I've no time to plead and pine,
I've no time to wheedle,
Kiss me quick and then I'm gone
Pop! Goes the weasel.

I whistle the last line of the song as we alight from the plane.
Boy that was a long two hours flight.
I yawn as that thought crosses my head.

Nicholas takes my hand in his and I don't even fight it. I'm mentally drained honestly.

We enter another car and the car drives off. Few minutes later we arrive at the Montero estate and I tell the driver to stop.

The driver stops and I get down, with Nicholas following suit. We wait for the car to vanish out of sight until I make my way into the estate.

I follow some corners before arriving at the entrance with Nicholas right behind me.

Ugh! He looks like a lost puppy. Just then his phone rings and the conversation is brisk.
I hurriedly give the code knock and as if she was expecting me, mother opens the door.

"Welcome back baby", she says as she also opens her arms to hug me.

I brush past her and walk straight to the kitchen. I open the wine cellar and take out a bottle of champagne, open the the cabinet and take a wine glass.

"Nadine! What the hell was that for?", Mother asks in her stern voice. I just stare at Nicholas.

"I'm leaving tonight!", I state with a matter of fact look and excuse myself as I head upstairs.

"Jesus fucking Christ! What the hell happened to you?", Mother exclaims as she sees Nicholas face

"I messed up", I heard Nicholas voice fade in the background.

I reach the secret room and let out a huge sigh of relief.

I pour myself a full glass of champagne, turn on the tv and increase the volume.

I see Nicholas staring at the ground in a defeated manner, talking to my mom and my mom and sniffing back probably unshed tears.

"Yeah you messed up", mother says.

As if!

I take my shower and try to shut out everything and everyone at the moment. I just allow the water course through my skin and savor every piece of the icy feeling on my skin.

I dress up in a black, baggy short and grey t-shirt. Comb my hair to the side and apply a blue colored contacts. I put some mascara on and a smile on my face.

I pack my most important stuff and make my way downstairs.

"Bye Mom!", I say and make my way for the door.

"Samantha Nadine Montero! Will you stop right there and hear this young man out and stop being petty for chrissake!", She yells at me.

Yeah, I'm the one being petty.

I turn around slowly and look at her in the eyes and look at Nicholas!

"For a neurosurgeon you sure have a lot of time", I say as I make my way to the dining table and drop my backpack there.
I place one hand on my hip and the other on the chair.

"Samantha I am really really sorry about what I said earlier. It was uncalled for and utterly inappropriate" Nicholas pleads

"Good! And what do we say Nadine?"

"Apology accepted", I say with a smile on my face.

"Good everyone is happy. Why don't you two hug it out?"

Nicholas comes towards me and I shift uncomfortably in my spot.

He smiles dauntingly and I suddenly find the marbled floor very attractive.

He uses his index finger to raise my head up and he caresses my cheeks with his knuckle, tucking my hair behind my ear.

He pulls me in for a hug and inhales deeply. I close my eyes and relax my muscle.

"Your mother is frightening", he whispers and we both chuckle and let go but still holding on to each other.

"Tell me about it!", I say with a huge grin on my face.

"Now that's settled, you're staying right?", Mother asks looking a little bit apprehensive.

"Why the sudden urge to have me over all the time?", I ask with a raised eyebrow

"I missed my baby that's all!", Mother says with teary eyed

Emotional manipulation!

"Anyway, I can't stay I really have to go", I say making my way for the door.

Just then the door bell rings and I freeze in my spot.

Mom immediately rushes to go and check who it is.

"Calm down, it's Eric!"

I roll my eyes hard.

Mom lets him in and immediately we lock eyes.

"You here to tell me how to respect you koala face?", I ask in a nonchalant way.

"You sure do hold grudges a lot don't you?", Eric asks with his hands tucked in his pocket

"What the actual fuck!", I state throwing my hands in the air in utter disbelief

"I don't have time for this. I only came to find out if you've heard the news"

"What news?", Nicholas and I chorus

"Austin Waverly is dead. The guy who tried your case. Your uncle"

"I know who he is Wilder, no need for the meticulous description" I say in a matter of fact tone

"Guys now is not the time", Nicholas calls our attention. We both look in his direction and see him holding my mother.

"Mom?", I call out and quickly rush to her aid.

"What's wrong?", Eric asks

"I don't know man. After you said Austin is dead, she passed out and I caught her just in time before she hit the ground", Nicholas explains trying to get her pulse rate.

"Let's get her to her room", I say still trying to pull myself together.

Nicholas carries her and we follow behind him.
He gingerly drops her on the bed and touches her forehead.

"She'll be fine. She's in shock that's all. All she needs right now is a good sleep. I'll prescribe some drugs you should give her when she wakes up. You can get over the counter at any pharmacy or she should have some at home even"

I just nod my head. Was she really that close to her brother?
Was he really killed? But it's not even up to twenty four hours! Who would want to harm my family?

Please be okay ma!

I stare at the almost lifeless body of my mother, holding her hands and rubbing it. Trying to tell her everything is okay.

I possibly can't leave her like this now. I have to take care of her. I have to protect her.

"So, this means you guys were able to talk to him?", Eric's voice brings me out of my reverie.

"Yes and we were able to get this sorta customized lighter", Nicholas says.

"Let's head out and leave her to rest so we'll be able to discuss more", I state as I cover her up and plant a kiss on her forehead.

Damn! She's burning up real bad.

You shouldn't have stayed back no matter what!

"Now is not the time", I murmur through gritted teeth.

The boys just stare at me with a raised eyebrow and I just shrug and walk past them.

"Sam you can't tell her or anyone else anything that happened New York!", Nicholas says as he paces back and forth

"Yeah keep pacing like that, it calms me down" I say with my hands at akimbo

"Guys focus! What really happened?", Eric asks and Nicholas begins to narrate everything from top to bottom, not mincing or mixing up his words

"And what's your theory Sam?", Eric asks as he sits on the chair

"I think that it's definitely the same person that killed Asher that threatened Austin that fateful day"

Silence falls on us as everyone is in deep thoughts trying to come up with a possible solution for this fucked up situation.

The battle line has been drawn obviously!

"Now is not the time!", I groan as I face palm and sit down myself

"Can I see the lighter again?", Nicholas asks

"Sure" I say and hand him the lighter from my back pocket.

"How did the person know to go to Austin immediately after killing Asher?"

"Huh?", I ask looking at him in a passive way

"What I mean is, Asher has just been murdered and the same killer went to Austin right after. How did this killer know that Austin is related to you and he was the lawyer going to try your case?"

Eric asks and reality dawns on us

"So that means this person is either a psychic, family friend or..."

"Family", I whisper the last part out cutting Nicholas from completing the sentence.

"And you guys don't have any huge lead we can follow or something?", Eric asks leaning his head on his hand.

"Sam had an address book", Nicholas states

"Great! Where is it?"

"I can't find it", I reply sheepishly suddenly finding my feet attractive
 
"Alright come on we'll help  you look"

"Speak for yourself dude, I have to go to the hospital but you guys go ahead and keep me posted and I'll see if there's any lead I can get on this lighter", Nicholas says and rushes out.

Right! Leaving me alone with the devil incarnate

"No matter how much you wish you can shoot daggers out of your eyes to kill me it can't work", Eric states rather smugly while getting up.

He goes to the fridge and takes out a diet coke and takes a large gulp.

He lets out a loud burp

"Sorry", he mutters as his ears fluster red.

"Didn't know you were capable of an apology" I say chuckling and he chuckles too.

"I'm sorry about the other day Sam. I really am", he sincerely states.

"Nah it's fine koala face"
We stare into each others eyes and he takes a menacing step towards me and I let out a shaky breath.

He takes my hand in his and plants a kiss on it.

"Your freckles are really lovely", he says using his thumb to brush lightly against them.

I feel my heart racing and my blood rushing all through my veins. I feel this electric current pass through my body and a feeling of want pass through me.

Whoever is controlling my buttons better turn all these off!

Ding dong!

The door bell rings bringing us back to the present.

We scurry away from each other look apprehensively at each other.

"Um", I begin and Eric clears his throat

"We should probably check who is at the door.

The lock soon starts clicking and we freeze in our spot.

Jack enters and we let out a sigh of great relief

"Oh it's just you", I say breezily and move to hug him.

He hugs me back and kisses my forehead.

"Nice to see you Sam", he says ruffling my hair.

"He steals a glance at Eric and just nods his head in acknowledgement.

"Where's mom?", He asks looking at me

"She's sleeping!"

I state and embrace him again. I have missed him so much.

"Someone's a bit clingy today", he laughs and hugs me back.

"Well I'm here to tell mom the news. I don't know if you've heard?"

"About Uncle Austin? Yeah she knows and I know too. You have nothing to worry about"

I say as I pull out from the hug.

"Sam we were supposed to look for something", Eric states

"Look for what?" Jack asks smiling

I open my mouth to tell him then remembered Nicholas said we shouldn't say anything.

Not that I don't trust Jack but just to be careful.

You don't trust Jack your best friend but you trust Eric or Nicholas you literally met when?

"At least they are helping!"

"Excuse me?", Jack asks still waiting for an answer

"Oh yeah... Eric here was looking for the apology he owes you. Right Eric?", I say with a smirk

"What?", Jack exclaims with his eyes wide open.

They look like Saucers!

"I know right!", I mutter under my breath

"Yeah! Um... I'm really sorry about what I said the other day Jack. I was just having a rough day and I shouldn't have taken it out on you", Eric says sincerely

Shocking!

"I know! Even for me!", I breezily say pretending to wipe a fake tear off my eye

"Dramatic much!", Jack nudges me with his elbow.

"It's okay man!", Jack says with a toothy grin.

"Anyway, I gotta go! You really should stop by the office to sign the deal. Your dad is going nuts about it. Oh and Sam we really should catch up on old times you know... Just the two of us"

"Sure Jackie boy! We'll work something out. Oh and Jack?"

"Yes Sam?"

"Please don't tell anyone about me"

"Of course not!"he says with a wide grin.

"Great! Do you still rmember our handshake?"

"Are you kidding me?", He says gripping his chest, pretending to be hurt.

We both laugh out loud and proceed to make our secret handshake.

It goes the same way, smooth rhythm neither of us faltering, with a huge grin plastered on both our faces.

"Alright, bye Sam! Bye Eric!"

"Bye!", We chorus and I lock the door behind him.

Well that was fun.

"So what exactly are we looking for?", Eric asks getting straight to business

"It's sorta white with a little black stain on the upper left corner of it"

"So where do we start?"

"I honestly have no idea. Maybe my room?"

"Where is your room?"

"That is what I can't tell or show you. So you just wait here and I'll be right back", I say grabbing my back pack and rushing up the stairs not leaving any room for any further conversations.

I go into the secret room and lock the door behind me.
Alright where are you address book?

"I swear I saw it few days back", I say aloud as I check the drawers and the wardrobe.

I frantically search every corner of the room, scattering everything and not coming up with anything.

"This is literally so frustrating!" I scream from the top of my lungs after about fifteen minutes of fruitless search, being comfortable with the fact that nobody can hear me.

I exit the room and go back downstairs to see a very bored Eric watching tv.

"Did you fucking search at all", I curse feeling very frustrated to find him so relaxed.

"Is this it?" He says holding up the exact address book I described.

Too stunned to speak, I just stay put with wide eyes and an open mouth.

"I'll answer your unasked question... Your mom's room"

"Huh?", I ask looking so confused

"The address book, I saw it in your mom's room"

"Huh?" I still say but more out of surprise and shock this time than of confusion.

"Oh come on! Are you just going to give me that look? I am as surprised as you are"

I shake my head vigorously to bring me back to a normal state.

"What were you doing in my mom's room?", I ask the first question that pops into my head.

"I heard her coughing and I had to rush up there to see if she was okay. I gave her some water to drink and an Advil because she complained of a migraine. And when she asked of you I just hushed her back to sleep. I was about to leave when I accidentally knocked the bedside lamp over and I saw the address book there. It was underneath the lamp. "

Okay okay... This should make sense right? I mean all these happened within the space of what... 5-10minutes I was away?

This has to be fate!

"Lemme see it" I say stretching out my hands to collect it. He gingerly places the book on my hand and I flip through it. It sure is the address book.

"What could mother possibly have been doing with this?"

Eric shrugs and says, "It's possible it fell off from your backpack and she picked it up while cleaning with the intention of giving it back to you and then forgot in the process"

"That's oddly specific and suspicious ", I say as I give him a raised eyebrow.

"It's the only reasonable explanation I can come up with other than she must have searched your bag while you were asleep or something and that'd definitely sound creepy much"

"You're full of speculations today aren't you?" I ask.

But why would mother search my bag? And even if it fell off, why didn't she just return it?
So many questions race through my head and I just stare blankly into space, swimming in the pool of my own thoughts. Does mom have anything to do with ... Nah my mom can't possibly have anything to do with Asher's case just to sabotage her own daughter's safety except if I'm not her daughter which I am... Right?

Oh My God!

I begin to gasp for air as my breathing becomes labored. I flap my arms ferociously in the air trying to catch my breath. It's like I've forgotten how to even breathe

Eric rushes to my side and fans me with his hand. He hurriedly gets a bowl of water and sprinkle it on my face.

"In and out, slowly Sam. That's how you breathe", Eric soothingly calls out and rubs my back while holding me in place.

Soon after, my breathing stabilizes and he gives me some water to drink.

"You okay there?", He asks still looking sceptically at me.

I nod my head, too afraid to speak.

"Okay good. Now, what the hell was that?", He asks face palming and looking at me wide eyed?

"I guess I scared myself", I murmur suddenly feeling a cold shiver run down my spine and giving me goosebumps all over.

"No shit! You had a crazy panic attack", he says tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear.

I open my mouth to speak but he places his pointy finger over my mouth and shaking his head.

"You don't have to explain Sam. I kinda understand what you're going through. I just want you to know that I'll help you get through it okay. Eventually you'll get through this I promise" he affirms giving me a reassuring smile.

"Did hell just freeze over? Eric Wilder is being nice! Am I in an alternate universe?", I say with a smirk

"Now don't get so cocky Montero! Anyway I have to be on my way now. I'll have someone decode whatever gibberish this is..." He says holding up the address book

"... And I'll definitely get back to you Asap but please make sure you take care of yourself", he smiles and winks

I watch him exit and admire his legs. Damn are they so hot!

"I have to check up on mom" I say aloud as I lock the door and turn on all the security systems.

"There's no such thing as being too careful"
I go to her room and find her still sleeping soundly.
Memories from earlier began flooding into my head.

There's no need to overthink this, maybe she just forgot to give me the address book and that's okay because people forget all the time.

With that thought, I plaster a huge grin on my face as I head to my own room.
I close all the windows and turn on the security TV.

I fall on the bed with a huge thud and close my eyes.
I soon find myself drifting off into space.

A/N
Author: It took me three weeks to write this chapter 🤧 I really hope you guys enjoyed it

Samantha: They would if it didn't have so many typos

Author: For a grown woman you act like such a child.

Eric: Do these two ever get along?

Nicholas: Does it look like it?

Mrs Montero: The day they'd get along is probably the day hell would freeze over.

Author: Anyhow... There's a huge huge surprise in the next chapter but before you go, why don't you tap on that little star and leave a comment. Thank you ☺️