Ready or Not (The Ready Series Book 4)(76)

Two days ago, my biggest fear had been whether or not I had enough Froot Loops to last me through the week, or if anyone would ever take me seriously at another job interview.

Now, without Noah, everything else seemed completely trivial.

I drove in a daze. Streets, cars, and trees all passed by me in a blur until I reached my destination. The hotel had seen better days, but it wasn’t the worst place I’d been to. It had a roof and a working sign.

Natalie had at least given Noah shelter during his captivity.

By now, he had to know something was going on. Hours had passed, and the morning sun was just peeking its head over the horizon. Noah must have realized his innocent afternoon reunion with his mother had been anything but.

Was he scared? God, had she fed him?

A million questions rolled through my mind as I parked the car. I entered the building while my brain tried to comprehend what I was about to do.

I easily found the room. Taking one final breath, I raised my hand to knock, ready to meet the demons of my past.

The door creaked open, and Natalie appeared. She was just as I remembered her. Tall and exotic with curves to spare, she smiled, but I saw the malevolence hiding behind her dark brown eyes. There, creeping beneath the charm, was the true Natalie—the one who would lie, cheat, and steal from those who trusted her, the woman who would kidnap her own child.

“Where is he?” I demanded, not bothering with a proper greeting.

“Safe.” She smiled, pushing the door open wider.

I looked around from one double bed to the other, searching for him, but I found nothing.

He wasn’t here.

“Where the hell is he?” I asked, pushing past her. I searched every corner, every inch of the room and adjoining bathroom, but Noah was nowhere to be found.

“So anxious.” She sighed. “I told you, he’s fine. He’s in the lobby with a friend. I thought we might need a few minutes to catch up.”

I turned around, furious, and met her gaze. “We have nothing to discuss. I’ve done everything you asked, Natalie. I made myself look like an absolute ass on TV last night, saying my son’s disappearance was a huge mistake. Liv drained her trust fund. What more do you want?”

“You. I want you.”

“What?” I said, completely blindsided.

She took a step forward, her low-cut tight jeans accentuating every step. “I want you, Jackson. I’ve decided I was a bit too rushed with my disappearance. I hadn’t taken the time to properly say good-bye. I don’t believe in making the same mistake twice.”

My eyes went wide with shock as I backed away. “You’re f*cking insane.”

“No. You want to know what’s insane? During the years we spent together, you swore you loved me and that you’d take care of me, and then I found out you had done nothing but hide from me. When you love someone, you share, Jackson. Everything. You had us living like paupers when we could have been royalty. Why?” she yelled, backing me into a corner. “Why didn’t you give me everything I deserved?”

Her eyes were manically darting back and forth. I saw wildness and that same deceptive need to control I’d been confronted with when I first arrived.

Beyond that, I saw the girl I’d fallen in love with all those years ago.

Somewhere along the way, Natalie had been broken or abused. I wasn’t sure how much of it had occurred before I met her, but since leaving me, it had become irreparable. The woman now standing in front of me was nothing but the remnants and shards of the bubbly, vivacious girl I once knew. I’d never seen a greater tragedy.

“I tried,” I said. “There was nothing more important to me than you and Noah.”

“You lie.”

“I know you think I was hiding the money from you for some sneaky, underhanded reason, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I had nothing but the greatest intentions for us. I had such plans for our future, Nat. We would have had that house you always wanted with the wraparound porch and a Dalmatian running around in the backyard. You could have continued your art while I practiced law. It would have been a great life,” I said softly.

A tear trickled down her cheek. “Why can’t we have it now, Jackson?”

“Sometimes, life doesn’t give us second chances, but there is always time for healing.”

She nodded her head and collapsed in my arms. For the first time since arriving, I didn’t feel repugnant by the thought of her touch. Wrapping my arms around her, I held her as she wept—for her mistakes and grievances, the brokenness of her situation, and the life we would never have.

It was the closure we’d never been given and what she so desperately needed.

By the time her tears began to dry up, the room door was pushed open, and three officers made their way in.

Natalie’s wide eyes met mine.

“I’m sorry, Natalie, but I had to.” Turning to the police officer to my right, I said, “Noah’s downstairs.”

More tears flowed from her as she sobbed through the cuffing and reading of her rights. As the officers escorted her out of the room, she turned back toward me one last time.

“Tell him I’m sorry, Jackson. Tell him I’m so sorry.”

I nodded. “I will. Good-bye, Natalie.”

“Good-bye, Jackson.”

Then, she was gone—for good.