The next morning, while doing her things, Nicola kept reliving the kiss she and Blake shared. She knew from the way Blake had abruptly left her standing in the kitchen that he regretted what happened between them. Even though it had been an amazing kiss, a part of her wished it had not happened either. She loved Iris and did not want to do anything that would give Blake a reason to fire her. Her heart could not take being separated from the little girl who had become such an important part of her life. Iris was propped up against her pillows watching cartoons when Nicola showed up with a breakfast tray.“It's time to eat something, sweetie.” The little girl shook her head.“No, Nik…” Nicola held back a sigh.“Oh, come on… Everything Albert prepared for you is so yummy…” she tried to tempt Iris. “Will you please, eat a few bites?”“No, I don’t want to.” She gritted her teeth and fought back a wave of irritation.“Only a few sma
A few days later, while they were having breakfast, Nicola started talking about Halloween.“The Halloween night is almost here,” Nicola announced. “What did Iris do last year?”“She went trick or treating, of course,” Alma answered.“I took her,” Blake said from behind his newspaper. “If I remember correctly, she went as a bumble bee.” That sweet memory brought a huge smile to Alma’s lips.“Yes. And our Miss Iris was the cutest little bumble bee I ever saw.”“I’m so sorry we cannot take her trick or treating this year,” Nicola said. She carried the cup to the coffee pot and refilled it.“She still hasn't gotten over the flu.”“Nik… I might have an idea on how to save Miss Iris’s Halloween,” Albert intervened. “I need to pick up a few things from the grocery store. Why don't I get a pumpkin and we can carve it for her?”“Okay… As long as you don't ask me to do it,” Blake told them. “Last year I almost lost a finger with all the carving.”“No problem. I'll
It was early November, a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. Nicola was in the kitchen with Albert making a list of food needed for the upcoming holiday. The pantry shelves were scanned and the cabinets were checked. While they were doing this, Nicola kept an eye on Iris sitting at the table, eating a few slices of orange. The fruit was way too ripe and the juice started running down her chin and hands and onto her white shirt.“Oh, sweetie…” Nicola smiled, then ran a clean dishtowel under the faucet and wrung out the excess water. She moved to the table and bent over Iris.“You're so messy, my little lamb,” she said, wiping the little girl's sticky hands.“I’m messy,” Iris repeated.“That's right. You’re a messy missy…” She wiped Iris's face and then kissed her cheek.“Let's see how long you can stay clean, Miss Messy Missy.”“If I was a betting man, I would give her five minutes,” Blake said, strolling into the kitchen. Nicola smile
The plane landed in Houston a few minutes after nine. A limo picked up Blake, Nicola, and Iris and took them to the ‘Post Oak Hotel’ in Uptown Houston. Blake had reserved the Presidential Suite for them. The thought of being in the same hotel suite with Blake was a bit unsettling, but there was also Iris, so that made the situation acceptable. Once they checked in, Nicola took Iris to their room and Blake retired to his. The little girl was pretty tired, so Nicola prepared her for the night, then quickly unpacked their bags. Someone knocked at the suite’s door and after a few seconds, she heard Blake talking to someone. Maybe it was something connected to his next day's meeting. Since she was still way too agitated to go to bed, Nicola decided to stay in the living room for a while. It was a gorgeous night and the view from their suite was spectacular. She would stay there, on the sofa, and relax. Nicola assured that Iris was fast asleep, then t
During breakfast, none of them talked about what happened the night before. The conversation between them went on as if nothing had happened. Nicola didn’t know how to feel about it but she chose to focus all her attention on Iris. The little girl was extremely excited to go and see the ‘big boats’. As the car approached the iron gates, Nicola saw the huge sign hanging from a fence post. Someone had painted a piece of plywood yellow and written on it in dark blue paint ‘Seabrook Shipyard’. Nicola tried to imagine the sign saying ‘Echols Shipyard’ and could not. She glanced at Blake's way and found he had his cell phone out. He was frowning at the small screen and muttering under his breath, what he was saying she could not make out.“Is something wrong?” she asked.“My attorney wants me back in Long Beach as soon as possible. He has some urgent news to share with me.”“Maybe you should give him a call,” Nicola suggested.“What he has to tell me can wait.
While boarding the plane, in order to stay calm and collected, Nicola concentrated all her attention on Iris. The little girl was extremely excited to go back home and play with Olaf.“What would you like to do during the flight?” Nicola asked her. “Would you like to draw or play some game?”“I want to watch some cartoons…” the little one replied.“‘Frozen’ again or something else?”“Something else, please. But I want to watch them alone. You go over there and stay with Daddy,” Iris urged her. “He might get bored…” she added and tried to wink without success.“You are something else, Messy Missy!” Nicola responded smiling and then prepared the little girl for the trip. During the plane ride back home, as Iris requested, Nicola sat across from Blake. She alternated between gazing his way and out the window. Every time she looked his way, their eyes would meet and her heart would skip a beat. The memory of the kiss they shared was floating in the air but non
Anger rose within Blake. Swearing softly, he closed his eyes and fought against the urge to destroy something.“Damn that bitch! What is she up to now with this mad crusade?”“We will find out soon enough. Now, tell me what do you want to do?” Norman asked, plopping down on the couch.“Such a dumb question, Rothenstein? Bury her!” Blake growled. “Full custody? She hated having Iris and now she wants the baby? Fuck her! I'm going to fight that crazy, delusional bitch until the end. She is not going to take my baby girl away from me. Not while I still live and breathe.” The lawyer took another drink of the brandy.“Forgive me for asking. I knew you would gonna say that. Just wanted to be absolutely sure. I'll let Claire's attorney know we intend to fight.”“You do that,” Blake replied. Norman set his glass down on an end table.“Listen, Blake, I’m curious about something…” he said, giving Blake an extremely serious gaze.“What’s that?”“Have you given any t
“Good morning, Mr. Echols,” Daphne said as Blake stepped out of the elevator and into the reception area.“Good morning, Daphne,” Blake replied.“I put several messages on your desk,” Daphne informed him.“Thank you. Will you please come into my office? There are some things I need you to do for me.”“Of course, sir.” Daphne stood and followed Blake to his office. She took a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk and waited for him to speak.“I’ll begin with the most urgent task. Starting today, Claire is no longer allowed in this office and in this building.” Blake set his briefcase on the desk, opened it, and took out a stack of files.“I want you to call Paul from the Security Team and let him know if they ever see her to notify the police as soon as possible and have her arrested for trespassing.”“Yes, sir,” Daphne said. “Consider it already done.”“Good!” He unbuttoned his suit coat and took a seat behind the desk.“I need you to look up the
ONE YEAR LATER… “Bedtime, munchkin,” Nicola said from the living room doorway. Iris, who was lying on the floor, watching cartoons, jumped up and ran toward the door.“Come on, Olaf,” she said to the dog following her religiously almost everywhere.“Did you pick out what you want to take to show and tell tomorrow?” Nicola asked as they made their way upstairs.“Yes, I did,” Iris replied. “I’m taking the seashell Aunt Daph gave me.”“That’s a wonderful idea! I believe everybody will like that. They can put it to their ear and listen to the ocean,” Nicola exclaimed and took her little hand in hers. “Let’s say goodnight to your daddy. He’s in his office.” They stopped outside Blake’s office and Iris knocked on the door.“‘Come in,’” Blake called out. Iris opened the door and entered the room.“It’s bedtime, Daddy,” she announced. Blake checked his watch.“Already? Well… you’d better give me my goodnight hug and kiss.” Nicola smiled.
The next morning, Blake and Nicola entered together the Long Beach Police Department. Paul was waiting for them in there. He showed them the way to the interrogation room where Damien Crewe was about to be brought.“Nik, are you sure you want to be present during this?” the detective asked Nicola after she sat in front of the two-way mirror and placed the crutches near her. “You might hear some ugly things…” Blake watched his wife. Before leaving the mansion that morning, he’d asked her the same thing, afraid Nicola might have a breakdown or something. Her reply was a simple ‘yes’ followed by a soft smile.“Uglier than what I’ve been through? Yes, I’m sure, Paul,” Nicola replied in a determined tone. “I MUST be here. This man took away too much of my sanity, my energy, my time with Blake and Iris. It’s time to face the monster and put an end to this. It’s time to move on with my life.” She looked up at Blake and smiled. She didn’t look stressed or worried
Long after Daphne had gone home for the day, Blake sat at his desk, deep in thought. He was thinking of Nicola and the words they had exchanged in anger. ‘What you’re planning to do is wrong, Blake. And you’re going to lose me. Forever!’ ‘And what about our little girl? What do you think it would do to Iris to lose her daddy?’ Those words were the ones that stood out more than anything in his mind. The idea of Nicola leaving him, walking out on their marriage, and the thought of not seeing Iris anymore, scared the hell out of Blake. More than going to jail for breaking into little pieces the son of a bitch who hurt the woman he loved. The last thing Blake wanted was to lose Nicola and the life they had together.“Echols, you look like you lost your best friend,” Norman said, strolling into the office.“Not yet, Norm, but I could,” Blake replied. Norman arched an eyebrow.“Care to explain that to me?” Blake
A week later found Nicola sitting alone in the living room, gazing out the window. Rain was coming down and beating against the windowpane. While she watched it, Nicola thought about her life before being kidnapped and tortured.“I used to be so happy… Now I feel frightened and depressed…” she murmured. “Thank God for Blake and Iris… They are my reason to get out of the bed every morning.” The therapy was working but not as fast as everyone hoped it would. Still, she kept on attending every session, repeating herself to be patient. “Mind if I sit with you for a while? Bruce asked from the doorway. Nicola gave the cushion beside her a pat. Bruce crossed the room and sat down.“How are you doing, Nik?”“I don’t know… Okay, I guess,” Nicola replied. Bruce reached for Nicola's hand and held it between both of his.“It will get easier, dear. I promise you it will.”“You don't know what I'm going through,” Nicola said angrily. “So don't tell me
“Daddy…” Blake glanced up from the book he was reading and gazed at Iris. She was standing in the doorway with Olaf at her feet, and she had a sad look on her face. He closed the book and placed it on the table next to him.“Come here, sunshine.”Iris ran to Blake and climbed onto his lap. She settled in the crook of his arm.“What's wrong?” he asked.“I went to your room to see Nik…” she muttered.“Okay…”“But I didn’t enter because she was crying… I didn’t want to bother her.” He took a deep breath and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.“I see…”“Daddy, why is Nik crying?”“She is sad. When you're sad, don't you cry?”“Yeah.”“Something really bad happened to her and it’s going to take a little while for her to feel better,” Blake explained, caressing her head. “But don’t worry… She is going to be alright… Everything is going to be alright.”The little girl laid her head on his shoulder.“Oh, okay… I'll paint her a picture.”“This is a great idea. Nik adores
Nicola was released from the hospital a few days later. Before she left, she insisted on finally seeing Benjamin. Since Blake was still pretty reluctant about this painful reunion, to get her way, Nicola threatened Blake to go and stay with Norman and Daphne.“Okay, darling… But let's make this brief,” Blake said, pushing the wheelchair down the long hallway. “I want to get you home as soon as possible.”“I'll try not to take too long.” Nicola adjusted the shawl she wore around her shoulders and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the cuts on her arms throbbing as she moved. Halfway down the hall, Blake stopped and knocked on the door on his left. He heard Benjamin replying and opened the door. Careful not to bump Nicola's broken leg against the door, Blake wheeled her into the room and parked the chair next to the bed.“I was wondering if you were going to come and see me,” Benjamin said to Nicola.“I will leave you two to talk,” Blake said, then kis
The next morning, Blake awoke with an aching back and a stiff neck. Groaning, he slowly rose from the chair beside the bed and rubbed his lower back. After kissing Nicola, who was still asleep, he slipped out of the room and made his way down the hallway to a coffee vending machine. Once the coffee was ready, he took a cautious sip of the steaming liquid, then started walking slowly toward Nicola’s room. When Blake reentered, he found a nurse redressing Nicola's burn. Not ready to face the most devastating and painful proof of her torture, Blake quietly returned to the hallway to wait for the nurse to finish. While he stood there, drinking his coffee, his thoughts turned to last night and anger sprang to life inside of him. The urge for revenge swept over him and he fought for control of his emotions. The time for payback would come soon. Claire will feel his rage… She will…“Blake.” Hearing Daphne's voice, he turned and saw her and Nor
He opened the door and looked out at the detective March.“My wife is ready to answer your questions.” The detective moved past Blake and strolled toward the bed.“Thank you for agreeing to see me, Mrs. Echols.”“It's Nik,” she told him softly.“Oh, alright,” the detective replied. “Then, call me Paul, please.”“Okay. Have a seat,” Nicola invited him. The detective sat down on the chair next to the bed.“Before you get started,” Blake said, glancing down at Nicola, “do you need anything, darling?”“No, sweetheart, thank you. I just want to get this over with. But you should sit down.”“I'll try to make it as brief as possible, Nik.” Nicola turned her head on the pillow and gazed at the detective.“Good… Then, maybe I should tell you right away that I know the name of my aggressor…” Both of them looked at Nicola like she was half crazy. She took a deep breath and watched as Blake was slowly sitting on the side of the bed.“Nik, are you
While waiting for the doctor to come out and speak with him, Blake was sitting in the waiting room. He was leaning forward on the chair, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Every fiber of his being was screaming for him to find the doctor and demand answers to the questions that were eating away at him but he also knew he had to keep his composure… for Nicola’s sake.“Dammit, Nik! I failed you… I promised to keep you safe and look what happened…” Blake kept whispering. “It’s all my fault… I’m so sorry, my love…” Tired of sitting on that damn chair and doing nothing, Blake stood and moved toward the window. While he glanced out into the darkness, he thought back over the past several hours, since Alma’s phone call… ‘Mr. Blake, you must come home… Ben has been shot… and Nik… Someone kidnapped her…’ Her desperate voice on the phone iced the blood in his veins. As long as he lived, he will never forget her chilling, utterly