31

Nate's POV

"Oh Sam, how long have you known me?" I say, laughing as I swirl the almost hundred-year-old whiskey in my glass.

"Almost fifteen years Nate and look, I'm still here despite everything that's happened," replies my blue-eyed best friend.

"You're not a saint either!" I exclaim indignantly, pouring the rest of the alcohol into my mouth.

"Come on, we both have a bag full of sins on our tails, but we still get the most amazing women. Come on, get out. When do you want to marry little Hamilton?"

"Get married? Oh Sammy, after this disastrous marriage with Claire, I don't want to hear wedding bells for now." I sigh tightly, and as the apparition of my little cat appears in my mind's eye, I take a deep breath.

"But you like the little one.", "I love her, Sam. But it's just too early. She's 22 and even if I would kill for her, she doesn't know me well enough. Sophia is sensitive and if she finds out what i've done then...she's gonna hate me." I tell my best friend, refilling my glass.

"As in love as she looked at you, it's impossible in my eyes that she hates you." He laughs and runs his hands through his pitch-black hair.

"She means the world to me. If something happens to her, I don't know how to go on living."

Just as Sam bursts out laughing, the door rips open and I see an outraged John.

His chest heaves heavily and erratically, while his blue eyes sparkle with fear.

"Mr Vance, Mrs Hamilton she-" "What about her?!" I say angrily, standing up instantly.

"They just took her, Mr. Vance! She couldn't even fight back!" replies my longtime driver hesitantly.

The way my chest tightens and my head suddenly falls apart isn't remotely human anymore.

It's like someone twists a knife in my stomach and the world moves more and more slowly.

"Who and when?!", I yell and look at him, can hardly breathe because everything suddenly confines me so much.

"Just minutes ago! They were - it was a black Mercedes and they just pulled her in! I didn't see the men and-"

And before he can finish, I grab my cell phone and dial my brother's number.

"Noah, the Rhodes have kidnapped Sophia." I say totally overwhelmed as I leave the office with John.

"What do you mean kidnapped?" asks Noah confused.

"They just kidnapped her like they did Tammy! Gosh, how could I be so stupid! You have to call Nancy right away and I'll let Robert know. And if I'm not dead by then, we'll look them together." I say and immediately hang up before getting in the car.

My whole body is shaking and there seems to be almost no room in my chest. Breathing is such a challenge and the thought of those disgusting wankers touching my Sophia is driving me insane.

The story between the Rhodes and the Vance has been going on for over 25 years and I regret every single minute I spent with this family.

I did something bad to them and I know it, but I just didn't think that after the $3 million in hush money they were still capable of something like that.

My heart keeps contracting and without really being able to do anything about it, I let the tears flow freely.

How could I be so inattentive? How could I not take the appropriate measures after all these years and all this happening? How the hell could I be so careless with my Sophia?

The weight on my body is crushing me and yet the only thought in my head is her.

Confused and totally upset, I run my hands over my face, somehow trying to stop the whimpering, but it's harder than I thought.

"We'll find her, Mr. Vance." John's voice sounds and I stare at him with a sigh.

"And what if not? I won't be able to live anymore, John." I sobbed in utter exhaustion.

"Pull the fuck together. We'll find her and you'll be happy again. You're her anchor and if she sees you in that state, she'll sink. You have to pick yourself up and be there for her when we find her found.", says John sternly and looks deep into mine with his blue eyes.

He's right.

I have to be strong. For Sophia.

"Thanks, John." I sigh and he just nods before continuing.

Robert's fist hits my face far too unexpectedly and I dangle a few meters backwards, totally dazed.

"I thought you'd take care of her! You promised! You miserable bastard, I swear to God if a hair is harmed I'll kill you!" the millionaire man yells at me while Noah and Roven found it difficult to hold him back.

"If you hurt her hair, I don't want to live anymore, Robert." I reply, swallowing and ruffling my hair in desperation.

"I'd love to cut your throat, you little prick. If only they'd taken you instead of Sophia. Why didn't you just leave her alone? She didn't deserve this. You don't deserve her. If she dies, then you are you the only reason why. I hope you're proud of yourself," he says, releasing himself from his son's grasp before turning away from me, tears in his eyes, and walking into another room.

"It's going to be okay, Nate. Sophia isn't going to die. You won't hurt her," says my brother, looking deep into my eyes, but I just shake my head.

"Stop thinking so negatively and pull yourself together." Noah hisses suddenly, grabbing my head and staring at me hopefully.

"Mr Vance, our people have found you." The policeman's voice sounds and the stone that falls from my chest is bigger than the Eiffel Tower.

I can finally breathe again, even though I know this was probably the end of my relationship, I'm just glad my angel is ok. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to her.