“She walked into the conference room, then she just froze, all the blood drained from her face and she is frozen on the spot. Scott’s in there with her now.” I nod and walk towards the conference door, it’s slightly ajar.
I use my foot and push the door open wider and see Sophia standing there, she’s just standing, hands crossed against her stomach. Her face is a deathly greyish colour, but her eyes, they hold fear in them. She is looking directly at the board. Scott looks broken seeing her like this, he’s talking to her. It’s quiet but I can hear it.
“Sis, I remember the day I met you, you were hiding behind mom. All I remember is these little hands on mom’s legs. Then your head popped out, and you looked so scared. Then dad came in, and he put you on his lap and told you who we were. You didn’t look as scared anymore. It took you ages to even come and play with us. When you did, you smiled. Your smile lights up your entire face, Soph. I want to see that smile. I hate seeing you like this Soph. Come on Soph, say something. Fuck, say anything. Please.” His voice cracks, his eyes are watery, I don’t blame him, and I need to know what the fuck is going on.
I head back to the reception area, “You five come with me.” I turn back and go to the conference room, “I want to know what has made her so frozen?” I push open the door and hear a gasp behind me, followed by several curses.
“Nathan, why do you have a picture of Mullah Al Mohammed on your board?” Ryder asks in a hard voice, I spin and face him.
“Not that it is any of your business, I’m trying to locate him.”
“So you’re hunting him?” Oscar asks.
“Yeah I suppose you can call it that.” Ryder lets out a quick bark like laugh,
“That’s some fucking joke right?” He says and I give him a hard look.
“Want to tell me what the fuck is your problem?” he steps up to me. We’re face to face.
“Yeah my problem is you, you’re seriously going to act like you have no clue who that man is to us? Better yet, who he is to Sophia?” Now I’m getting pissed off.
“Listen jackass, I don’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about, so either speak up or shut the fuck up.” It’s Skye that tells me, and what she tells me makes me want to cry.
“Nathan, Mullah Al Mohammed, he’s part of the Taliban. He’s their go to torturer. He’s the man that tortured Sophia. He came to the US to finish the job.” FUCK! Oh god.
“What are you talking about? Who tortured my sister?” I turn and face Scott. He looks murderous right now. I can only imagine I must have a similar look. If what I feel on the inside is showing on the outside, I must look worse than Scott.
“Now you understand the irony. The man you’re hunting, he’s the one that is hunting the love of your life.” Doc says with a laugh. Shit.
“Somebody better fucking tell me what the hell is going on.” Scott looks ready to punch me.
“Scott, man it’s not up to me to tell you this. I can’t betray your sister’s trust like that.” Sam decides to help him out.
“Look I’ll give you the condensed version okay. When we were in Afghanistan, we were ambushed. We were taken to a Taliban cell where the motherfucking bastard tortured your sister. The man has never tortured someone and not killed them, until Sophia. Now he’s in the states and is after her.” He nods and looks to his sister. I can see an internal battle in his mind. He walks over to her and wraps his hands around her.
“I’ll be back soon sis. He’s not going to hurt you again; on my life I promise you that.” Then he leaves. I walk over to Sophia and wrap her up in my arms.
“Baby, I’m here, he’s not going to hurt you. I promise. He will have to go through me before he can even look at you anymore.” I feel her melt into me. I wrap her up tighter, bend and kiss the top of her head.
“I promise baby, you’re safe here.” She nods and burrows her head into my chest.
“I love you baby, don’t do that again, how is our baby?” she tenses.
“Don’t tense, the guys told me what happened, is he okay?” Her head flies up, her eyes find mine, she takes a step back and her hands go to her hips.
“Nathan Slade, what gives you the impression that my child is a boy?” I give her my best smirk, the one I know really irritates her.
“Look, nobody wants to see what this office would be like if it comes out a girl. Nobody wants to see ten fully grown men be pussy whipped by a child, because there is no doubt about it, your looks babe, on my child and I’m well and truly fucked.” She smiles and my heart takes a sigh of relief.
“Baby, please don’t go like that again. I can’t handle seeing you like that. I wanted to tear someone apart. You were so scared and so frozen.” She nods, then stands on her toes and looks around the room, everyone has left us alone.
“Walking in here and seeing his face, it was a shock. I felt like I was back there, that I was helpless again. I’m scared Nathan, and I hate admitting that the bastard has me scared, but I won’t run and I won’t hide. It’s not who I am. But he had me questioning that. He has me so scared that I thought about hiding.” She has tears in her eyes, my heart breaks for her. I want her to hide, I want her to be safe, but that isn’t going to happen.
“Babe, my instincts tell me to pick you up and put you into a safe house, but I know there is no way that is going to happen, so I’m making a compromise. Please will you have at least one guy on you at all times?” she must be thinking about it because she doesn’t answer straight away.
“When you mean one guy, do you mean one of your employees or do my team mates count?” This is good, she’s considering it.
“Yeah your teammates count too.” She smiles.
We stay holding each other for a while. I’m glad to hold her in my arms again.
“Are you okay baby?” I kiss her head.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine after a while. It was just a shock seeing him, that’s all.” I kiss her forehead.
“Now, let’s discuss the fact you never told me about the letter you got. Why didn’t you tell me baby?” I’m actually pissed about that. She pushes away from me. She looks up at me and I still can see the lingering fear in her eyes. I want to kill the motherfucker.
“I didn’t want you to worry. I didn’t want you to be involved, and I know what he’s like Nathan. I felt every single punishment he gave me. I bled, I fucking cried when he killed Smithy, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of any more of my tears. I don’t need to imagine what he will do to you, because I fucking lived it.” She has tears falling down her face. I walk up to her and wrap her in my arms and hold her against me.
“Babe, we’re in this together, you need to let me know what’s happening in your life, good or bad, I won’t look at you with pity. I’ll only look at you with love and respect.” She cries softly in my arms, I pick her up and bring her to my office. I sit in my chair, and she sits on my lap. I just hold her in my arms soothing her. She’s terrified for everyone but herself.
“You feeling okay babe?” She nods. She has colour back in her cheeks now.
“I’m going to get some work done. Do you need anything?” she smiles at me. She turns her head up and kisses me, hops off my lap and walks for the door.
“Cool, no I don’t need anything. I’m going out and I’ll be bringing Skye with me.” What?
“I’m sorry, you’re bringing who where?” She looks at me like I’ve lost my damn mind.
“Listen here you sexist bastard, you said my team mates count, so since Skye is a team mate, I’m bringing her, and nice try I have an appointment that does not concern you and your big nose.” Then she stomps off. Damn what the hell just happened? She is constantly making me feel like I need to be admitted into a nut house.
“Don’t worry about it, woman do that to you. She will drive you crazy; be grateful that you got the good kind of crazy.” Sam says with a smile. I’ve just told them what the fuck just happened. I feel as though I’m going crazy trying to keep up with her damn mood swing
s.
“The other type of crazy, well you get a restraining order and a dose of the clap. It isn’t a pretty break up.” The rest of us are laughing as he looks on horrified.
“Was the restraining order against you or her?” Oscar asks.
“Her obviously, the woman was mental, she chained herself to my bed, not in the way I would like either. This woman chained herself with those police issued handcuffs saying if she couldn’t have me no one else could.”
We are all laughing again.
“Ok I got to know who gave who the clap?” He shakes his head.
“That is still a mystery.”
And again we’re all laughing, Seeing Soph who is such a strong woman so vulnerable hurts and I know the others felt that hurt too.
I hate that she’s gone, I worry about her.
“Come on, we got this fucker to find, before he finds Soph.” We all head off to work, knowing that if we don’t find him soon, the next attack he has could seriously injure someone, or worse.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Scott
Do you know what it’s like seeing your sister being frozen in fear? Do you have any idea what it does to you? It’s fucking torture, watching her but not able to help her. I promised her on her very first day of Kindergarten I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her; I failed with that fucker, who has tortured her. I won’t allow this fucking bitch to hurt her further.
I stole the address of this fucking bitch from Dwayne’s desk. I knock on the door; she answers looking shocked. I used to think she was beautiful now all I see is hatred. I hate her for hurting me and my brother, but the one thing I hate her the most for, is trying to get to Sophia. I haven’t seen this bitch since I walked in on her and Luke.
I’ve had a shit day, not being able to stop that crazy ass stalker breaking into Donavan’s apartment, is on me. I was lead in this case. Tamara Donavan is a model who had been getting weird mail for months. Her management called P.I.G.S in and I was put in charge. I knew the fucker would escalate. I knew the next step would be stalking and then try and get to Tamara. We walked in on him in her bedroom, he proceeded to try and hurt Tamara. Luckily enough my instincts took over and I got him to the floor and held him as we waited for the cops.
I know no one was injured but I still feel as though I should have caught this fucker a while ago. I’m just walking upstairs to my apartment I share with Luke my brother. I want to go in, have a shower then call Alex and loose myself inside of her. I walk in the door and my world stops.
There on the couch is my brother, head thrown back in ecstasy, while my girlfriend is deep throating him. She’s playing with her pussy as she sucks him off. She enjoys giving head, she is fucking amazing at it.
“Alex, what the fuck? I can’t believe this shit. I can’t believe my girlfriend is fucking sucking my brother off, how fucking long has this been going on for?” I see the confusion on Luke’s face, then the realization of what is going on. Then I see the narrowing of his eyes. Something shifts in his expression, and I know that this wasn’t a one- time thing. Luke is in pain.
“I can’t fucking believe this. How could you two? You know what? I don’t care. Get your shit Alex, get the fuck out of my house. You two want to fuck, that is fine but don’t fucking do it where I live. Now you had better be gone before I get out of the shower.”
She’s gone when I enter the living room. Luke is sitting on the sofa, and the bastard has the fucking nerve to look gutted. No he doesn’t get to act like the victim. I’m not the one to fucking mess with my brother’s woman.
“Hello Alex, it’s been a while” I say with no emotion. I can’t let this bitch get to me.
“Scott, what are you doing here? How did you know where I lived?” I don’t answer I push past her and into her house.
“Okay, this is going to be quick. I know exactly who you are. Stay the fuck away from Sophia. I mean it Alex, if you don’t, you will have a fucking army after you, and I don’t just mean Soph. I mean her and her team, me and mine as well as the NYPD and the D.A. do you get what I’m saying?” She looks shocked, even when I found out about her and Luke I never spoke to her like this.
“Scott, I want to know my sister.” I laugh.
“No you don’t. See here’s the thing, if you wanted to get to know your sister you wouldn’t have done what you did to Luke and me. Now I’ll say this once more, stay the fuck away from Sophia, do I make myself clear? If not, I’ll make your life a fucking living nightmare.” She looks scared, good.
“Scott, you have it all wrong. What happened between us, it shouldn’t stop me seeing my sister.” She is actually pleading with me.
“I know you tried to set up Sophia to be kidnapped; I know you want to ruin her life. That is never going to happen.” I found all the information Nathan and Dwayne had found. I sat and read it, then I walked into work to see my sister frozen with fear. Seeing her like that, it brought me back to her having a severe nightmare the night mom died.
I was lying on my bed throwing a baseball up and catching it. I had been doing it for hours, I couldn’t sleep. I agreed with Soph, being alone was better. I understand her. Being around people when you’re sad makes you look weak. I hate being perceived as weak. I was bullied in middle school. I hear Sophia crying, I jump out of my bed and hear.
“NO, Mama, I promise I’ll be good. Mama that hurts. I’m sorry Mama.” Then I hear her scream, it’s loud and terrifying. I rush into her bedroom and see her lying on her bed crying. She’s writhing in pain; she looks like she’s trying to escape.
“Mama, please Mama. I’ll be really good; I won’t talk anymore.” She flinches in her sleep. I can’t move from where I’m standing. I hate seeing her in pain. Sophia has never spoken about her time before coming to live here.
“Mama, I’m really sorry. Please stop hurting me. Mama I’m bleeding, please stop hurting me.” I feel sick. I finally get my feet to move.
“Sophia, wake up. It’s just a dream, please wake up.” She shoots up and looks around; she relaxes when she sees it’s me.
“Scott are you okay?” she asks me, looking worried.
“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?” she looks at me like I’m crazy.
“Scott you’re crying.” I wipe my face feeling the wetness. Her nightmare was so bad that I don’t know how she survived.
“You had a nightmare. It was bad Soph.” She nods; she turns her head away from me.
“I’m sorry I woke you Scott. You can go back to sleep now.” I laugh.
“Soph, I wasn’t asleep, and I doubt I’ll be able to after that. I’ll go and let you sleep.” She starts shaking her head.
“I won’t be able to sleep after that. You can stay in here if you want.” I nod and sit down on her floor; she lays down on the bed and reaches down to take my hand.
“Thank you Scott. I really appreciate that you’re checking up on me” I chuckle at her.
“Soph, you’re my sister, I’ll always make sure you’re safe and okay.” She smiles and lays back down. We’re silent for a while. I look at Soph and I realize she has fallen asleep whilst still holding my hand. I fall asleep not long after. That is how dad found us the next morning, her lying in bed, her arm hanging out, me lying on the floor holding her hand. She told me the next day that me being their kept the nightmares away.
That is what I’m doing here, I may not be able to find that fucking torturing bastard, but I can find this fucking bitch. I’ll make sure she stays the fuck out of Soph’s life.
“Oh, and don’t even think about appealing your mother’s case, it isn’t going to work. It’s time for you to leave New York. You have 48 hours.” She is shaking as I leave. Well hopefully what I have said sinks in and she takes my advice and gets the fuck out of New York.
“Scott I don’t know where all this is coming from, you’ve got the wrong information, I would never hurt my sister.” I actually laugh at her pathetic attempt to act innocent.
“You’re forgetting I actually know you
Alex. I don’t have the wrong information; you see I have all the details of your planned abduction of Soph from my father house. I got all my information from you. I hacked into your e-mails, I broke into your house. I know everything you planned to do to my sister.” Okay I may not have been the one to find this out but this bitch doesn’t need to know that.
“Fine, that fucking bitch shouldn’t have everything. What about me? I was left to the mercy of Sarah Anderson. I had to deal with all the abuse. I had to deal with all the men and their groping. I had to deal with the drugs and the drinking. I had to deal with everything. Why did Sophia get a fucking escape? No one helped me. So yes I hate her. Yes, she deserves everything I had planned. I will get her back one way or another. You’re not meant to leave family, but she did. I hate her. I fucking hate that bitch. That’s all you and Luke talked about, how fucking amazing your little sister was. I had to hold my tongue every time you spoke about her. Why? Why should she get everything?” This bitch is delusional.
“Sophia didn’t escape any abuse at the hands of fucking Sarah Anderson. She was abused from a young age. You want to know the difference between you and Sophia? The difference is that no matter what happened, Sophia would have opened her arms and world to you. She would have been there for you. But Now? Now she will never know about you. I’m not joking Alex. You go near Sophia; I will kill you.” She is shaking hard and tears are streaming down her face. Good. I hope to fuck she heeds my words. I will not hesitate; I will kill anyone who tries to harm my sister.
I get into my car and drive until I hit a rest stop. I pull in and breathe. I have never spoken to a woman the way I spoke to Alex. I don’t regret it; she needed to be told to go. I hope to god she’s gone.
I go to the gym and work off some of the pent up anger I have. I feel like I could snap someone’s neck. I’ve never killed anyone, but I know I have it in me to. There is only one person in this world I would kill for, that is the little girl who stood behind dad’s legs when she saw two little boys because she was so scared. I know Soph has grown up and become a strong woman, but I’ll never forget the scared little girl she was.
Deadly Hunt (Deadly #1) Page 18