Chapter 33
THIRTY-THREE
Cressida
Noah drives as fast as possible, and I’m thankful for that. He’s been fuming the whole way, and hasn’t said a word to me.
When I arrived at his school and was told Oliver wasn’t there, I called Noah, thinking he had him.
I was wrong.
I panicked.
This is a mother’s worst fear.
I searched the school, screaming his name.
The police were called and asked us to come down to report the case.
And then Soren called when we were out searching again.
My hands haven’t stopped shaking since I learned Oliver was missing.
Soren’s car is parked out front of a house, and before Noah even stops the car, I’m already running through the overgrown lawn and straight to the front door. Rushing inside, I find Oliver sitting on the floor with Soren, laughing at something he said.
Oliver turns, and his eyes find mine. “Mom!” he yells and jumps up to hug me. Bending down, I squeeze his little body tightly until I hear footsteps behind me.
“Hey, buddy, you had us worried,” Noah says with false calm, and Oliver goes to him and wraps his little arms around Noah’s waist.
Soren stands, brushing the dirt from his trousers. I can’t help it when my eyes narrow at him. “Noah, please take Oliver to the car. I need to speak with Soren alone.”
Noah glances at Soren with a nod, then says, “Thanks for finding him,” and walks out with his arm around Oliver’s shoulders.
Taking a steadying breath, I turn my attention back to Soren. “Where is she?” I ask, my hands balled at my sides.
He jerks a thumb over his shoulder, indicating another room. I storm past him and into the kitchen, where I find Maya leaning over the counter, playing on her phone as if nothing has happened. She raises her head when she hears me enter. There is no remorse evident in her eyes at all.
“Don’t look so mad. You got him back,” she says and almost laughs, like this was all some big joke.
I sense Soren behind me, but I can’t think straight.
Anger is the only thing that’s fueling me right now.
So, I bend down to remove one of my high heels, and then I move so quickly that she doesn’t have time to react before I slam the heel down straight into her hand.
Her screams rip through the air, and I lean in close.
“I should do worse, but my son is in the car. If I see you again, especially around my child, there will be no stopping me.” I slip the heel back on my foot and turn around to find both Noah and Soren watching me.
“We need to go,” I tell Noah.
Soren doesn’t say a word as I walk past him, brushing shoulders as I leave him there with his sobbing psycho of a sister.
Bitch deserved what she got and more.
“You’re kind of a badass,” Noah says with a laugh.
“I’ll do anything to protect our son,” I tell him.
“We know,” he says as we approach the car where Oliver is waiting for us. “Soren stopped me from stepping in and keeping you from hurting her. He said, ‘Let her,” so I stood there as you smashed her hand.”
I take in his words.
Soren let me hurt his sister.
The one person who is everything to him.
I climb into the back seat with Oliver, and I don’t look back as we drive off.
Soren doesn’t come into work the following week, and I don’t hear from him or see him at all.
The following Monday, he arrives and heads straight into his office, not speaking one word to me. Not that I expected him to, but part of me hoped he would at least acknowledge me, considering the reason I was in that situation in the first place was because of him and his crazy-ass sister.
“Miss Knight, Mr. Nixon is asking for a meeting with you.”
“Thank you, Layla.” I head to his office, and he looks up as I enter.
“Shut the door, please,” he says.
I do, and when I turn around, he’s watching me warily. I take a seat and wait for him to tell me what this meeting is about.
“You’ve requested time off,” he states.
“I did.”
“It’s approved. You can leave now.” He just stares at me after making that announcement and says nothing more. So, I stand, unsure of what’s happening. I go to the door, and as I grip the handle, I glance back at him.
His gaze is still locked on me.
“Where is your sister?” I ask.
“In the hospital,” he tells me.
I want to ask if everything is okay, but I don’t because I don’t care about her at all.
Fuck her!
Though I can’t deny his appearance clearly indicates he’s fighting his own demons: his hair is unkempt, as if he has been running his hands through it too many times, and he has dark circles under his eyes.
Nodding once, I open the door and walk out.
Layla eyes me curiously but doesn’t say anything.
I thought I would miss my old job, but it turns out I really enjoy what I’m doing here. When I don’t have Oliver, I’m usually the first to arrive and the last to leave. Today, though, I have to leave early because I’m picking up Oliver, and I promised to take him for ice cream.
He’s mentioned Soren a few times. He said he likes him.
I’ve brushed it off every time because I didn’t expect them to meet the way they did, and that Oliver would take to Soren the way he has.
Thankfully, Oliver doesn’t understand what has been happening because the crazy-ass bitch didn’t tell him anything. Thank fuck for small mercies at least.
I collect my things, and on my way out, I glance into Soren’s office. He’s sitting at his desk, his head in his hands, looking like he’s contemplating life. A part of me wants to go in there and check if he’s okay. All the other parts know better, and they keep my feet moving toward the exit.
If he really cared, he would have called me by now. But I don’t think he does. It was all because I was a woman who was there and available.
The next few days pass quickly, and when I pick Oliver up from school on Wednesday, like always, he tells me all about his day.
I smile at him, and once again, like always, I wonder how I got so lucky when it comes to my son.
I briefly considered having more children, but soon concluded one was enough for me.
Noah always wanted more kids, and I guess he can do that now with his new fiancée.
They sent me an invitation to their wedding.
I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to go, even if I still get along with him and his family.
It’s a new beginning for him, and I don’t want to be there to taint it with old memories of us.
We will always remain connected because of Oliver, but I don’t think we should go any further than that.
When we arrive back at my place, Noah is already waiting for us. We agreed that he could have him tonight since I plan on leaving on Saturday to spend a week at my family’s house.
“Hey, buddy,” Noah says, patting Oliver’s shoulder. “Go get your things.” Oliver runs inside, and I turn to face Noah as we wait.
“I got the wedding invite. I won’t be there, Noah.”
“I figured as much, but I thought I would ask.” I nod as I glance at the door. “Bet your family is excited,” I say, turning back to him with a small smile.
“They are. They already have it all planned out.” He chuckles. “Be prepared for Oliver to come back a horse rider.”
I laugh.
“Oh, yes, I remember when they tried to get me on a horse. Didn’t end well.”
“Well, lucky for you, Oliver has more coordination.” He clears his throat, then asks, “Have you spoken to him?”
“Who?”
“Soren.”
“Not since the other day when he approved my leave.” He nods and tucks his hands into his pockets.
“He’s a very peculiar man,” he notes.
“He is,” I agree.
“Have you heard anything more about his sister?”
“Only that she’s in the hospital, which is less than she deserves.”
I smile as Oliver runs out, carrying his backpack. I lean down and kiss his cheek. “Have the best time. I’ll see you tomorrow. We’ll go on a plane to see the family.” He loves flying but doesn’t get to do it often.
“I can’t wait. Love you, Mom. Bye.” I wave as I watch them drive away.
Going back inside, I see a notification on my phone for a fight tonight. I signed up for these notifications when I was first investigating Soren, but I only requested to be notified when he was fighting.
I quickly change out of my work clothes, opting for a pair of jeans, a loose top, and some flats. I keep my hair up in its high bun and don’t bother touching up my makeup. I’m already running late, so I grab my bag and run out the door.
He seems to be avoiding me, and I want to see him.
I have no intention of talking to him, though.
What his sister did was so wrong, and I hate that small part of me that still blames him, even in the slightest. I enjoy watching him fight.
I’ve only been to a few of his fights, and they’re actually fucking hot to witness.
The ride to the old warehouse doesn’t take too long, and I’m soon climbing out of the Uber and heading inside. There’s already a fight going on as I push my way through the crowd, but it’s not Soren in the ring.
The announcer yells, “Knockout!” and I know the next fight will start soon.
I take a spot in the middle of the crowd, close enough to see but hopefully not close enough for Soren to notice me. The crowd starts to cheer, and I know he’s heading out for his turn in the ring.
When I catch a glimpse of him, I note his head is tilted down as he slowly strides to the middle of the ring. His opponent watches him with a little bit of caution. I don’t blame him. Soren’s hands are fucking lethal.
The bell rings, and the fight starts, but it’s not like the other times I’ve seen Soren fight. Something is different. It’s as if he doesn’t want to be here, which is weird because this is his happy place.
The sound of a fist meeting flesh echoes through the crowd, and everyone gasps loudly. Hands meeting face, in the most brutal way possible.
Another punch.
This one to his stomach.
Soren is standing there, letting himself get pummeled. He doesn’t move, just takes hit after hit. The other fighter stares at Soren in confusion, because usually Soren’s opponents would be on the ground by now. But here he is, still standing, and taking it all.
“Soren!” I scream, pushing through the thickening crowd, every second stretching tight with panic.
My eyes lock onto him just a few feet away, unaware.
When I’m closer to the ring, I scream his name again, until my own ears are ringing.
His head snaps toward me, sharp and alert.
For a brief moment, it feels like he might catch the danger.
And then a sudden, brutal blow strikes his temple.
He crumples instantly, the world tilting as he hits the ground.