Nate
I read the note over and over again. I couldn't figure out if this was a trap or not and I couldn't figure out who had her. The only suspect in my mind was Cole's father.
The note pretty much gave me an address and told me to go there alone if I want her alive. Everything in me screamed to obey them. That's how much I was dying to save her, but Ares insisted that it wasn't a good idea.
But of course I wouldn't listen to him.
I would go there alone even if it meant I'd die, but I would get her out alive first.
Ares was now back to his home and Leo was asleep, so I sneaked out and got to my car.
"Nate?" I heard a familiar voice. "Don't even think about it" He said.
"Vincent please let me go" I pleaded. "You know how it feels"
He sighed, "I give you a few hours to be back, if you're not we're sending backup" He said.
"Thank you" was the last thing I said before I drove off.
________
The place was pretty secluded and run down. It was even worse than Cole's place. I got out of the car before locking the doors and walked towards the place getting my gun out.
There was a huge house there, but it was almost in ruins. I walked in checking every corner.
Maybe this was a trap after all.
"You came" I heard a deep voice.
"Don't be a coward and show your face" I growled.
"Of course" He said just as I saw him coming down the stairs. I poinyed my gun at him but he already had one pointed at me.
"Who are you?" I asked feeling confused. I didn't know this face.
"Who else could I be?" He questioned with a sickening smirk.
I knew that smirk. Cole's father.
"Mr Balker" I said.
"That's right. Now tell me is my son dead yet?" He growled.
"He is not. Yet"
"That's good to know and if you want us to be in good terms you will keep him alive" He said.
"Am I missing something? Why would I want to be on good terms with you?" I frowned.
He paused, "You're just like everyone said you were" He said.
I sighed, "Are you one of my fans as well?"
"It is a pleasure to see you up close Nathaniel"
I cringed.
Why are we calling me Nathaniel? What did I ever do?
"Can't say the same for you Mr Balker. Now cut the crap and give her to me"
"You thought it would be so easy? I want my son. Alive"
"How did you find out?" I asked.
"Let's say I have my sources" He smirked.
"How did you find out?" I yelled and gestured towards my gun.
"I have a gun as well Nathaniel"
"If you've heard so much about me you must have heard I don't really think about consequences. Tell me before I do something you will regret"
"I know a person really close to you" He smiled.
"Who?!" I yelled.
"You'll find out if you bring me my son. Think Nathaniel. If you shoot me you get the chance to find out where Rose is or who betrayed you"
"I will bring your son. Here. Tomorrow and that's the only favor I'm ever going to do for you. You won't ask for anything else"
"I promise you Nathaniel, next time you will have Rosy"
I shot and grazed his leg on purpose. I knew it wasn't much damage but it was enough to make him groan in pain and fall to his knees.
"Oops, my finger slipped" I said. "Don't ever call her that again" Was the last thing I said before I left.
______
"No!" Ares yelled.
"Please-"
"There is no way!" He yelled again, "You went there when I told you it wasn't safe and now you want to give Cole to him? No!"
"Ares, you don't understand I won't let them get away but I need to play their game"
"No. I'm not going to repeat myself. You're not going"
"You're not my dad!"
"Nate you're basically my brother. I don't want anything to happen to you"
"I don't care if I get hurt, I only want her to be safe" I whispered, "Please"
"No and that's final" He said before walking off.
I was angry, furious. I statted hitting whatever was in front of me. I hadn't done this in a while but I needed to let it all out now.
"Hey hey" I heard someone urgently saying. He touched my shoulders and I flinched.
"Don't"
"Nate, stop acting like a kid" He said. It was Leo. As if I am the one who acts like a kid all the time.
"Shut up"
"Stop worrying so much!"
"Oh yeah? Let's see your reaction when they take Tessa away from you and you have no other choice"
"There is always a choice"
"No. You know what? Fine, don't help me. I fucked this up, I'm going to fix it"
"Nate no-"
"I'm sorry" I said before punching him hard on the face.
He fell to the floor unconscious and I poked his side lightly.
Yep. Definitely unconscious.
I left the room locking him in there and walked towards the cells. I had to trick all the guards into thinking someone was in the house, but I thankfully managed to do it.
I quickly walked to his cell and unlocked it.
"Is it my time to die?" He asked.
"No buddy. When your time comes it's going to be much more painful" I said and gesture for him to stand up. "Stand up" I said, but he didn't "Stand up!" I whined.
"I can't, idiot! My leg is barely working" He said.
"You're making it worse for yourself" I mumbled before helping him stand up.
"Where are you taking me?" He asked.
"Shut the fuck up" I whispered. "We need to sneak past everyone. Once we're in the car we can talk"
We exited through the back door and I ran to the car getting him in the passenger seat.
I quickly got in there and drove off.
"So are you going to tell me now?" He asked.
"Your father is threatening me. That's all you need to know"
I saw him smirk and elbowed his face.
"If I see that smirk once again I am going to rearrange your face"
After a while we stood in front of the same building. I helped him in intentionally letting him fall down in the process and waited.
"I'm here!" I yelled.
"Well well, I didn't actually think you would do it" Mr Balker said.
"Now do what you promised" I said and threw Cole in front of him.
"Who do you think it was? Who do you think betrayed you?" He asked.
"Shut up and tell me"
"Let me help you. You've known them ever since you've been in your mother's womb and he is a man" He said.
That narrowes it down.
"Michael, why don't you come out now?" He called out looking me in the eyes with a smirk.
But the only Michael I know is-
"Dad?"