting my glasses as I rub my eyes. They feel dry. My back ached and I needed to stretch. Pushing from my chair, I swirl my now empty whiskey glass in my hand and swipe my phone up and see a message from James.
James
Just checking in, all okay? We're going to grab a drink at the bar, the girls will ride back in taxi with me xo
A hint of a smile presses against my lips. Leaning across my desk, I minimise my screen and switch it out for the cameras to see her sitting there, phone slipping back into her bag. If only getting into Secure Corp was as easy as getting into the CCTV.
Happy that she is okay, I make my way to my kitchen and reach for the decanter in the cupboard, pouring a fresh glass and this time I leave out the ice.
Once in my office, I place my glass back on my desk and reach my hands up, stretching my back out and hearing a satisfying click.
“Fuck,” I moan, then crack my knuckles and pull on each finger, a small crack echoing each time.
Dragging my chair out, I settle back down and give my eyes one last sweep of the screens. She hasn't moved. Her back is to me and Brooke and Heidi are laughing. Hopefully she comes home and wants to talk about earlier, or, maybe, in future I will keep my big mouth shut.
Closing the screen, I am back onto Secure Corp, weaving through the endless coding and formulas. This is not an easy task, far from it and I am already ready to throw the towel in for the night, but I know if I do, I'll be lying in bed wide awake thinking about it. Slipping into the files, I try and see if I can find anything that can tell me where this money is going.
Not sure why I am looking on their website, but you never know, people hide things in strange places.
After spending far too long, I come up short. There is nothing here.
I tamper with the website some more, put a little encryption of my own in so I can keep tabs on any movement, but tomorrow, well, I'll dive into their bank accounts.
I've had my file on them building up for some time, James just gave me the push to not give up. She wants the money to go to the brother, if he is even alive, I just want to destroy them for the simple reason they're not very nice people.
Barnaby is linked in circles you shouldn't be linked in.
But he wears it like a badge of honour.
I know people in that scene, fuck, but there is a line you don't cross, and he crossed so much more than that.
He is a regular in the club Dust. I have tabs on him but the want to take them down even more now because James was involved, well, it became a little more addicting. The chase became fun.
Finishing off, I slip out and close the webpage. I am back on the cameras and my back straightens as I zoom in to the guy standing next to her.
Heidi and Brooke are both standing, Brooke in his face as James just tucks herself away. I zoom in a little, waiting for him to turn and that's when I recognize him.
Rune .
“Not on my fucking watch,” I growl, leaving my computer and running for the door. I swipe my keys from the hook, and I am out the door within seconds, climbing into my car and booting it away to get to her.
Reaching across for my phone, I use the mic to dictate a message.
Don't move, I’m on my way .
I hit send then scroll to find the app, holding my phone to my face, it unlocks, and I am back on the camera. Placing my phone in its holder on the dash, my eyes flick between the screen and the road.
He is still there, stepping up a little closer to Brooke and I watch as she shrinks back.
Slamming my hand into the steering wheel, anger burns beneath my skin.
“Don't give in baby, don't give in,” I murmur when he turns to face my wife.
My eyes are pinned to the screen when a horn has me panicking, steering the car away from the trunk of another and my heart jolts in my chest.
“Fuck,” my hand is running through my hair and that's when I see him grab her, dragging her from the stool and I am ready to go to fucking war.
JAMES
I type a quick message to Nate to let him know I am okay. I feel horrible, my stomach is constantly twisted, my heart skipping beats when I think back to his face when I left him in the car.
“But I can't do it if I am standing alone in the woods, Little Ember, I’ll never find my way out.”
His words echo loudly around my head, and I should have said more. Should have told him he will never be alone, should have told him that I wanted to find him so we could walk out of the dark depths of the woods together.
But I didn't.
I left him.
It took me straight back to when Rune left me and I panicked.
I shouldn’t have bolted like I did.
Nate wasn’t Rune.
They were polar opposites.
“Drink?” Brooke asks me, pulling my attention and I nod.
“Margarita please,” I lick my lips, my mouth already salivating.
She leans across the bar, and it doesn't take her long to gain the attention of the hunky barman. Brooke could have any guy she wanted, but she would never settle for less than she deserved.
“Three margaritas please,” she bats her lashes and Heidi rolls her eyes, a playful smirk on her lips.
“No problem, baby,” he gives her a slow wink and Brooke just smiles at him before turning around.
“God, I love flirting, getting their hopes up and diminishing them within seconds.”
“You're evil.”
She pouts. “Not evil, just a bit of fun,” she shrugs a shoulder up before the barman is back, sliding the three glasses forward. “Thank you handsome,” she twirls her finger in her hair before reaching into her purse for her card.
“It's on the house...” he pauses, eyes casting down before they flick back to hers, “if I can have your number.”
She looks all coy, a glint of playfulness taints her eyes before she is reaching for a napkin.
“Sure thing, pen?” her voice is a little higher as he passes her what she asked for before she jots down a number, writes her name as Juniper and fake numbers him but not before signing it off with a heart. “There we go baby,” she slips it across the bar and he looks like he has won gold as he slips it into his pocket and goes about his day.
“Whose number was that?” I lean in, whispering, worried he will hear me.
“Hugo's,” she says blasé, waving her hand in front of her before she passes out the drinks.
Hugo is her ex, massive asswipe, chauvinistic pig who made her hate herself for a while.
But it's all good.
Because now Mr Hunky was going to be dropping him calls and messages, and hopefully, an unsolicited dick pic.
“So, are you okay? How's married life?” Heidi asks me, bringing her glass to her lips and taking a mouthful. Brooke eyes her, letting them fall to her lips before her attention is on me.
“Married life is good,” I nod, taking my own sip and licking my lips. “I struck gold with Nate,” I'm not lying, I really did.
“He seems like a good man,” Heidi lets her head fall to the side slightly, a smile gracing her lips, “and after everything with Rune, well, you deserve happiness James,” she reaches across and places her hand on my knee, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Thank you,” I whisper, the words on the tip of my tongue to tell them everything but I know as soon as I do, I void the contract, Nate won't take down Secure Corp and I’ll be out with no money and nowhere to go.
I needed to keep tight lipped until the job was done.
“Maldives, are you packed yet?” Brooke raises a brow, and I drop my head forward.
“That's a no,” Heidi laughs and shuffles in her seat.
I'm surprised the manager hasn't come over and asked us to move the chairs back, we just kind of moved them out. I'm sitting looking down the bar, and Brooke and Heidi are facing me, sitting inches apart.
“I know, I know,” I place my drink on the bar top and let my head drop into my hands. “But it'll be fine,” I say into my palms, “I’ll just pack when I am home. Grab another round and then head off?”
They both nod and Brooke circles her finger to her little friend behind the bar who winks and blows her a kiss in response.
“He is going to be so disappointed,” I murmur into my drink before taking a sip.
“He'll get over it,” she smirks and the three of us burst into laughter. “Oh my God,” her facial expression changes, a little shocked maybe?
“What?”
“I haven't told you about the investor,” she holds her hand up and places her own drink back on the bar.
“They cancelled, right?”
She nods. “But I got an email late last night, they've moved it to next week, back at the club. They're really interested.”
“This is amazing, I am so glad they rebooked,” I hold my glass out.
“Hey, let's not get ahead of ourselves,” Brooke laughs.
“You're going to smash it, love,” Heidi beams at Brooke as she pushes her own glass into the middle.
“Oh, fuck it, I am going to smash it,” and we clink glasses, a little cheer echoing between us.
We're lost in easy conversation, and we may have ordered just one more round of drinks when I see the way Brooke's face falls.
My brows pinch and then Heidi's eyes cast behind me.
“What's wrong?” and as soon as the question slips off my lips, I hear his voice.
“Well, hello you,” and my blood runs cold.
“Rune?” Turning, my eyes widen as they sweep across him.
Dark hair, strong jaw, killer green eyes.
“I've been looking for you,” he steps towards me, his eyes bouncing between me and the girls as he folds his hands into his pocket. He is dressed in a black long-sleeved tee, gray cargos and smart sneakers.
“Why?” I scrunch my nose up as pull my eyes from him and focus on my lap.
“Because I wanted to...” he trails off, but I don't miss the sarcasm that laces his voice as he answers my question, talking down to me as if I didn't understand what he said.
“We're broken up,” I finally allow myself to look at him, blinking as a smirk tugs at his lips.
“I know, but we broke up all the time, it never lasts.”
“Well, it's over now,” I shrug my shoulders up and keep my eyes on Brooke's. My heart is racing in my chest, but I am not about to let him know that.
“It's over when I say it's over,” he moves closer to me but that has Brooke standing from her stool, pressing toe to toe with him.
She isn't afraid of him; she isn't afraid of anyone.
Would never let anyone walk all over her.
“I suggest you back the fuck down, bitch ,” he snarls, baring his teeth.
Heidi is beside me, trying to shield me from him.
“Who do you think you're talking to?” she stands a little taller, chest pushed out, but she has nothing on him.
“Don't push me Brooke, I never liked you then... I definitely don't like you now.”
She laughs. “Like that is supposed to upset me, Rune? I couldn't give a shit; I was not put on this earth for you to like me. You're nothing to me, a minuscule part of my existence. That's me being kind, dickhead, because in reality you don't even exist in my world.”
He tosses his head to the side, a cocky smile gracing his face, his hand rubbing against his lips.
“I suggest you back the fuck down,” he lurches forward as if he is going to head butt her which has her retracting back towards the bar.
My eyes widen and fear pricks at the base of my neck as he turns to face me.
“Where were we?” he cocks his head to the side and I tuck in behind Heidi who is trying to get the attention of the bartender, but Rune curls his hand around the top of my arm, dragging me off my stool and I lose my footing, twisting my ankle but he stops me from falling.
“Get off me,” I beg, voice trembling as I try and tug my arm from his grip but that only makes his fingers dig in tighter.
“I don't think so, it's time for you to stop playing silly games and come home with me,” he drags me towards him, and I feel Heidi's hand curl around my wrist, pulling me back.
“Let. Her. Go.” He snarls through gritted teeth.
“No,” Heidi shakes her head and I look over my shoulder at Brooke who is talking to the bartender, and he is instantly walking towards us.
“I swear it Heidi, let her fucking go,” he tugs at me, ripping my wrist from her fingertips and dragging me forward.
“James!” Heidi fumbles trying to grab everything from the stool as she clambers behind, Brooke beside her.
“You think I am going to just let you run, James?” he stops as he pulls me in front of him. “This,” his finger moves between our bodies, “we're meant to be, now are you going to be a good little girl and come willingly or am I going to have to drag you out of here kicking and screaming?”
My heart is jack hammering in my chest, eyes volleying and I am terrified of what is about to happen. I swallow, my throat thickening as a lump lodges itself there and I couldn't even squeeze the words past it if I wanted to. No matter how hard I tried, the words wouldn't leave.
My eyes lift over his shoulder as I look at Heidi and Brooke, trying to not react to Brooke standing there with a heel in her hand ready to smack it into the back of his head as soon as he moves.
“That's the right option, baby ,” and he steps forward, dragging me with him when I see Nate burst through the door of the restaurant.
“Get your fucking hands off my wife .”
Rune stops in his tracks, pulling me in front of him.
My eyes move to Nate then to Rune.
Rune stands a little shell shocked, a stupid look on his face as he studies Nate, his head tilting as if he knows him but he is unsure where or how they've crossed paths.
“Sorry?” Rune seems to come back around, holding his hand to the back of his ear as if he never heard what Nate said.
I watch Nate's nostrils flare, eyes bugging from his head as they lock on Rune, his jaw is wound tight.
“I said,” he steps forward, now standing toe to toe with Rune and there isn't much between them in height, “get your fucking hands off my wife .” His voice is slow but full of venom.
Rune laughs, head tilting back and I watch as Nate's fists ball at his side before he gives me a quick once over until Rune is back staring at Nate.
“You must be mistaken, James is mine . We've been together for years, she just thought she would try and run from me, but it's fine because I have caught up with her now and I'm taking her back home.”
“Not mistaken, at all,” Nate reaches forward and delicately wraps his fingers around my left wrist, lifting it to show him the ring that is looped around my finger, “and just a polite warning, if there is a single, fucking mark on my wife's skin, I will rip you limb from fucking limb.”
Brooke woops from behind us and Rune snaps his head around, some weird growl vibrating in his throat.
“Now, I’m going to ask nicely,” Nate's eyes are with mine again, “let her go.”
Rune opens his mouth but closes it again before shaking his head from side to side.
“How can she be your wife, we broke up mere weeks ago.”
“I move fast, I knew what a precious find she was, like a rare diamond, something so valued shouldn't be tossed aside like trash... it should be worshipped, loved, kept.” Nate licks his lips. “You tossed her out, you left it weeks to find her... but she has been with me since she ran. That my man...” he slices his eyes to me, “was a huge, fucking, mistake.”
Rune scoffs. “What's so precious about her?” he goads Nate, and I try and pull my wrist from his grip when I feel it loosen, but that only makes him tighten his fingers around mine, locking me to him.
“If you even have to ask that question then you never really knew her... never really appreciated her.”
A roll of the eyes gets Nate agitated.
“You're old enough to be her dad,” and he tries to laugh it off but no one joins him which makes him look like a fool.
“She needed an older man,” now it was Nate's turn to goad him. “She was tired of being fucked by a boy... I had to show her just what it was like to be fucked right.”
That gets Rune dropping my wrist in an instant, Brooke lurches forward grabbing me and dragging me away and I watch as Rune throws himself forward, followed by his closed fist, but Nate ducks it before standing and lands one on Rune’s nose, busting it. His hands flying up to cup his now bleeding nose.
Nate shakes his fist out before rushing to me, hands clasped around my face, the faint hint of whiskey on his warm breath as he looks my face all over.
“Did he hurt you?” and I shake my head, my eyes filling with unshed tears. “It's okay, it’s okay,” Nate pulls me into an embrace and I shake in his arms, sobbing silently into his chest.
I can hear a commotion, but I dare not lift my head. Brooke's voice is there, Heidi's too, as well as the bartender’s.
“I will fucking get you James, and your old cunt of a husband has got it coming too. Sleep with one eye open old man, you've just put a target on your back!” he screams. “You have no fucking idea who you have messed with,” and I feel Nate stiffen, a snort of hot air on my head as I am being twisted into Heidi's arms.
“And neither do you! You put your own fucking target on your head Rune, I will fucking destroy you!”
I lift out of Heidi's embrace to look at Rune, his eyes softening for a moment before widening on Nate's threat.
“Yeah, you heard me right. I am going to rip you to shreds, destroying everything that is associated with you...” Nate steps forward, Rune restrained by the security guards. “What was it you said?” Nate antagonises him, now standing toe to toe with him. “Oh, that's right,” Nate smiles and it sends a chill up my spine, it's vicious, twisted even. “You have no fucking idea who you have messed with.”
Rune spits, landing it on Nate's face but all he does is chuckle as he wipes from his cheek with his fingers before slapping the hand across his face.
“Do you know who my dad is?”
Nate's laugh deepens, shoulders lifting and falling.
“Yeah, I do...” he turns and looks over my shoulder before they're back on Rune. “Barnaby fucking Atthill.” And the color drains from Rune's face. “I know a lot about you Rune, so fuck off and never come near my wife again, do you understand me?”
He nods. “You're lucky you still have your hands, if I catch you touching her again, even if it's just a fingertip, I'll chop them both off and send them to your dad with a pretty fucking ribbon wrapped around your severed wrists.” Nate is close to him, his nose touching Rune’s. “Do you understand me?”
He whimpers and nods again.
“Good, now fuck off,” Nate shoves at his chest and security drag him outside to the kerb. Nate seeks me out in an instant and I run into his arms, throwing my arms around his neck and I feel his body stiffen like stone.
“I'm sorry,” I try and pull away, but his hands lock behind my back.
“Don't be,” he whispers, his lips dusting over mine and I smile at him as he pulls me back into him, holding me tightly against him. I wait for his body to sag in relief, but it doesn't. He is still rigid, cold like steel, but he doesn't let me go and I know this must be killing him inside, his mind screaming at him, his body no doubt burning at my touch. But I think he needs this more than I do.
“I...” my cheek pressed to his, my lips next to his ear. My throat swells and I swallow. “I, I mean... I...”
“I know baby,” he whispers against my shoulder, a soft kiss pressing against my skin.
“Take me home,” my voice trembling.
“Anything you want,” he kisses me again before his hands unlock from behind me.
I look up at him, staring as if he is my whole world with stars in my eyes, as I pick out every feature on his face.
The small scar that sits to the left just above his lip, the small creases that run from his nostrils to the corner of his lips, the small dimple that presents itself only on the right side when he smiles, a very light dusting of freckles across his skin and my heart pounds in my ears. There is something so familiar with him, with how he makes me feel, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
“Girls,” he breaks my gaze as he looks over my shoulder at Brooke and Heidi, “let’s go,” he nods his head back and they rush to my side, our arms linked as we follow him out and onto the sidewalk.
He saved me.