He turned back to face me and as his legs gave way, he gripped on to the doorframe, the relieved sob gutting him as he sank to the floor.
A nurse and a doctor rushed into the room as Jay came in and lifted Nate and walked him over to a chair in the corner.
Things happened rapidly then; torches in my eyes, needles in my arms and just about every crevice tested by something or prodded by something.
The tube was taken from my throat and I was offered a sip of water as Nate held a straw to my lips, gently encouraging me to take small sips.
I could see Beth, my mother and the kids through the window of the room, all of their faces ashen and exhausted.
The doctor smiled down at me as I closed my eyes again, the calm taking me from the hectic pace of the intrusions and hubbub in the room.
I woke a while later to see Nate staring through the window, his back turned to me as his hands raked through his hair.
“Nate” I managed to croak and he spun round, a grin on his face as he came and took my hand in his and cupped my cheek with his other.
“Baby” he breathed. “How are you feeling?”
I frowned and assessed my body. My throat was still sore and my stomach was still painful but other than that it was bearable “I’m okay. Did... did he…?”
I swallowed harshly.
“Shush Baby, everything’s okay now. He’s gone, Angel” his thumb stroked my cheek and I frowned deeper. “Liv, DC Yale shot him. She said you speed dialled her but she went to your house first, that’s why it took her so long to get to us. As soon as James shot you she fired at him, killed him straight out.”
He let out a small laugh, “Do you know what she did after? She kicked him, really booted him. She said she’d wanted to do that for so long.”
He smiled softly “It’s over, baby.”
I wasn’t sure how I felt as the mixed emotions clashed together; relief, pain, sadness but the most intense was calm, an overwhelming serenity that ripped the cries and howls from me; tears of relief and a sensation of release and liberation.
He climbed on the bed behind me and cradled me, rocking me gently as I wept and screamed.
He held me tight as he cried with me, as we finally put James to rest, closing a chapter of my life that could no longer bear down on me, no longer torture and hound me, as a new chapter began.
One that had took us over twenty years to finally arrive at but one I knew without a shadow of a doubt would be the best chapter yet.
EPILOGUE
It tickled; an intense prickle on the new scar across my stomach and I wriggled but it was persistent, the itch pulling me out of my sleepy daze.
Groaning I moved my hand down to it but was met with a head full of curls.
Smiling widely I curled my fingers around the softness and silkiness of his hair. “Good Morning, babe” I said as I opened my eyes and took in the beautiful sight of my husband, my other half.
“Merry Christmas, Mrs Carter” he grinned as he looked up at me through his long lashes.
His tongue swept over my wound then kissed it gently. “Do you know? I always look at this scar as though it’s my lifeline. The scar that saved my life.”
He looked sad and I pulled him up to me, cupping his face in my hands and resting my lips against his, tenderly kissing his beautiful mouth.
“Hey, Mr Carter, no sadness today it’s Christmas and the start of our honeymoon.”
We had wed yesterday, Christmas Eve, in a little chapel surrounded by our family and friends.
The day had been perfect and crisp white snow had greeted us as we woke. The pure freshness of it simulating the new life we were beginning that day, and the bright sunlight reflecting the light in all of us.
His thumb stroked my cheek “I love you Liv, so damn much.”
My heart flipped at his words, even now they still made me giddy, “And you Nate, you own my heart.”
He smiled and then jumped up from the bed, pulling on my hand. “Come on, Santa’s been” he grinned like a big child and continued to pull me.
“Okay, okay, I’m up” I laughed as I rose from the bed.
He growled as he took in my naked form, his eyes darkening and his breathing heavy as a lazy grin lifted his lips and he sauntered back over to me, gently pushing me back down onto the bed.
“Santa can wait” he breathed as he crawled over me, his hands resting at either side of my head as his erection pressed into my stomach.
“I’m sure Santa won’t mind” I grinned back as his lips lowered to mine.
Christmas day passed in a whir of family and laughter. It was Nate’s proper first family Christmas since he was young.
His parents had never bothered to contact him after he moved to Edinburgh, and he’d had no other family to share the season with and he had always spent the day working.
It had broken my heart when he had told me and I was adamant we would have a happy, fun day as a family and it had been just that, a day filled with new memories and photos for the wall frieze.
After we had made love that night we were laid in each other’s arms, both of us lost in our own minds.
I lifted my chin to gaze at him, and gently stroked his cheek, “I have another gift for you.”
I smiled and he frowned as I swung my feet out of bed and walked over to the wardrobe, retrieving a small gift bag.
Climbing back on the bed, I passed it him as his eyes took in my grin, and as he pulled apart the tissue paper I heard him gasp.
He swallowed hard and I could actually see his heart pumping in his chest as he pulled out the long plastic item.
A huge grin emerged on his face as he stroked over the thin blue line on the pregnancy test.
“Liv?” he stammered and I couldn’t contain the chuckle as I nodded “Happy Christmas, Daddy.”
A small sob choked from him as he cupped my cheek, his eyes brimming with tears “I love you, Liv. You’re the other half of me, the Angel of my soul.”
THE END
Catch up with Nate and Liv
and keep reading for a preview from the trilogy
Heart of Stone
‘Incineration’
Another NSC Industries novel
By D H Sidebottom
Available Now
Heart of Stone
Book 1
‘Incineration’
CHAPTER 1
I had met George, 5 years ago, when I had been living on the streets at the age of 17.
He had found me beaten and sobbing in the corner of a pub car park and had gently lifted me and placed me in the back of his Jag, took me to his home and cared me back to the gentle, fun loving girl that I had once been.
I came to look on him as a father figure and he treated me as though I was his daughter, lovingly nicknaming me ‘Princess’.
When I reached 21 he had bought me a small, rundown cottage that I had the strenuous but fulfilling pleasure of renovating back to its original state, the love and attention I put into it gave me an overwhelming sense of pride and pleasure.
Since the day George had found me I had worked for him as a personal assistant in his house but only for his daily personal activities, his business was kept well away from me, behind locked doors, much to George’s specific instructions.
I knew he was involved with lots of dishonest and crooked dealings in organised crime, a ‘gangster’ or ‘criminal overlord’ as the term is known but he always kept me away from this side of him and I respected his choices but sometimes it exasperated me that he thought I couldn’t handle that side of things, but I respected his wishes and took care of his private and individual needs.
As he reached 60 he had decided to retire and move to the Algarve, telling me he had had enough of the life he led and was eager to get away from it.
He begged me to go with him but I needed my own space and my own life but I would be eternally grateful to him for all the time and patience he had given me. He said his reward had been watching me
flourish into an independent beautiful woman who had loved him, for who he really was, not the ruthless, hard man people thought he was.
He had took the opportunity to secure me a job with one of his ‘associates’ for when he left, as another personal assistant. I had told him I would find employment but he been determined that I should carry on with this career as it paid exceptionally well and I was the most loyal, trustworthy person capable of doing the job for the most ruthless of the underworld. This, he told me is why Mr Mason Fox, one of George’s friends had agreed to take me into his employment, doing the exact same job I had done for George.
George had told me that Mr Fox was one of the hardest and wealthiest of their inner circle, a fairly new man in the criminal world but had quickly built a name and merciless reputation for himself but he had owed George one or two favours and would be glad of the assistance in his private chores and would take care of me for George’s sake.
So this is why on a drizzly Monday morning I was knocking on the enormous, white double doors of Mr Fox’s home/business premises; my long, curly copper hair piled on top of my head and frizzed within an inch of its life due to the wet weather and my feet already sore in my skyscraper heels.
I had gone with a professional look of black pencil skirt and pinstriped white shirt, not sure what his expectations would be as I had yet to meet him.
Mr Fox had been out of the country for the previous six weeks so we hadn’t had the opportunity to meet, this been our first encounter.
I was terribly nervous but George had rung me as I had been preparing breakfast to wish me luck and give me words of encouragement and to inform me what time Mr Fox was expecting me.
The door swung open and a good looking man of about 26 stood in a dark suit, a huge grin plastered on his face as he did a swift perusal of me. “Hi” I smiled nervously “Ava Stone to see Mr Fox.” His eyes stayed on my chest and I already disliked this man.
He swung his arm out in gesture to enter and I could feel his gaze on my backside as I squeezed past him. “Come in Miss Stone, Mason’s expecting you but he’s on the phone at the moment. Follow me” he said and stalked off towards a set of dark wood double doors, opening them both and entering the room.
Following him in I set eyes on a huge rectangular table, also in the same dark wood that seemed to suck the life out of the room.
Six men were sat around the table talking and a man had his back to me pacing in front of the large French doors that led to an enormous garden, shouting abuse to someone on the phone.
He wore a pristine fitted white shirt that clung to his hard muscled back, the material straining over his powerful physique and the sleeves were rolled up, giving me a small view of the strength in his arms. His black expensive trousers hung from his hips in a way that sheathed his hard buttocks, the cloth delicately hugging his magnificent arse.
My breath caught in my throat as he turned, his gaze locked on me and his eyes scanned my body in a slow and easy examination and then rested on my face as he held my gaze for a moment too long, making me squirm on the edge of my comfort zone.
His eyes were intense but there was something else that flashed across them…Fire! He was stunning.
I could tell without the advantage of removing his shirt that his chest was as strong and lean as the rest of him; his dark hair was cut short and his square chin had a dusting of stubble. He was made in heaven, no other words to describe him.
He gestured to a seat at the table and I wobbled over to it, all sets of eyes in the room were tracking me and most dropping to my large chest as I sat down. I had hated my breasts for many years, they had been the warrant of many an unwanted attraction and leer from men, and women and had more than once got me into bad situations.
“So, Miss Stone, are you looking forward to working for Mason? He can be quite a determined bastard” the man who opened the door said as he smirked at me, obviously trying to put me on edge.
I smiled politely and lowered my eyes into my lap, nibbling furiously on my little finger, already aware of the intense blush creeping up my neck.
An older, grey haired man elbowed him and smiled softly to me, “Ignore this twat love, he can be an arse.” He winked at me with a twinkle in his eye and reached out his hand to me “Brian Cox, please to meet you Darling.”
I smiled and shook his hand as he gipped me softly, “Ava Stone, very pleased to meet you, Sir.”
He regarded me, still with a sparkle in his eye, “So you’re the lovely lady that George is so smitten with.”
I grinned at the mention of George, the mere reference to him lifting my spirits. “As smitten as I am with him, Sir. George saved my life” I said simply and meant every word.
He cocked his head and his eyes glowed with warmth as he simply gave me a small nod. “Anyway, meet the rest of the guys” he chuckled and gestured to each man as he told me their names. “The prick that opened the door is Dane Winters, Mason’s best friend and right hand man.”
Dane leant forward and took my hand, lifting it to his lips and placing a kiss on my knuckles. “Hello again Ava, It’s about time we had something good to look at in this dismal place” he sneered and wiggled his eyebrows. A shiver slithered up my spine and I gulped, much to his amusement.
Brian elbowed him again “Leave the poor girl alone Dane.” He then turned to the next person; a burly heavy set man with bright blue eyes and his hair shaved to within a millimetre on his large round head. “This here is Mason’s Muscle as we like to call him, Sam Taylor” Brian informed me.
Sam nodded and smiled “Pleasure Miss Stone. I hope you can make good coffee cos’ Mason’s is fucking shit.” He grinned and I laughed “I’m sure I can manage a decent coffee.”
Brain then indicated to the next man. He was roughly 40 and his long thin face was covered in scars, the meanest being one that ran from the side of his right eye to the corner of his lip. “This handsome fellow is Mark Scott.”
Marks eyes shifted towards me and then back to the paper he was reading on the table “Miss Stone” was all he said and another blush crept into my cheeks as the other men laughed at Mark’s reception to me.
Brian shook his head and pointed to the dark skinned man sitting nearer the top of the table. “This is Simon Bell; he’s the baby of us all.”
Simon grinned perfect white teeth that gleamed extra bright against his brown skin, as soon as I saw the man I grinned. “Miss Stone, it’s a pleasure to meet you again. Have you heard how George is settling in?” he smiled.
“George told me that you would be here, Mr Bell and he told me to tell you that the ladies are very, very pretty, his words not mine.”
I chuckled as his smile turned into a grin, “Good old George.”
Simon had done a few jobs for George and I had met him on several occasions and to be honest his familiar face was comforting in the presence of so many strangers.
Brian then turned to the last of the men. “This is Greg Chambers, Mason’s accountant.”
Greg’s eyes flitted down to my chest and then swiftly back up to eye level. “Miss Stone, I’m glad there is finally someone to clean up after that hunk of shit” he whispered in my ear as he was the closest to me. “Do you know he can’t even make himself a bloody sandwich without trashing the kitchen. Last week he put the bloody laundry into the fucking dishwasher, he’s useless” he winked and I laughed “I’m sure I can sort it out” I told him.
“You can sort me out anytime, Ava” Dane said from across the table, his eyes boring into mine and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
“Dane” came a deep growl from the man stood by the doors. “Enough” he snarled at Dane.
“Oh, for fucks sake Mason chill out, I’m just ribbing her” Dane protested but Mason continued to glare at him then turned to me, his eyes piercing mine as he observed me. “Miss Stone, welcome aboard. I have business to discuss with these gentlemen so Sam will show you to the kitchen. If you could manage to work the coffee machine I would be
grateful if you could bring us all some coffee” he said with no hint of emotion or expression, his cool eyes fixed on mine as I stood.
“No problem Mr Fox, I’m sure I’ll figure it out” I smiled and turned to Sam as he rose from his chair and escorted me to the kitchen.
“You think you can manage the machine, Miss Stone?” Sam asked, giving the machine an inquisitive stare.
“Call me Ava please, and I’ll give it a go.”
He nodded and left me alone to brew some coffee. Luckily it was a pretty basic device and I had soon placed a full coffee pot, cups, sugar and milk on a tray with a plate of biscuits I had found in the cupboard and found my way back to the room.
Tapping the door with my foot as to not intrude at an awkward moment, the door swung open and Mason frowned at me then down at the tray. “I uhh, didn’t want to walk in on any private discussions, Mr Fox” I explained and his eyes narrowed on me. “I, I never entered the room when George was discussing business, Sir and I wasn’t sure what…” I trailed off as his eyes bore into mine.
He shook his head slightly and took the tray from me, turned and kicked the door shut with his foot.
“Okay Ava, next time don’t bloody knock” I grumbled to myself as I ventured back to the kitchen to start on the mountain of pots. “A simple thank you would have done” I muttered to myself as I was quietly wondering if this job was going to be harder than it looked.
CHAPTER 2
I filled in a couple of hours by cleaning the kitchen and checking the fridge for any items needed to refill it, making notes of basic foods and reminding myself to ask Mason what he liked to eat.
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