Chapter Three-Hundred-Thirty-One
“Guess what daddy,” Dakota chirped sometime after the Midnight Celebration calmed down to an extent, but not completely and Nick and Ashley had managed to find their way back to the group but not entirely out of their own little world. Dakota twirled on over to them as if she were a graceful ballerina and she wore a dazed look on her face like a girl gets in a movie or TV show when their crush kisses them – or simply says hello.
“What Princess?” Nick asked while tearing his gaze away from Ashley for the first time ever and he looked at his little girl and suddenly became highly amused.
“Justin makes me feel like I’m floating on air.” Nick chuckled.
“Oh he does, does he?” he asked while arching his eyebrow.
“Uh-huhs! He kisses nice – an’ he gaves me a pretty rose, an’ he tells me I’m the prettiest girl here.”
“And all of that is enough to make a girl feel like she is floating on air huh?” Nick questioned. It wasn’t meant as an insult, but he really is curious.
“Mm hmm,” Dakota answered and she swooned some more. Nick chuckled. “He’s the sweetest guy in the whole wide world Daddy you should gives the man a break.”
“And what am I, chopped liver?” Josh asked his voice dripping in jealousy. Brian had gone and got the kids from their party as they’re gonna leave very soon.
“You’re the sweetest boy in the whole wide world,” Dakota told him smoothly. “An’ you’re my charming beast, remembers?”
“What good is that if I don’t make you walk on air?” Josh asked somewhat bitterly.
“You makes my tummy do somersaults – you know that feeling you gets when you goes down hill really fast on a roller coaster?”
“I do that?” Josh asked, recalling the feeling very easily. Dakota nodded, blushing ever so slightly, as she hasn’t shared that information with anybody except for Ashley, Kori and Ellie. She never thought she would be sharing it with Josh, but the last thing she wants is for him to think she likes Justin more then him. Cause that can never happen. The boy is just going to have to understand that girls have celebrity crushes all the time.
“How?” Josh wanted to know.
“Goes away Joshy,” Dakota blushed even more and she looked at everybody else in fear that they were all watching her. But much to her surprise they were leaving them completely alone. She has a feeling Ashley might be listening, but other then that no one is paying them any mind. Infact, she and Josh some how managed to end up a few feet away from them all. How did that happen?
“Not until you tell me how” Josh insisted stubbornly.
“You always say the sweetest an’ most unexpected stuffs at the right time okay?” Dakota asked, her face turning redder then a fireball. Before Josh could reply, Dakota turned and ran off to look for someone to hide behind until her embarrassment passes – Sarah. Where is her Sarah? Josh however, stood there and gaped after her. He didn’t know he did those things. Guess you really do learn something new every day. When Dakota found Sarah she was standing around watching Chris and Ryan have a break dance competition as they had fast dancing music playing – not by an artist that is actually present, but from a CD that the DJ was playing. Dakota went up behind her sister, draped her arms over her shoulders and rested her head against her back and leaned on her as if all of the muscles in her body stopped working and she was Gumby.
“Kota don’t,” She complained somewhat and tried to move away but Dakota only followed. “Kota I am not your leaning post.”
“You are for now. Ellie isn’t here, you’ll do just fine.”
“You are lucky Ellie isn’t here, or she would totally be making fun of you and Josh right now” Sarah informed with a small laugh. Dakota scowled.
“No mentioning the J word.” Sarah rolled her eyes amusedly.
“Seriously Kota, let go. I want to go see daddy.”
“No.” Sarah heaved a sigh of annoyance, gently took Dakota’s hands as they were still draped over her shoulders and then she turned and started to walk off toward Nick with Dakota still latched on but now being dragged a long like a sack of potatoes. When she reached the table Jerald did as well with a big grin on his face that clearly states he just spent an entire night with a woman that makes him happy.
“Where have my brother and my beautiful niece gone off to?” he wanted to know.
“We’re right here,” Kevin answered before anybody else could as he and Elenore approached.
“Uncle Jerry, I missed you!!” Elenore exclaimed excitedly upon seeing her favorite uncle. She leaned forward and threw herself into his arms leaving him not choice but to catch her. He chuckled.
“Well hi there beautiful, I missed you too” He told her while planting kisses on various parts of her face and she giggled. Kevin raised his eyebrow at how extra happy his big brother seems right now but otherwise said nothing.
“Guess what!” Elenore chirped.
“What??” Jerald asked eagerly.
“Daddy an’ I watched the fireworks up on the balcony.” Jerald raised his eyebrow and everybody around them went silent.
“By daddy you mean…” he trailed off.
“Daddy Kevy” Elenore clarified, feeling slightly put off that they would think she ran off to see Sean again. She’s been rather good this evening she must say so herself. Jerald looked at Kevin curiously and saw the tear streaks running down his cheeks and he suddenly caught on.
“Ohhh I see,” he replied. “That’s awesome!” he told her enthusiastically. “Were they good fireworks?”
“Uh-huhs, I liked the blue ones bestest.”
“Of course” Jerald chuckled and he planted a kiss on her cheek before going over and hugging his brother who is facing a lot of internal emotions right now. Soon enough everybody eventually grew tired of the party – Bella especially, who Ashley had placed in her carseat on top of the table a long time ago when she had fallen asleep. They all gathered their children up and were escorted back out to the vans by tight security – Ashley especially. When they got back to the hotel Nick and Ashley got Dakota and Sarah settled in bed for the night. While Bella was lying comfortably in the middle of Nick and Ashley’s bed staring up at the ceiling as if it were the coolest thing she’s ever seen Nick slid his arms around Ashley’s waist and rested his forehead against hers.
“Did you have fun tonight?”
“Mhm,” Ashley answered while smiling up at him some.
“I’m sorry some of the fans tried to ruin your evening. If I foresaw that in the first place I would never have let myself get involved with them.”
“Its okay, the important thing is you didn’t let them” Ashley told him while resting her head against his chest. “I know it wasn’t your fault.” Nick placed his forefinger and thumb to her chin, gently tilted it up and he leaned forward and brushed his lips lightly over hers.
“I’m just thankful I got you back here safe and sound,” he told her while gently twirling one of her curls around his finger. “Maybe that wasn’t Sean after all. Surely he would’ve tried something other then what he did before.”
“Or maybe he just knew he was being carefully watched.”
“I don’t think it was really him baby. I think he was just desperate to get you to dance with him. I mean who wouldn’t be?”
“It was him Nick…I know it.”
“Well the important thing is, you are safe” Nick insisted.
“For now. Don’t let your guard down already, you never know when he is going to strike.” Nick gazed into her brown eyes lovingly and rubbed his finger over her cheek delicately. “Anyway, I’m gonna go take a bath.”
“Kay, I’ll stay here and watch Princess Drool for you,” Nick replied while looking over at Bella who was blowing bubbles noisily.
“You do that” Ashley giggled and he leaned forward and planted a kiss on her nose before she turned and went into the bathroom. She left the door open just a crack and walked across the bathroom to set up her bath. Ashley turned the knobs of the shower, causing water to pour from the spout into the tub. After adjusting the temperature and plugging the drain, she started to undress. A draft came from the open window in the bathroom, causing Ashley to shiver. The bathroom door slammed shut from the draft coming through the window. She went to close the window, still shivering from the chill air. A pair of cold brown eyes peered out at the half naked Ashley as she added bubble bath to the tub. This was all too easy, even the bathroom door was shut. You’re getting too careless, Ashley dear. She tested the water with her toes and agreed on the temperature. She just needed the tub to fill up and hopefully her worries of the night would just melt away. Taking a seat on the toilet, she reflected back to her magical moments with Nick and sighed happily. Now she wished she had given Bella to Kori and Wiley so she could have some relaxation time with Nick in the bath. When the tub was finally full enough to satisfy her, Ashley stood to get in when suddenly she realized she doesn’t have any soap. Having been halfway submerged in the water already, Ashley quickly wiped off with a towel so she wouldn’t slip on the wet floor later. Ashley slipped in the tub, savoring the hot water as it touched her skin. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of lavender bubbles and started to reach to the spout off. It was now or never. With soft, deliberate steps the man closed in on Ashley. Her hand graced the knob and started to turn it but quickly stopped when she heard her name whispered.
“Ashley…” She looked up, fear and terror bubbled up inside her when her eyes locked with the dark brown eyes of Sean her tormentor.
~*~*~*~*~
Nick laughed softly as he rocked Bella and watched The Simpson’s.
“What Bells? Do you like the show too?” Nick touched Bella’s soft cheek as she made her usual happy noises. “You’re gonna grow up and be a Daddy’s girl, aren’t ya? I know Mommy is amazing but you’re all mine Bells.” This is absolutely sickening. Thoughts swarmed in the closet of Ashley and Nick’s hotel room. Another intruder sat waiting for his moment, his one moment. But he didn’t care how careful he was. He was going to get this moving as soon as possible. The only problem was Bella. Damn baby better fall asleep. And when his phone vibrated once in his pocket he knew he needed to be done fast. Nick heard the water turn off in the bathroom and knew it was time to put Bella down. He picked her up and took her over to her crib, laying her down softly. She wasn’t going to put up much of a fuss; she had a long night. After smiling down at his baby, he took a walk over to the closet. He wanted to make sure everything was ready to go when they left. This was the moment. This intruder held up the bat he brought with him, ready to strike. Nick opened the door and before he knew it, everything went black. The moment Nick was down Bella started screaming, as if she sensed something wasn’t right. Max made a mad dash for the bathroom. He threw the door open and saw Sean climbing through the window with Ashley.
“Hurry up, the baby is screaming!” Max hissed. “They’re going to figure out something is wrong when no one shuts her up!”
“Why didn’t you shut her up?” Sean snapped as he reached the bottom.
“Do I have the word Nanny tattooed across my forehead or something?”
“Ever heard of the word pacifier dickwad?” Max rolled his eyes.
“I’m in the middle of a kidnapping I’m sorry that didn’t come across my mind!”
“Will you two please stop bickering for five minutes so we can get out of here before they catch us?” Trevor hissed quietly from the car just as Max reached the ground and stood next to Sean. “Or is that such a fucking challenge for you?”
“Sure we can do that and would you like us to stop at the nearest convenient store to get you some pads for that time of the month you seem to be experiencing?” Sean shot back as he tossed an unconscious Ashley into the back seat. He left the door open for Max and quickly got into the passenger’s seat next to his lover. When both men were in with the doors shut Trevor sped off.
“Shut the fuck up Sean or you can walk back to Florida for all I care.”
“Id like to see you try and make me.”
“Well that’s a real mature comeback. Are you five now?” Max asked while laughing somewhat.
“Shut up Max!” both Trevor and Sean spoke in unison. Max flinched slightly clearly not expecting that. “Make yourself useful and gag and bind her before she wakes up and freaks out” Sean added bitterly.
“If you don’t quit saying I’m not useful I’m going to walk away from the both of you right now! And I know you won’t kill me for it because you need me. If it weren’t for me you wouldn’t have this bitch right now!”
“Actually, now that we have the bitch you are pretty much worthless to us” Sean pointed out. “So do as your told or you just might find yourself being tortured to death right along with her.”
“You aren’t through yet – you still have Kori to get. And anyway, you kill me and you won’t have anybody else on your side. Everybody else is against you. You wont have anyone to spy for you, you wont have anyone to get your groceries for you and you won’t—“
“Shut up Max I’m not going to let him kill you. Just bind and gag Ashley up will you? Jesus Christ…”
“Your not going to let me kill him? Last time I checked you were my lover not my boss.”
“Like you are going to anyway,” Trevor told him while rolling his eyes. “He gets under your skin way too much, if you didn’t need him you would have done it a long time ago.” Sean crossed his arms over his chest and turned and looked out his window stubbornly. Trevor looked through the rear view mirror and was pleased to see that Max was finally doing as he was told and binding and gagging their victim. The last thing they need is for her to wake up and freak out on them. They need to get back to Florida and to their warehouse as quickly as possible. Glad for the silence, Trevor began to focus on the drive.
“Are you sure you don’t need any pads Trev?” Sean spoke up after a few moments of silence, not being able to resist. Trevor rolled his eyes and stifled a laugh.
“I prefer tampons thank you very much,” he informed, deciding he would lighten up and play along with his lover’s joke now that they were putting a good few miles between them and the hotel. “Pads make you feel like you are wearing a diaper.” Sean laughed out loud at this.
“How in the hell would you know that?” Trevor shrugged his shoulders.
“I listened to your wife when she complained about it for years.”
“At least one of us did. I tried real hard to tune her out.”
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile back at the hotel, Nick was still lying on the ground unconscious and Bella was screaming her little head off. Dakota and Sarah who were next door in their own bedroom looked at each other confused.
“Why hasn’t Ashee gotten Bella yet?” Dakota whispered softly in Sarah’s ear. The two of them were currently sharing a bed because neither of them wanted to sleep alone but only Dakota would admit it. Sarah instead put on a brave face and told Nick she would let her sleep with her and protect her through the night.
“I don’t know…” Sarah whispered back feeling equally is worried as her little sister.
“Should we goes to see?” Sarah thought about it for a moment.
“I’ll go. You stay here,” She demanded.
“But Sarah…”
“Stay.”
“But I’m scared…” Dakota whimpered.
“You’ll be fine,” Sarah promised before rolling out of the bed and leaving the room. Dakota got up on her knees and crawled to the edge of the bed waiting on her sister to come back and tell her everything is okay. She needs to hear that everything is okay. But from the sounds of it, its everything but. For one, she has never heard Bella scream like that – except for at the park when they were attacked, and two, Ashley wouldn’t just let her cry and that worries her to no end. Meanwhile when Sarah left the room she shares with Dakota for the night she went next door to hers and Nicks and peered inside. There in the room lay her father face down on the floor and Baby Bells in her crib. Sarah stood frozen in her spot and not knowing what else to do, she screamed at the top of her lungs.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
