Caught by Her Page 13

  We needed something good for a change.

  Knocking on the door cautiously, I waited for someone to answer, rocking back and forth on my heels. The door swung open and Lena threw herself into my arms, squeezing me to her. I instinctively wrapped my own arms around her. With her breasts pushed up against me and her breathing heavy, she was making me think all sorts of things that I shouldn’t have been at her parents’ doorway.

  Laughing, I pried her back off me, holding her at arm’s length so that I could look into her eyes, which, despite her beaming smile, shimmered with unshed tears. “What’s going on, Lena?”

  She didn’t answer. Yanking me into the house after her and leading me to the main room. I could hear music coming from the main family room and more voices than just those of her parents.

  Walking through the doorway, I could see both her parents were in the room as well as her sister with Alex and their children. There were garlands hanging and a banner which filled me with happiness as I read it -“Champion.”

  It all made sense. I walked over to Michael, holding my hand out to him with a smile. “Congratulations, Sir. I’m so pleased for you all.”

  He paused for a moment, looking at my outstretched hand, before grabbing me and pulling me into him for a hug. “None of that nonsense, Nate. We don’t stand on ceremony here. Just call me Mike and be done with it.” He released me, slapping my back and looking better than I’d seen him look since I’d known him. There was colour in his usually pallid face and his strength seemed to be returning. He looked more like the man Lena talked to me about rather than the man I’d met.

  Nerys, Lena’s mother, walked over to me, holding out a drink. The frown lines that had marked her face since I’d known her were already fading away. She looked younger, her smile lighting her up, her face filled with love as she looked up at her husband.

  Lena came to stand beside me and linked her hand in mine. “My father has had the all-clear!” she explained needlessly. She was practically bouncing, the joy radiating from her.

  “The banner gave that away.” I winked at her and she hit me playfully in the arm.

  I knew how worried she’d been, how stressful this experience had been for the whole family. Her father had hidden it from her for a few months after his initial diagnosis, going through surgery and beginning treatment with just his wife being aware of his illness. It was only when the hormone treatment wasn’t providing the desired results and chemotherapy was discussed that they had decided to tell Lena and her sister.

  I’d seen first-hand the devastation that this illness had wrought on Lena and her family. He’d undergone weeks of treatment and it had been a difficult time. I was so relieved for Lena and her family.

  Her niece and nephew, obviously the Italian children whom she had spoken to the first time that she’d stayed at my place, were openly staring at me. I smiled and waved at them and they waved back enthusiastically.

  Lena saw them and beckoned them over; they watched me with curiosity as they ran over to her. She caught them both in her arms, hugging them to her as she knelt. “Hey, guys, this is Nate. Do you want to say hello?”

  They both nodded excitedly as she stood laughing. She met my gaze and I could see the pride in her eyes as she put her hands on their heads. “Nate, meet my favourite boy, Nico, and my favourite girl, Florence.”

  I smiled at them as they scrutinised me.

  “Are you going to marry Auntie Lena and have babies?” Nico blurted out loudly.

  I just about managed to hold onto my mouthful of beer. Nice one little guy!

  Lena’s cheeks immediately flamed red; she looked mortified as she gaped at her nephew.

  “Nico! You don’t ask questions like that!” His mother shook her head looking exasperated, while the poor kid looked confused.

  “Why not?” he asked, making me laugh harder as Lena squirmed.

  “Hey, buddy, one day” I answered him with a smile and he grinned back at me.

  “My mama says that Auntie Lena needs to find herself a good man and…”

  Before he could finish whatever he’d overheard, Bianca coughed over him, blushing furiously, rapidly starting to look just as embarrassed as Lena.

  She caught him by the arm and pulled him over to her. “Alright, Nico. That’s enough now. Go and help yourself to some food! Take your sister with you and put some things on her plate for her. Be a good boy for me!” She looked a little awkward as Lena watched her, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised in reproach.

  Once Nico had led his sister over to the table, Bianca turned back to Lena, “Kids! Honestly, eh, I don’t know where they get it from!”

  Lena shot her a look. “I’ve a pretty good idea,” she muttered. She was gnawing at the side of her lip, a clear sign she was uncomfortable, which just amused me all the more.

  Refilling Lena’s wineglass and trying to persuade me to have more to drink, her parents asked us to stay the night.

  I politely declined: there was no way I was going to do what I wanted to do whilst under their roof. It was as much a matter of respect as it was common sense.

  I liked hearing Lena. I loved the way that she was vocal, how I could drive her so wild that she was screaming my name; her soft moans and loud groans as I pushed her over the edge. I wasn’t having her silenced; no way was she biting down on these perfect plump lips to keep herself quiet. I didn’t want her burying her face in a pillow to keep the noise down. I wanted to see her face as she lost control and hear my name on her lips as she came for me.

  Seeing her so happy, carefree and relaxed tonight, I thought she’d never looked more beautiful. I’d been patient but now I wanted her. It was almost midnight, and the children had fallen asleep and been put to bed. I’d enjoyed, but now it was time to go.

  I leaned over and whispered in her ear and she turned to me with a sexy grin and a nod. We bid our goodbyes and left to go home.

  Lena

  I woke with a smile on my lips - nothing unusual about that when I’d been sleeping in Nate’s bed, but I felt lighter than I had in weeks. Finally, it seemed like things were taking a turn for the better after a dreadful, miserable few months.

  It had always felt easy and comfortable with Nate - until it hadn’t - but now there was a closeness and intimacy that hadn’t been there before.

  I got up, my muscles aching from our antics the night before but the memory brought a grin to my face, it was most definitely an ache worth having.

  I went into the bathroom, washed my face and brushed my teeth before going downstairs. I could hear Nate in an animated conversation with someone and paused on the bottom step.

  He was sharp, his voice loud and conveying many emotions all at once - annoyance, upset, anger - none of them good. There was no trace of my laid-back guy; something or someone had seriously upset him. He cursed and slammed the phone down, and I walked into the room hesitantly. He sat at the breakfast bar, head down on the counter.

  Reluctantly, I walked forward into the room, my optimism fading away with each step that I took. “Is everything ok?” I asked, carefully.

  He didn’t lift his head or acknowledge my presence. I heard him give a long sigh before dragging his head upwards, meeting my eyes and I could see the strain etched onto his face. His lips were thin as he pressed them together. For the first time since I’d known him, he looked a little lost; his cockiness and arrogance seemed to have deserted him.

  He lowered his head as he spoke, as if he didn’t have the strength or the will to maintain eye contact. “It’s Jonathan…he’s OD’d. He’s been taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital. I should probably go and see him.” He spoke quietly, his voice heavy with shame and despair. He held his head in his hands and I looked at him, shocked into silence.

  I was trying to think of the right words to say but I was stunned. I had no idea that his brother had a problem with substance abuse.

  Parts of the puzzle were slowly starting to click into place - odd comments that Nate had made r
egarding his brother, cryptic parts of the letter that his parents had left him. Obviously, this was a big part of their history - this didn’t seem to be a new development, and Nate’s reaction told me he’d been anticipating and dreading this call at some point. He was angry and upset but didn’t seem at all shocked or surprised. I wondered if this was the first occasion that he’d overdosed but it wasn’t the time to be asking those questions.

  As I struggled to think of a response, Nate suddenly slammed his hand down against the breakfast bar. “Fuck!” The word seemed torn from him, his voice hoarse and harsh in the quietness of the kitchen, so that I jumped.

  He apologised immediately, coming to stand beside me and wrapping his arms around me. “I’m sorry, Princess, I’m so fucking sorry.” He wasn’t apologising solely in response to startling me, it was more than that, and I couldn’t understand why he felt the need to.

  I held him for a moment, trying to give him the comfort and reassurance that he needed, before I tilted my head to look up at him.

  He wasn’t looking at me, so I reached out and caught his chin, pulling his face towards me. I didn’t need to speak; he read my expression and sighed. “You’ve been so happy! This is a time for celebration not for dealing with this fucked-up shit! He’s a joke! Once again, his timing is absolutely fucking impeccable! Finally, we have some good news and this happens…This is one of the many reasons I walked away a long time ago. I don’t need or want this drama and hassle in my life!”

  “Nate, he’s your brother. Of course you need to go and see him. You have nothing at all to apologise for.”

  He scowled as soon as I mentioned the word brother, looking distracted as he stared over my head.

  “I’ll go and get changed quickly. You can drop me home on the way if it’s at St Joseph’s…unless you want me to come with you?”

  “No, no offence, Sweetheart. I don’t want you anywhere near this or him. I’ve tried, but, if this is the route he wants to take, then fuck it and fuck him!”

  His tone was final, his face hard.

  The decision was made, and it didn’t look as if Nate was going to be changing his mind.

  I looked at him sadly. I wanted to make it better for him, but I didn’t know how. This wasn’t something that I would be able to fix. He could act unbothered and continue as if he didn’t care, but I knew how much this must be tearing him up. I kissed his lips softly, before going upstairs to change.

  The drive to my house was quiet; I longed to break the silence but the words wouldn’t come. Nate was preoccupied, tapping his fingers against the wheel as he drove, his expression closed off and distant. I didn’t take it personally, I could only imagine the thoughts that he had going through his mind.

  “Call me when you leave the hospital. I’ll have my car so I’ll be able to come straight to yours,” I said as we pulled up outside my house.

  He smiled sadly, shaking his head. “You don’t need to do that. Stay with your family and have fun. I’ll speak to you tonight.”

  “Nate, I want to be there for you. It’s fine. I’ll have this time with them anyway. Call me when you’re ready.”

  He nodded, and, just then, his phone began to ring loudly - it had connected to the car’s Bluetooth system and came through the speakers before he could answer it on his handset.

  “Nate! Where are you? Are you on your way? I need you here, Nate!”

  I felt myself stiffen at the sound of Clarissa’s voice. I mentally chastised myself. Of course she would be calling; she was Jonathan’s wife and Nate was his brother. They would need to be there for each other. She sounded genuinely upset, but Nate’s exhale was audible before he responded sharply,

  “I’m coming ‘Rissa! Fucking hell! Gimme half an hour!” He terminated the call without saying goodbye or waiting for a response from her and turned to me.

  I tried to rein in the emotion that was flooding through me so that it wouldn’t show on my face. The jealousy that had flared through my veins at his familiar greeting to her, the fact that he was racing to be by her side - it was irrational, spiteful and a whole lot of selfish, but I couldn’t help it.

  Looking at Nate, my feelings had no place here at all. He was hurting. His eyes framed by faint lines, he looked drained already.

  I reached over and pulled him to me, brushing my lips against his, using my touch to calm him. His body was tense. I kissed him again, ever so gently, and he slowly relaxed and responded to me.

  “You are an amazing, wonderful man. You are not responsible for other people’s choices, Nate. I’m here for you, as soon as you want me, the minute you need me…” I kissed him again. Framing his face with my hands, “I love you, Masters.”

  His mouth curved into a smile and he raised his eyes to meet mine. “Love you too, Princess. I’ll speak to you in a bit. Let me deal with this.”

  I nodded and let him go. I felt powerless: as much as I wanted to help him, there wasn’t anything that I could do to make this easier for him. He was going to be hurt and there wasn’t anything I could do to mitigate the damage - only be there to try and ease the pain.

  Nate

  I turned the music up as I drove away from Lena’s, refusing to look back in the mirror. I knew she didn’t begrudge my going but that wasn’t helping my mood. I was angry enough at my brother already without seeing the upset on Lena’s face to reinforce my fury with him.

  My heart was racing at the thought of going to see him in hospital. This was the call that I’d spent the last few years waiting for, agonising over what I’d do and how I’d react when it actually came.

  The call that my parents had feared and dreaded.

  I had no idea what state he would be in and I felt sick to my stomach at the thought of having to walk through those hospital doors yet again.

  I made it to the hospital and pulled into a parking space just as my phone rang again. I snatched it up as I got out of the car. I expected it to be Clarissa, but it was Marcus’s voice that greeted me.

  “Nate, I need to speak to you. Do you have a minute?”

  I don’t know if it was the gravity of his tone, or the fact that he was my best friend, but I knew instinctively that he’d heard about Jonathan.

  “I’m at the hospital, just parked.” He was silent for a beat before responding, “You know about Jonathan.”

  It was a statement rather than a question, and I exhaled sharply. “Yeah, fucker’s finally gone and done it!”

  “I’m sorry, Bro. Really am I. Call me when you leave.”

  I slammed the car door and began walking towards the entrance. I put my phone into my pocket, noticing my hands were shaking. I cursed myself and rammed them deep into my pockets.

  I could tell myself over and over that I wanted nothing to do with him anymore, that it wouldn’t affect me, but blood was blood. As much as it pained me, he was my brother; apart from my Gramps, he was my only living relative.

  Clarissa suddenly appeared in front of me as I walked through the main doors. Despite her tears, she was still perfectly made-up. She threw herself at me, sobbing noisily and grabbing onto me tightly. I put my arms around her and gently patted her back. She snuggled in closer to me, and I held her awkwardly for another moment or two before trying to release myself from her grip.

  “Clarissa, where is he? Is he Ok?”

  She looked at me for a moment before responding. “He’s fine,” her voice sounded just as bitter as I felt. She held out her hand to me. “Come, I’ll take you to him.”

  I ignored her outstretched hand, and she glanced at me before walking down the corridor. I heard him before I got to his room.

  His voice was hostile and sullen, and I could feel the rage building in me. Clarissa walked in first, and I heard him sneer at her, complaining about her leaving him and demanding to go home. He noticed me walk in behind her, and I saw shock flicker over his face before he glared at me, his face mean and full of spite.

  “Oh look, Wonder Boy is here! I should have guessed yo
u’d not be too far behind. Your fucking pig buddies call you, did they?”

  I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself retaliating. I glanced at Clarissa, who remained silent, sitting in the chair next to his bed.

  I hadn’t realised that the police had been involved but obviously, that’s how Marcus had found out.

  “What happened?” I asked, fighting to keep my voice calm and controlled.

  He laughed at me, a mocking, spite-filled sound that grated on the last of my nerves.

  “Jonathan…” I warned.

  His eyes were cold and lifeless, his pale skin showing the sheen of sweat, as animosity radiated from him. “Fuck off, Golden Boy! What the fuck you doing here, anyway? I sure as hell don’t want you here!”

  I could almost feel my jaw ticking as he continued his tirade, a bomb precariously close to going off.

  “Come to see if I’m actually dying, huh? Sorry to disappoint - that’s all I do, though, right? Fucking disappoint! - Go on, fuck off - get out! Get the fuck out of my sight!” He started to laugh again before going into a coughing fit, and I fought the urge to go to him.

  I stood still as he composed himself.

  He turned his hard eyes back to me. “Still here? Oh, lemme guess…you wanna know what drugs I had and where I got them from! So my wonderful brother can take the big bad men down and what, save me? Time’s ticking away – I need to get myself all golden and shiny like you to get my hands on the cash, don’t I!” He spat the words out looking at me in disgust. “Well, you know what, Wonder Boy - I don’t wanna be fucking saved! Keep your fucking money and fuck off!”

  He turned away from me just as a nurse walked towards us, sternly advising us that we needed to keep the noise down. Clarissa looked even more distraught, her eyes begging me to stay and try and sort this out.

  I looked over at him; he was a mess, dressed in a suit but with stains all over him. His hair was filthy, his eyes still glassy and he had black around his mouth. Whether it was charcoal from having his stomach pumped, or whether he was just that dirty, I couldn’t tell.