Without care (17 page)

“I missed you”
I say, my voice breathy and needy. He doesn’t say anything as his
own arms lock around my waist. I place my lips on his, at first he
freezes and I feel his fingers dig into my hips. I kiss him again,
slowly tracing his bottom lip with my tongue. His mouth opens and
his own tongue touches mine.

Without even
thinking I fall into his kiss. My fingers tug in his hair and I
hear a raspy groan escape his mouth. I kiss him with need;
everything I want to say to him is in that kiss. He kisses back
with force and as just much need. We completely get lost in one
another; the whole world is blocked out. He pushes me closer to him
until there is no space.

“Um... Hmmm”
Someone coughs.

The spell is
broken and my eyelids flicker open. I slowly pull away much to my
disappointed. Ayden opens his eyes and looks up at me, a wicked
grin plastered over his face. The whole room erupts into cheering
and clapping. ‘I what a side order of that’ – One person yells. My
cheeks flush bright red and I have to hold in a giggle. I slowly
look up at Natalie, who is scowling and doesn’t look too
pleased.

“Hey,” I smile
sweetly.

“Natalie,”
Ayden says, looking up at Natalie too. “You remember my girlfriend,
don’t you?”

She narrows her
eyes at me and then looks back at Ayden as if butter wouldn’t melt
in her mouth.

“Of course I
do. Jen” she hisses my name. “It’s nice to see you again.” I roll
my eyes at her falseness, nothing will bring me down. My lips still
tingle from his kiss and its taking all my strength not to do it
again.

“You too” I
smile back.

“Well, Natalie”
Ayden begins, he moves his leg and I take that as my cue to get
back up. His arms grip hold of me and I remain where I am... this I
could get use to. Without even thinking I lean over and kiss his
cheek. A smile forms on his wonderful mouth and his eyes shine a
little. “You must have things to do and we have breakfast to
finish.”

“Yes... I’ll
see you both around.”

“Not if we see
you first” I say without batting an eyelash. She gives me another
dirty, turns on her heel and struts out of the restaurant.

“I should be
thanking you” Ayden says; bring my attention back to him. He is
smiling, a beautiful smile that enhances his beautiful face. I
can’t help but smile back as my fingertips play in his hair. How
many times have I wished to do this? His hair is really soft and
glides through my fingertips.

“You’re
welcome” I grin down at him.

He looks around
and I copy, a few people are looking at us. I guess they’re
wondering if there will be getting a repeat performance. I really
hope so, not even my first kiss can live up to that.

Poor Chase. I
wonder how he’s doing. I’m not even mad that he’s told a pack of
lies to everyone. I think I deserve it. Maybe after everything is
sorted out, I will sit down and have a good chat with him.

Ayden places a
strand of loose hair behind my ear. “Are you going to finish your
breakfast?”

“No,” I sigh
slowly getting to my feet. Reality has hit me again and I now need
to focus on making my plan work. Somehow I need to get to my
fathers without Ayden. “I’m not hungry anymore.”

“You haven’t
really eaten anything since we left Summerton. Your mother is going
to kill me if you waste away.”

“I won’t tell
if you don’t?”

“Deal?” he
smiles also standing up. “I’ll get the check. Stay here.” He firmly
orders as he points to the table. I watch as he heads towards the
counter. This is my chance and my only chance. I grab my bag off
the table and quickly look over at Ayden. He is still waiting to be
served with his back towards me.

I only have one
minute to get away from him. I race through the door which is
opened to my relief and run as fast as I can down a busy high
street, weaving in and out the crowds. I keep running and running.
My father’s house isn’t that fair away and I know a few shortcuts.
Once I feel there is no way Ayden will catch up I slow down to a
walk.

I begin to feel
bad that I have been forced to do this. Ayden has been amazing in
all of this and I can’t thank him enough for being here with me.
This is something I must do alone, after all this is my family.
I’ll have it out with my dad and make him see sense. Then we can
both go to the police and tell them all about Mel.

I begin to
think about the kiss with Ayden. How come I am now realizing that
maybe it was a goodbye kiss. After today we may never see each
other again. This makes me sad, but I know this is just a job to
him.

I turn down
alley way that will lead towards my dad’s house. The adrenaline is
now pumping through my veins and I have no doubts that this won’t
work. Out of nowhere I feel a pair of hands grab my shoulders. I
scream but it’s muffled when a hand is placed across my mouth. I
try to free myself, but who ever is holding me is too strong.

“Blind fold
her” says a voice behind me. I try to move again, but there is no
way I can. Something black covers my eyes, I am lifted off my feet
and carried to the unknown.

What have I
done and where am I going? I ask myself as I am plonked down
somewhere cold and hard. Something slams and then slams again,
before long I can feel myself moving. The tears begin to pour and
fear spreads through. Am I going to die? God no, I don’t want to
die. I should have never left Ayden. Why did I think I could do
this alone? I want to go home; I wish I had never come here.

The thought of
never seeing my mum or Lacey again makes my sobs harder. My whole
body is shaking and I want to be sick. I am stupid- just a stupid
kid who should of kept my nose out. Why did I think I could play
the superhero and fix everything? I know I am going to die. This is
it; this is my fate…Goodbye world.

CHAPTER
TWEVLE

Ayden

As I wait to be
served I replay the kiss I’ve just shared with Jen. Who would have
known that she could kiss like that? My heart beats faster and I
can feel the blood soaring through my body. I just wish it had been
somewhere private and hadn’t been for show. I take in a deep breath
to try and restore myself.

I’ve decided
that I want to be with her, my feelings for Jen are beginning to
grow and I can no longer resist them. Okay, there is a little age
difference but not that much. I just can’t give her up. Between her
and my career, it’s her I want. I have never loved anyone and I
have never had anyone who cared about me. Except my grandmother,
buts she’s no longer here.

God I miss her,
she was kind and would do anything for me. She knew what useless
parents I had and tried everything she could to make my life
happier. It’s finally my turn and I pay for our breakfast. I can’t
help smiling when I turn round expecting to see her waiting at the
table.

My happy mood
instantly disperses as I find just an empty seat. I begin to look
around the whole restaurant, frantically trying to spot her…
nothing. Panic begins to stir from deep within the pit of my
stomach. The anxiety begins to make my heart pound against my
chest.

I push past
people to escape outside, my eyes scanning up and down the street.
No sign… I decide to run in the direction to my place. Why would
she go off like that? The panic begins to get worse and images
begin to race through my mind. I start to think about those men
with guns who came looking for her. Shit, I really need to report
this. I slow down to a walk and grab my phone from my pocket.

I dial the
commander’s office; I am dead and if something does happen to her,
I’ll be out of a job. That’s not all; if anything happens to her
I’ll blame myself. I should have insisted she came with me and
never let her out of my sight. Fuck, this is all messed up.

The Chiefs
booming voice hits me hard. “Forbes? How’s the operation
going?”

I cringe at his
words, referring to Jen as an operation. She is much more than that
to me now. Way too much more. Please let her be there, please I
chant in my head.

“Sir, the
operation has had a minor hiccup” I try to keep my voice firm. I
know he will be able to sense the panic.

“What’s
happened?”

“Jennifer
Hopkins...” I pause and take in a deep breath. “Well… She’s...”

“Forbes! Quit
going around the houses and spit it out boy.”

“She’s
disappeared. We were having breakfast, I went to pay and when I
turned round she was gone.” My voice breaks on the last word and I
have to blink back tears. What is wrong with me? I have taken this
case to heart. No not the case, Jen. I have fallen madly head over
heels for her and it is unprofessional.

That’s why she
went missing today because I wasn’t focused on the main aim of this
job- keeping her safe.

“SHIT!” He
yells down the phone. I stop outside my apartment building. I’m
ready to listen to my telling off. I deserve everything he says to
me. I know I am finished now and I really don’t care. I just want
my Jen safe and sound.

“This is a big
problem, Forbes. Are you still in Summerton?”

I close my eyes
and rest up against a wall. “No,” I quietly reply. “We’re in
Seattle. After the gun men came I confessed everything to her.
We’re here looking for her father.”

“For crying out
loud… Do you understand what a risk you have taken? That poor girl
could be anywhere now. You know how desperation Mario Lopez is for
that money and we don’t even have a clear understanding of what her
father’s involvement is.”

“I know…”

“Well if you
knew why did you do such a crazy thing? Right, we need to move
fast. I’m going to send a few men out and try to see if we can find
anything. I’ll also call the IT and see if we can’t trace the
tracker on her phone. You, search everywhere you think she would
go.” He pauses and I can hear his teeth grind. “I’m warning you,
Forbes. If this all goes pear shape you can bet your ass you’ll be
out of a job.”

“Yes sir,” I
weakly reply. “You have no idea how bad I feel.”

“Yeah, yeah,
yeah” his voice is sharp. “Just find her!” He hangs up and I bring
the phone away from my ear.

I feel numb and
my body is unwilling to move. I need to know that she is safe
inside. I wipe away a tear that rolls down my cheek. I never
thought I would feel this way about anyone. After watching the
train wreck of my parents marriage and watching my father slip into
a dark depression. I told myself I would never love anyone. I would
never end up the mess he did. I’ve barely started my career and
already fallen for someone.

I can’t stand
here feeling sorry for myself. I charge towards my apartment.
Please let her be here. I want to enter my home and see her
beautiful face. Then I will confess everything I feel for her. Get
her father and take her home safely. I barge through my front door
and start calling out her name. Frantically I search each room only
to discover she isn’t there.

I make my way
back to the living room and collapse on the sofa. All my fears are
made real. She’s gone. I place my head in my hands and close my
eyes tight. This is bringing back dark memories that I thought I
had erased. That afternoon when I came home from school to find my
mother gone and him sat in the corner completely out of his face. A
pain hits my chest as I recall the first beating he gave me. After
all it had to be my fault she left. Anyone in their right mind
would prefer to leave a child rather than a raging alcoholic. In
her case she left both.

“What’s with
all the noise” Tucker says entering the living room. I look up at
him all sleepy and rubbing his eyes.

“Jen’s gone
missing.” I jump to my feet. I’ve had enough of dealing with my
dark demons. I need to get out there and I need Tucker for back up.
“Get dressed.”

“Why?” He
yawns. “I’ve just finished a twelve hour shift.”

“I don’t care”
I yell, disappearing to my room and reappearing a few seconds later
with my gun in hand. “We need to go to her father’s house. That’s
where Mario’s bitch lives.”

Tucker raises
his hands in defeat. “Ok, but why would you think she is there?
Didn’t you say she was from this area? Maybe she is visiting
friends?”

I spin round to
face him, anger and panic pulsating through my body. “You don’t get
it, do you? These people are desperate for this money. They have
already sent men with guns. We have no idea what they will do
next.”

Tucker tilts
his head and looks at me for a second. My heart is beating fast and
my breathing is erratic. “You’ve got it bad” he whispers before
heading back to his room.

I try to calm
myself down but nothing helps. He returns a few minutes later,
tucking his gun in the back of his jeans. “Come on, let’s find your
girl and get you that happy ending.”

I roll my eyes
as I follow him out. “All I want is her to be safe.”

He quickly
looks over his shoulder. “Yeah, it’s all about the job.”

I grab hold of
his shoulder, spinning him round to face me. “Look, stop going on.
Jen could be in great danger and yes I’m concerned. If something
happens it will be down to me.”