I held onto Nate's hand, not wanting to let go. Ever. Not in the foreseeable future. I wanted to stay glued onto Nate and possible wipe away everything that happened in the last couple of hours.

"Ellie, you are holding on very tightly."

I looked up at Nate, his blue eyes capturing mine instantly. "Don't let go of me. Ever."

Nate looked taken aback but he covered it quickly with a smirk. "I'm not planning to do anything until your-"

"Nate I'm serious. Don't ever let go of me."

Nate eyed me carefully, taking in the seriousness in my voice. He ducked his head close to mine. "I'm not planning on letting go. Not ever baby." I knew it was the right time to swoon at those words, admire how far and quick our relationship developed but I simply stared. Stared at the beautiful creature in front of me.

He was so perfect. From one glance, I knew he was the type of man that would run into a blaze for anyone he loved. It was such an admirable trait it nearly wrecked me inside.

I then decided I was ready to confront my feelings. He was everything I never wanted yet everything I ever needed. He was my potential future and my life after it. I wanted to have him hold me, wake up with me, I wanted to run to him when I need someone. I wanted all of him. The good and the bad sides. The proper side and the vulgar side. I wanted it all.

"Nate, I think I like you-"

"No time to declare love now sweetheart. We have a highway to beat." A humorous voice snickered from behind my shoulder.

Because I was so unaware of him coming so close to me without making a sound, it startled me beyond believe.

My body jolted forward, whilst it simultaneously tried to turn out to assess the new danger. All the while, my heart leaped out my throat, causing a painful blast to hit my chest. My brain went back to survival mode, slowly shutting itself down but my reflex was still there. My hands thrashed out and my legs dared to dash forward.

Anyone overlooking me right now, would think I lost my balance, my special awareness and my sanity all together. But this was pure sweltering panic ran through my bloodstream. And I had no control of my body anymore.

Nate dashed forward and tried to grab my fraying limbs. "Calm down Ellie."  I heard this voice but it wasn't penetrating through my brain.

I willed myself to calm down, to a degree where his voice could take over and ease my suffocation. But I couldn't seem to do it.

My legs crumbled down from under me and I felt Nate's arms come under my shoulders and try to hold me up.

"Shall I help?"

"Don't touch her Claud." Nate sneered.

Ah Claud.

I know him.

I know that I know him.

"What the hell did he do for her to be like this?" Claud and Nate. But who said it? I couldn't seem to separated the voices anymore.

"He's fucking dead."

"Why isn't she responding?"

"Maybe because she's having a panic attack."

"Does a panic attack look like this?"

I felt my body being lowered down, until I was placed on the floor. "How the fuck do I know?"

"Then why the fuck would you say it?"

"Why can't I say it?"

I heard someone grunt. "Are you seriously arguing with me right now whilst have Ellie is in this condition?"

"No, but I also don't want to sound like a dickhead but she needs to stand up. Tell her she can finish her episode in my car."

"You're a dickhead. What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Nothing but any second when her dad comes and starts fucking shooting us, then I'll have something wrong with me."

"What? Don't start at me like you're surprised. I've been a heartless dick all my life. But I want her alive for your sake so I will help you pick her up and we will go to my car."

"She will freak."

"At least it's in my car."

"Are you coming as well?"

"No I'll go back to sitting outside her office. Throw her dad a bit out of balance because he will assume I went with her."

"Smart. I know I raised you well."

"You did not raise me." Someone scoffed again.

"I raised you. Who do you think did all your dirty laundry?@

"Probably my dad."

"No offence, but your dad was a piece of shit when your Mum passed. He didn't even know he had a son that needed to be cared for. I did everything for you the second you came to live with us."

"Most of the time I was alone."

"I tried my best with you. Now let's drop this victim conversation."

"Fuck you."

"Someone will tonight.you stay away when that happens."

I was kissing Nate. His scent was overflowing my sense until it became part of me. His hands were in my shirt and every touch was setting me on fire. I missed him. I missed his touches.

I let out a whimper and Nate deepened the kiss. My core tightened and warmed at the same time.

"Elisandra." A loud voice said from in front of us. I snapped my head up at the voice and I instantly shrunk back on my two feet.

"Father?" I managed to crock out.

"Step away from him," my Father's loud voice boomed through us. He had four men dressed in all black standing behind him and for a moment I feared for my own life. Which was not acceptable since the man in front of me should make me feel nothing but safe.

I felt Nate tighten his hold on my hand and I eased into his touch. "Sir-" Nate started to say but my Father snapped his eyes on him sharply, his look cold and brutal. Nate clamped his mouth shut in a tight line.

My Father lifted up one hand and next thing I knew, one man, with short trimmed hair and a chiselled jawline stepped forward and grabbed Nate's upper arm. I let out a shocked cry and tugged Nate back by his hand. "Don't touch him!" I yelled, snarling at the man. He looked down at me and glanced over my shoulder at Nate.

I didn't realise I had pushed him behind me, protecting him from the tall man that stood before me.

My Father shook his head at me. "Ellie.. Ellie.. How many times have I got to tell you? Don't be as stupid as your mother."

I focused my glare on him, rage building up inside of me. "Father, don't speak about Mom like that."

Father raised his eyebrows at me. "I see this useless man has taught you how to answer back." He let out an humourless scoff, looking up and down at Nate. "What a pleasant thing to learn." He sarcastically added.

The man in front of me made a quick move and he sudden had me captured in his arms. I struggled in his hold, kicked out, lashed out... everything. But he didn't budge.

"Ellie, let's go." My Father said from behind me. I didn't want to go anywhere near this heartless man. A man who inflicting nothing but mental torture upon both myself and my Mom. He was never there to praise me and always controlled how I was.

With one hard tug, I pulled my hand out of the man's grip. I turned back around so I could face my Father properly.

"I'm not going with-"

It was like something snapped inside my Father's head as his face suddenly changed. He had the expression on, the same expression that left me quivering on my feet and that haunted me in my dreams. "Let's go." My Father repeated, in a much deadlier voice. It sickened me how much control he had over me; with one simple look, I had succumbed to his will.

I bowed my head and slowly walked to his side, ignoring the shocked yell coming from Nate. "Ellie, don't go with him!"

I kept walking, until I was standing at the door of my Father's black SUV. One of his other men rushed to my side and opened the door for me.

"Don't go Ellie!" Nate yelled but he was cut short. I wanted to look back at him, to tell him to go home before my Father did something drastic. But when his yells diffused... it pained me to know my Father already did what he was good at.

I jolted up and snapped my eyes open. In front if my I could see three lanes, a few cars zooming past us. I looked to my side and saw Claud facing the front, his hands on the steering wheel. 

"Did you have a nightmare princess?"

I didn't answer him and looked behind and saw those seats where empty. Where is Nate?

Was he not with us? Would he not come with us to this so called secluded place?

My body started to jitter at the prospect of being all alone with a group of people- including his father - or alone with just Claud. Does not sit right with me at all.