The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone (29 page)

He leaned over and gave me a tender kiss. “Sleep well, Angel. I’ve just got a few e-mails to send then I’m done.” I nodded and turned the lamp off.

Just as I was dropping off I felt Nate shift in bed and start rummaging around. Opening my eyes and glancing at him I could see him fetching the bedroom chair and placing it near the wardrobe, he stepped onto it.

He was completely naked and my insides flamed, his glorious arse perfectly on display in the glow from his laptop. “What are you doing, Nate?” I questioned but he didn’t answer me.

He reached on top of the wardrobe, took hold of something and studied it.

“
HOLY FUCK!”
he sucked in a huge breath that made me bolt upright.

“What?”

He stared at me, his eyes wide. “
Holy Fuck!”
he repeated as I clambered out of bed, now panicking.

“What?”

He flicked a switch that was located on the side of it and the little red light that was lit went out. He held out a little black box to show me. “What is it?” I asked, frowning deeply.

He sat on the edge of the bed; his face contorted in rage and thought. “For fucks sake, Nate, Will you tell me what it is?”

He slowly raised his gaze to mine. “It’s a camera, Liv.”

“WHAT?”

I sat down next to him, and blew out a breath. “The fucking dirty bastard has been watching you undress, watching us make love.” He was livid, the white rage in his eyes made them radiate, the firmness of his jaw and tightness of his lips making him look sinister.

He snatched his phone from the bedside table and tapped in a few numbers. “Bill, Nathan Carter. I need you to call to Miss Adams house and collect something I need investigating.” He paused. “Yes, it’s a portable camera of some sort. I need a technical spec on it and see if you can trace where the signal is being sent to.” He was pacing the floor, beautifully naked and lean. His power took my breath away and I knew in that moment that Nate would protect me with everything he had. “Okay, Thank you, I’ll see you in thirty.” He ended the call and slung his phone on the bed.

“He is really fucking me off now,” he ground out, then taking a look at my pale face he dropped to his knees in front of me. “Baby. I need you to not mention the camera to the police; I need to deal with it myself. Okay?”

I frowned at him. “But won’t the police be better equipped to investigate it, Nate?”

He shook his head. “No, I have a few connections. I need to ask you a serious question now and I don’t want you to freak out at me, Okay?” Curious, I nodded slightly. “Baby, I need to know how far you . . . how far you want me to go.” I wrinkled my brow, confused and he tried again. “I have connections, Liv; I can take this all the way. I can take him down, baby,” he added in an undertone.

I nodded slowly, suddenly realising what he was saying. “Is that a, yes I understand or a, yes do it?” He needed to be sure before he gave the order.

I didn’t hesitate, not for one second. I thought of all the years he had tortured me, all the years he had hurt the kids, every ugly thing he had ever done; all the fear he had instilled in me, all the rapes, punches, kicks and misery he gave to me and all the times that had me feeling useless, ashamed and degraded.

I nodded slowly. “Do it,” I whispered.

He sucked in a breath, lifting my chin to lock his gaze with mine while he analysed my eyes. “Are you absolutely sure Liv, you need to be 100% positive on this? There’s no going back.”

I nodded again, more firmly and positively. “110% Nate.”

He nodded and brushed my cheeks lightly with the back of his knuckles. “You get some rest now. I’ll deal with Bill then be back okay?” he told me as he lifted my legs and laid them on the bed, kissing me tenderly on the forehead as he pulled the duvet up.

He slipped on his jeans and t-shirt and turned off the lamp. “I love you, Angel,” he whispered against my head and I grabbed his hand.

“Nate . . .”

He ran his thumb over my knuckles. “What?” he asked softly and I sighed lightly.

“Just . . . just . . . Thank you.” It was all I could manage but it said it all and he understood it all.

“I know, baby. It will soon be over, I promise you.”

I nodded as my eyes closed with exhaustion and weariness. I heard him softly shut the door and walk down the stairs already talking on his phone. “Mason, Nate Carter, I need . . .”

* * *

The next morning the sun was scorching, the birds were singing their usual morning tune and Nate was very, very excited. “Liv, come on.” He was trying his hardest to wake me but my body was telling him to bugger off. “Liv!”

I grumbled and rolled over, squeezing my eyes shut tighter. “Will you quit!” I slurred.

“Baby, come on. Are you always like this in a morning?” he asked on a huff.

“Only when there’s a too happy man trying to get me
out
of bed instead of
into
bed.” I waggled my eyebrows at him and grinned even though my eyes were still shut tight.

His hand slid under the duvet, slowly up my leg, his fingers inching their way up my bare skin. I smiled to myself, my arousal already lighting up and turned on my back so he could get better access as his fingers slid higher and higher; straight past my crotch and up to my ribs as he began to torture me, digging in and tickling me.

“Nate!” I screamed and shot up.

He grinned. “Now you’re up.” I snatched my pillow and threw it at him as he shot across to the doorway. “Coffee is ready, Beautiful,” he shouted as I heard him bound down the stairs.

Grumbling under my breath when I saw it was only 6:10am, I crossed the landing to the bathroom and after showering and dressing in my favourite short pale blue summer dress I was joining him in the kitchen with a mighty scowl.

He cocked his head and grinned. “Ooh dear!” he chuckled as he handed me a mug of much needed hot coffee and I scowled even harder.

“I. Don’t. Like. Mornings,” I told him severely.

“I may have noticed that, Angel,” He said grimly and then grinned again.

“Will you stop bloody smiling?”

Taking a sip of my coffee I saw his grin grow wider. He turned to look out of the window to hide it. I looked at him over my eyelids, taking another sip of my coffee. “I take it you’re excited to meet Jay.”

Even with his back to me I could still feel the intensity of his grin. “Yeah,” he said simply, trying to hide his excitement as well as his nervousness.

I walked over to him and snuggled into him from behind, resting my cheek on his back. “Jay has waited his whole life years for this too, Nate. I’m absolutely sure he’s just as much excited, nervous, happy and scared as you are, babe. But Nate, he is so much like you that I know you’re gonna get on brilliantly. Just take the day as it comes and be yourself, okay?”

He turned into me and embraced me. “Thank you,” he said quietly.

I smiled up to him, “Come on, let’s get going and you can treat me to breakfast on the way up.”

I went to the pantry and pulled out a box of food, laundry cleaners and a huge pack of toilet rolls. Nate stared at me. “Liv, what are you doing?” he asked, his face full of puzzlement.

I shrugged. “Nate, can’t you remember being at uni? How you’re always bloody skint. I always restock for him when I visit.”

His eyes widened and he looked sheepish. I knew straight away he was feeling guilty. “Don’t you dare,” I said pointing at him but he looked away. “Nate, It’s not the university experience if you’re not skint.”

He smiled and nodded his head a little. “But I have more money that I know what to do with and my bloody son is scrounging about for food. I mean, what the hell?” he shrugged and his face said it all.

“He doesn’t want your bloody money, Nate. He wants his Dad.” I was annoyed now. “Not everything is about money!” He looked at me and raised his eyebrows. “Okay, Okay, I’m a tad grumpy this morning.” I was the one smiling sheepishly now.

Pulling me into his arms and kissing my head, he chuckled. “Really?”

I swat his behind and chuckled with him but then I looked up at him seriously “But Nate, please don’t offer him some money today, not today. Today is about you two getting to know one another, not money.”

He nodded and smiled. “Come on Baby, let’s go meet my son.” He grinned again and picked up the box. “I hope Virgil’s arse is big enough for this lot.”

We arrived at Jay’s half an hour earlier than planned in Nate’s eagerness to get there. As we pulled up Jay was kissing goodbye to a tall brunette on the doorstep. He didn’t pull away from her, just carried on.

Nate started laughing as we watched them before exiting the car. “I told you he was just like his Dad.” I grinned.

Climbing from the car, I went to the boot to retrieve the necessities we had brought him and still, he continued to kiss her.

I stood at the side of them. “Let me in Jay, these are heavy.”

He pushed his ‘girlfriend’ to the wall to let me past but didn’t pull away from her. “Will you put her down!” I exclaimed and smiled at her when she ended the kiss. “Ah ha. You have a very pretty smile, now I can see it.”

She grinned sheepishly as I handed the box to Jay and held her hand out. “Lovely to meet you Mrs Thomas, I’m Jessica, Jay’s . . . friend.”

I raised my brows at her and took her hand. “Pleased to meet you too ‘Jessica, Jay’s friend,’ please call me Liv.” I gestured to Nate. “And this is Nate, Jay’s Dad.”

He grinned at her and took her hand. “Hi,” was all he said, but he gave her a once over look and seemed proud that his son could pull a good-looking girl.

She smiled at Nate then turned and kissed Jay on the cheek. “See you later.”

He pulled her hand and gave her a big kiss on the lips. “See you tonight, baby.”

He was so much like his Father. I rolled my eyes and looked at Nate. He raised his eyebrows at me in a ‘What?’ expression but he knew exactly what I was referring to.

We walked in the house and into the kitchen, putting the kettle on I turned to Jay. “She seems nice.” I smiled.

He shrugged. “She’s just a friend I get together with now and again.”

Shaking my head at him, I opened the fridge. “Mmm. Where’s the milk?” I scowled at him. He gave me a blank look. “For God’s sake Jay, you knew we were coming!”

“I’ve been busy, Mum,” he stated with a playful grin.

“It looks like it,” I scoffed, giving him an ‘unbelievable’ look. He grinned again then turned to Nate.

“Hey,” he greeted him with a soft smile and a deep breath. “Finally.” He walked to take Nate’s hand. Nate stood silent regarding Jay and then put his hand out to shake but changed his mind and pulled him into an embrace. It was a moment I had been waiting to see for nineteen very long years. I turned back to the kettle, tears glistening on my eyelashes and continued to make the black coffees.

We spent the next few hours chatting and catching up. Nate had taken a sneaky look around Jay’s shared house, excusing himself to use the bathroom but I knew exactly what he thought of his son living in a tired, run down terraced house.

It was heart-warming to see how easily and comfortably they had got on, both with the same sense of humour, interest in all things business and technology and of course, females.

I started to clean the kitchen and put the things we had brought in the cupboards when it came to the subject of what Jay looked for in a woman, secretly pleased he now had his Dad to talk to about them.

Nate and I were preparing to leave and I hugged Jay and slipped him £50, which Nate caught and gave me a glare. “I’m allowed,” I whispered and winked as Jay pulled his Dad into a man hug.

Pulling away Jay walked over to the kitchen side and retrieved an envelope then handed it to Nate. “Read it in private,” he smiled gently, a slight mist in his eyes.

Nate nodded and embraced him again as we said our goodbye’s on the doorstep.

Approaching the car Jay grabbed my hand and pulled me back, leaning into my ear to place a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you. God, so much,” he whispered hoarsely and I saw the unshed tears in his eyes.

I nodded and cupped his cheek. “No, thank you Jay,” I whispered as a tear fell from my eye, he wiped it away with his thumb and winked.

“See you soon. Love you, Mum,” he said and then turned to Nate, “You too, Dad.” The simplicity and easiness it was said with took my breath away.

Nate inhaled deeply and gave him a gentle nod and smile from his place beside Virgil. “And you, Jay.”

As we pulled away down the street Nate grabbed my hand and we drove home, Nate still gripping my hand tightly all the way.

Chapter Twenty-Three

WE PULLED UP outside my house behind a bright red Mini convertible and I looked around a bit curious. With everything that had been happening I was dubious about strange cars.

Nate climbed out with a grin on his face and came round to open my door, as he usually did.

As I passed the car I gave it a quick glance and noticed some writing over the rear wheel arch. I stopped dead in my tracks. The silver embossed lettering was in a beautiful scroll style.

Betty
II

I spun round on the spot to stare at Nate. He was grinning widely and gave me a wink. “Is this what I think it is?” I frowned at him. I saw his grin slip a little when he took in my expression.

“Uhh, I’m not sure now looking at your face,” he grimaced.

“Nate?”

He shrugged and pinched my chin. “You need a new car and I wanted to buy you one, simple.”

My mouth dropped open and my eyes were huge “Simple? Nate nothing’s ever simple with you. You didn’t need to buy me a car; the insurance would have covered it.”

He walked up the path towards the front door and unlocked it, picking up an envelope off the doormat. Opening it, he tipped the keys out and gave them to me. “Baby, you would have been lucky to get fifty quid for it.”

I shook my head at him. “But however much I would have got, it’s not your responsibility to buy me a car, especially a brand new one!”

I couldn’t understand him sometimes, I thought he’d understood that I was an independent person and I wanted to stay that way, whether we were in a relationship or not. It just felt wrong taking gifts from him constantly, especially one that cost more than £30,000.