CHAPTER 1

Nathan's POV

"The news has been confirmed. Just yesterday, three other kids were abducted. Maria of 14, Kate 12 and Alessia 8. Parents are strongly advised to keep an eagle's eye out for their kids, monitoring their every movement.

"Schools will be put on hold until these mysterious men have been found. Stay tuned for more updates. This is April reporting from…"

I switched off the TV. I should've switched it off way earlier than that if I had known that Clara was watching.

"Daddy.. are the bad guys going to kidnap me too?" She asked with fear in her beautiful eyes.

I sighed and then etched a warm calm smile on my face. "Hey, come, sit here with daddy!" I motioned and tapped the empty seat on the old couch facing the TV.

"Sweetie. Remember who your father is?" I asked her, stroking her hair.

"A police officer?"

"Yes. That's right, sweetheart. Daddy will never let any bad thing happen to his girl. I promise. For now, you'll have to stop school and stay at home. And I will fish out those bad guys from the red sea!" I laughed and demonstrated the imaginary fishing scene with my hand.

Clara laughed. I liked it. I like it. I felt better. Nothing should make her worry. I must protect her from any harm.

"But daddy, isn't it safer that we stay with Grandma? She's super rich and she has a lot of security in her house. Mommy said she can take good care of me. My cousins are also there in her big house!" Clara lamented.

This cut me deep. Deeper than the bad news.

"We never go to visit grandma and enjoy all the good stuff." She added sadly, breaking my heart even more. She wasn't always like this. What was Amanda feeding her?

Damn!

She was right. My baby was right. I never gave her all the good stuffs because I was a fucking broke father. Amanda's mother had never liked me. She never supported my marriage to her daughter, and she never supported me, despite being the third richest family in Pennsylvania!

"Umm.. you know what? Daddy will take you on a trip to Central Park tomorrow. We'll go stay with aunt Meg and she'll take us round the whole of New York. We'll be much safer there, okay?"

I kissed her forehead and left her to watch her cartoon.

As I sauntered towards the kitchen, I felt some severe pains in my back and neck. I've been working so hard these past few months.

While I worked as an officer, I also worked another job at night under disguise. I could work more. I could do anything to provide for my family.

As soon as Amanda saw me, she quickly put down her phone which was on her ear when I got in. She was obviously making a call. Why did she jerk off instantly? Her face confirmed it.

"Hey. You were on a call? Who was it?" I asked calmly, rubbing my palms behind my neck as I walked closer to her.

"No one. It's no one!"

I moved close to her and attempted to kiss her, but she withdrew. Amanda's aurora these few days have not been a good one. We never have sex again like before. She barely even answers me.

"But your face doesn't agree.."

"Look, Nathan. You know how unsafe this neighbourhood is for us, for Clara. I've told you. It's best that we go stay with my mother. I mean, we can't keep being separated from her. She's our family and I'm her daughter. We have every right to her…"

"So, this is what it's all about? Babe, I thought we discussed it. Your mother despises me and she hates me so much. Why would we have anything to do with her?" I asked, becoming a bit furious.

"Because she's right. You're poor and aren't taking proper care of me and Clara. We could accept the offer and stay with Laura like the rest of my siblings. We'll be much safer there and have a fortune!"

I was speechless. My wife… Amanda.

"But I .."

Her phone suddenly rang, interrupting my words. I saw the caller. It was her mom. My fucking mother inlaw.

The devil!

Amanda picked up the phone and headed towards the window where she whispered to her mother.

As she turned around, I had no choice but to salivate as I admired her round, curved butt. I craved to hold my wife. I craved to romance and fuck her. How unfortunate I was.

"Yes. Yes he's here.!" She said loud and clear and then handed the phone over to me!

"She wants to talk to you!"

I looked into the phone and was a bit anxious and angered. Talk to Laura??!

Reluctantly, I picked the phone.

"Nathan Wade, my contemptible bread! Are you going to keep my family in that prison you call a house? You are a fucking officer. You know how unsafe that place is. Are you…"

"Hello, mother. Can you please calm down a bit?" I asked gently to calm her fucking nerves. Pathetic!

"Are you crazy, you rag of a human? Don't you ever call me your mother! Look, if anything happens to my daughter or my granddaughter, I will make sure you suffer the consequences. Don't forget who I am, Nathan. I am Laura Kensington, the head of the Kensington Family!"

She sparked and ended the call abruptly before I could utter a word more.

I bent my head in shame and disgrace. I looked at Amanda. She was emotionless and indifferent to the call. She just continued preparing dinner.

"Are you now satisfied, Amanda? This is what you wanted, right?" I enunciated and dropped the phone on the kitchen counter, then I took a few steps towards the door.

"Tomorrow, we'll go for a trip to New York. This place is no longer safe!" I called out gently from the door and headed to our room where I lay down, my face staring at the blank ceiling.

I have been an object of scorn. A fucking looser and a failure. And Laura was always there to remind me, traumatising me constantly.

Slowly, I drifted off to sleep.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

"You ready for our next big adventure?" I stooped down and asked Clara, stroking her hair and gently caressing her face

"Yes daddy. I want to go to Central Park. I can't wait!!" She exclaimed joyfully.

I knew that I could not afford taking my whole family to Central Park. I couldn't even afford this trip. But my sister would cover all the expenses. She…

As soon as I stepped outside, I sighed heavily. This fucking car again! I would always have to service the car before using it each day. It was embarrassing as it made some awkward and funnny noise.

Sometimes, Amanda would assist, other times, she got ashamed. Either ways, the car would have to start today. We're driving to the Airport.

"Hey sweetie. Don't cross the road. Where are you going?" I immediately questioned Clara as soon as I caught her standing on one side of the road in front of the car.

"It's my teddy, dad. It's on the other side of the road. Can I pick it up?" She asked, and I wondered how in the world it got there.

"Sure. But be careful, and you've got just 5 seconds!" I smiled and watched her cross to the other side of the road.

"Hey, Hun. I'm… I'm sorry about last night. I was tense and.."

"No, no. It's fine. You're right. I'm not doing what I should as a husband." I remarked.

I noticed a black car driving into our street from a distance. The car was strange. Good thing I wore my uniform. I could stop them to find out who they were.

"Alright, Clara. That's enough. Crossover and let's hit the road!" I called out.

The black tinted car was at a very high speed that I didn't even notice when it pulled over in front of us and stopped on the other side of the road!

Suddenly, I heard Clara screaming!

As I attempted to run towards where she was, two men stormed out of the car. One of them carried my daughter and put her in their car! While the other held a gun towards my direction!

"Stay down or I'll fucking shoot!" They both wore masks.

Fuck!

"Stop there! I said as I tried to pull my pistol!"

But I was too late. They had forced my daughter in their car and had already begun driving off!

I tried running as fast as I could. I shot their tires and their car glass, but it didn't penetrate. Their car was bulletproofed!

I ran as fast as I could, my tears not daring to drop. I kept shooting.

Suddenly, one of the masked men opened the window of the car and shot me. The bullet hit my arm!

I fell to the ground, my arm bleeding severely.

"No… no… no…. Claraaaaaaa!!!"