Blue Ribbon

Chapter 28 - Hanging by a thread

I noticed a lot of you asking questions as: who is Natalie? Who is Nathan or Louis? Did we meet them before?

Answer: they're all mentioned in Nikolas's book (Unraveling Him).
I am not saying you should read that book to understand this one, with more chapters here, things will get more clearer, but at some parts you might be confused because they're related to that book in a way.

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"You're playing my game now."

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Nikolas's POV

I came prepared.

I was prepared for almost everything.

The second Alex called me, telling me Max was attacked, that he was hurt and hanging between life and death. I knew that nothing will ever be the same again.

I knew I had to come out of my hiding. It's been long overdue. I knew that the perfect image of the family I had was about to be tarnished. I was coming back unwelcomed. I was prepared for their hate, for their blame, for any harsh word and any hurtful action.

Because they were right in their place. I wasn't about to deny that.

I didn't expect their respect nor their compassion. I didn't respect the man who once...hurt my mother, so why would they?

You see, I was ready for everything.

But as my eyes fell on Nathan, right there by the door, the hurt and the confusion bleeding from his eyes as they met mine. I knew I wasn't ready for this. I could never be ready for this.

My heart dropped down as I rushed to his side but he immediately took a step backward, building distance away from me, his gaze not even on mine as he asked, "Is it true?"

"Nathan, listen to me-"

"Is it true?" He grated out, the words scraping out of his throat, his hand on the side tightening into a fist.

My lips parted but words betrayed me, I couldn't lie but I couldn't tell him the truth either. Not this, I am not prepared for this. I am not ready for his blame, for his hurt, for him to see me for who I really am...or for who I once was. The reality of the situation squeezed my chest in its tight grip, the mere thought that I could...lose him over this, it ruined me.

At my lack of words, his eyes flickered up and met mine. God, they were so similar to his mother's, maybe a shade darker but they still held that same innocence and light...an innocence I just happened to steal.

No way anything will be the same again. How could it be when the father he saw as his hero all these years turned out to be the villain that once ripped his own blood apart?

The muscles of his jaw worked, the pain pushing and pulsing in his gaze, the tears gathering, painting the white with red but he kept them intact as he mumbled out, a mere whisper, "Is it true?"

The muscles of my jaw twitched, my fingers curling into the inside of my palm, there was no running away from it as I hesitantly nodded my head, giving the answer he was already expecting.

His lips parted, the shock stripping the words away from him and he just shook his head in pure disbelief before he whirled around, unable to face me and ready to run away. I edged forward to stop him but Max was closer as he clutched at his arm, guilt swirled in his tone as he said, "Nathan, hold on, I...I didn't mean-"