Page 83 of Wrecked
“You’re not done yet, Nate.” Her voice is hard, anger radiating off her in waves.
I can’t even meet her eyes. I can’t see the pain I put there. I force myself to look up, anyway. She doesn’t deserve a coward. She glares at me from the other end of the cavern. When did she move there?
I can’t help but think the space she is putting between is metaphorical.
“I’m not.” I know what she’s asking, but I wait. She’s in control of this. I wait for what feels like an eternity. Finally, she crosses our shelter, planting herself face to face with me.
“How thefuckdid you end up with my sister.”
CHAPTER 37
NATE (25 YEARS OLD)
Istand up from my spot on our grey loveseat, stretching my hands above my head as I yawn. I’ve been hunched over a computer for the last several hours, and my neck is going to pay for it later. It’s worth it, though. Every second we’ve spent dedicated to this “project” for the last four years is finally worth it.
It hasn’t been easy. Keeping up with a major in political science and a minor in criminal justice didn’t leave a lot of time for otherassignments. But nothing was more important than what I was working on after classes, even if it meant falling asleep at school. I did well enough, graduated with honors, followed the path Nathaniel set for me.
My first year of law school was brutal, but I realized I actually liked what I was studying. I’m good at it too. I just finished my second year, and I think I am leaning toward criminal law. I want to defend those who can’t afford to be defended. A public defender… Nathaniel will lose his mind, and I will get immense joy from that. After tonight, he won’t matter, though. His demands will be ignored, his hold on me ends.
Asher was finally able to clear Ellie’s name from all the wire transfers and bank accounts Chris had forged. It took years to trace everything, years to hack into all the bullshit he got himself involved in. It’s done, though. I finally get my life back.
I pray to God I’ll get my girl back.
Ash chipped away at it like crazy, making it his personal mission to succeed. Emmy cried to him about how much she missed Ellie, and that was all it took. It was like he became a madman after that. Class during the day, hacking into firewalls at night. But he did it. Everything is in Chris’ name. He is the only person that can be implicated in his crimes. Ellie is free. Her mom also, not that it matters to me. Ash did that one on his own, but that’s just the kind of guy he is.
After I texted him that summer night after sophomore year, we became brothers. We’d always been best friends, but it extends beyond that now. He is my family. He’s got my back. Emmy’s back. She’s off at college now, but she still spends the holidays with Rob and Sarah. We’ve completely cut off our family, even though I’m still under Nathaniel’s control.
Not anymore, though.
It’s finally over.
It’s been six excruciatingly lonely years since I’ve gotten to hold my girl in my arms. Since I’ve gotten to kiss those perfect, pouty lips. Six years and I haven’t stopped loving her for a single second. I haven’t stopped thinking of her for a single day. I miss her so much I physically ache from it. I’ve kept track of her, watching while she was away at school. Always from a distance, hiding my presence from her. If anyone saw me, they’d probably call the police. They’d have everything they would need to put me away. Distant photos, zoomed in on her beautiful smile. Piles of school articles that merely mention her name. I’ve been reduced to a damn stalker. I might as well create a bubblegum shrine in my closet.
I don’t care though. Seeing her, being near her, has been the only thing keeping me going. I’ve been walking around in body only. My heart and soul are forever tethered to her. They stay in her possession, only my lifeless shell remains here with me.
Asher stopped trying to convince me to move on after our first year of undergrad. He said he could tell when he looked in my eyes that I was one of the lucky ones. That I found her. My soulmate, my other half. Something most people spend years looking for but never find.
I had her, and I was forced to let her go.
It’s a fate worse than death.
She just finished her senior year of nursing school, and I’m so fucking proud of her. She has a lot of friends too. She even smiles a lot more than she used to. She stopped smiling when I left, those bright eyes lost their light. She looked lifeless, soulless. It cut deep to see her like that, knowing I was the cause. But I knew I’d bring her back someday.
We are meant for each other. Not even the hands of fate can stop soulmates from finding their way back.
She worked through college and got herself a small apartment. She never goes home. She never goes to see her mom. She never goes out on dates. Which means there are less men I have to threaten. Thank God. If I saw her moving on, I don’t know that I could do this. Keep my distance. Keep the truth from her. As much as it hurts to see her pain, I can’t say it doesn’t make me happy to know she can’t move on either. Even though she thinks I cheated on her and left her on purpose, she still loves me. That proves everything I know to be true. We were made for each other.
There is not a single part of me that believes she won’t be mine again. Despite the years and the distance, the pain and betrayal. What we had together doesn’t just go away.
My cell phone rings, disrupting my thoughts. I plop downon the couch and reach across the coffee table for my phone. Nathaniel’s name shows up big and bold on the screen, but it doesn’t affect me the way it used to. I no longer feel fear when I see his name. The only thing he brings out of me is a hatred so powerful I’m almost afraid of it.
“You should let me answer.” Ash smirks, waggling his eyebrows. His shit-eating grin has me breaking out into my own smile. If there is one person who is not theleast bitintimidated by Nathaniel Westin, it’s Asher Holden. Ash lives to rile him up, and there has never been a man Nathaniel has hated more.
The first time they met, Asher slammed a file—with hisownname—down on the table Nathaniel sat at. He looked him straight in the eye and said, “Do your worst.” He presented him with a full PI report onhimself. “Everything you need to know? It’s right there, asshole. But you should know…if you dig?Idig deeper, and I’m willing to bet my dirt is a lot cleaner than yours.” He winked at him and walked away. His actions seemed light, but his threat was potent. Asher has this thing about him that scream’s“fun guy that you don’t want to piss off.”I’d never seen my father turn that shade of red before, both embarrassed and enraged. He must have taken that threat to heart, because he steered clear of Ash after that encounter.
“Don’t worry. I’ll let you gloat, man.” I laugh, knowing that’s the only reason he wants to answer.
I put the phone on speaker so that Ash can hear.
