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The hit didn’t even daze Nathan and it was a hard hit.
“You stay the hell away from her!” Nathan shouts, blocking Carl’s next swing and grabbing him by the throat. “Get Dillan in the car Gwen.”
I don’t need telling twice, I quickly climb into the back and strap Dillan into his car seat. He lets out a baby cry but soon settles which I’m grateful for.
During this time Nathan has Carl pressed up against the back of the car. I scramble out, convinced that Dillan will be okay for a moment. Nathan needs me.
Two men come over and separate the fight, not that it can be called that. Nathan was kicking arse until they showed up. I actually feel bad for Carl and his broken nose and his lip that’s bleeding so profusely from the side, I have a terrible feeling it’ll need stitches.
Nathan scoops the envelope up from the ground and tucks it inside his jacket. His hand trembles as he grips my arm, guides me to the passenger side and forces me in.
His angry brown eyes glare at Carl who is still being restrained and ordering that somebody call the police. Everybody seems a little bit stunned by the events. This is a small town, this just doesn’t happen here.
“Are you okay?” I ask softly, not knowing what else to say. His lips are a thin white line and a vein bulges on his forehead. He turns on the ignition and reverses out of his parking spot, causing two people to leap to the side out of the way. Christ. Is he crazy? “Calm down.”
He ignores me and races out of the car park way over the speed limit. His anger is obvious, so much so, I’m surprised he’s not glowing red. Actually, he looks like he kind of is.
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” I snap and look over my shoulder at Dillan waving his chubby arms around. Nathan finally slows when we reach the end of the street, my body relaxes a fraction but not much. “Nathan. What’s in the envelope?”
“Don’t ask,” he doesn’t sound angry or even irritated, he sounds desperate. “Please. Just… don’t ask.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll hate me,” he says this brokenly, as if this is worse than any other possibility.
“I doubt that,” I place my hand on his arm. “Tell me.”
“I refuse!”
Gah. “Fine. I won’t ask.” At least not whilst I can see how clearly upset he is.
We drive home in silence, it’s tense and uncomfortable and brings back memories of our first couple of months together.
“Nathan?” I call as he makes his way into the house. He stops to unlock the door before coming back to help me unload the boot.
“Take Dillan inside,” he demands. “Oh, and next time I leave you alone for five minutes, don’t talk to anybody. Not even Paula or Jeanine.”
My mouth drops open, “What?”
“You heard me.”
“You expect me to ignore my friends because of something you won’t tell me about? Something that will clearly affect me.”
His broken and pleading gaze comes to me. His tone matches, “Yes.”
“This is…” I pick up Dillan and hold him tight to me. His eyes peek up at me as I clutch him to my chest. “Ridiculous. Just tell me what it is, rip off the plaster, I’m not stupid. I know you’re being blackmailed, that much is obvious. Especially now.”
“Take Dillan inside,” he hisses, his tone telling me that he’s not to be trifled with.
“I’m going to take him inside, and then we’re going to talk.”
“No we’re not.”
I give him the same look he gave me only moments ago, “Oh, we are.”
His face registers that of shock, I’ve never spoken to him this way before. If I didn’t know any better I’d say he was amused for a moment before realizing that this time, I’m not going to relent.
I’m confident that Nathan won’t leave to avoid me, not when he’s obviously trying to hide something and whoever is trying to deliver it is being relentless about it.
Dinner is as silent and as tense as the drive home. Whenever I try to speak to him he completely blanks me as if I’m not here. To say I’m frustrated would be an understatement.
“Still talking to myself I see,” I mumble and follow Nathan up the stairs. He continues up to his room and even has the gall to slam the door in my face. “You can’t keep hiding from me, you’re going to have to talk to me eventually.”
I try the handle but he’s locked it from the inside.
“Nathan, please.”
“Go away Gwen,” he pulls the door open, his face now inches from mine. “I’m serious. Go away.”
“Arsehole,” I swear, looking for a reaction. His jaw tenses. “Dick. Shit. Bitch. Bollocks.” A hand slams over my mouth and a very tense looking Nathan glares at me. I continue with my cursing, even though it’s muffled by his palm.
