Rescue Mission (Stark's Daughter 8)

Chapter 15

*Zeke's POV*

"I am not just going to give up!" I shout, banging my clenched fist on the glass table.

Everyone's eyes turn to me. Burning with sympathy. I see now why Skye hates the sympathy. I just want to punch them to make it disappear. Tony places a gentle hand on my shoulder. Bruce and Black Widow both stare at the table, while Thor and Hawkeye just look at me with concern.

The anger bubbles in my veins and burns my throat. I feel the familiar aching in my muscles to teach them that I won't stand here and do nothing.

"Two months! Two months and you have nothing!" I shout.

"Zeke, you need to calm down." Ward orders, leaning on the table.

"You have access to everything. S.H.I.E.L.D is a service that is supposed to know everything in the world. But, you have nothing? Skye is still out there. She could be anywhere. They could be doing anything to her and you guys have done nothing to help." I argue.

Grabbing my car key off the table, I storm out of the conference room, slamming the door behind me. Marching down the stairs, I reach the Ferrari and climb in. Sliding into gear, I swerve out of the car park and race down the road, the tyres screeching with speed. I love the feel the engine roar as I drive down roads and around corners.

*

The music pumps into my ears and soaks into my brain. The rest of the band stands behind me as we stride into the club. Callum, Matty, Simon and Tom step beside as we stand in line, taking in the opportunity of this place, all of dressed in smart suits. Lights dance across the floor and up the walls. To the left is a bar with glowing multicolour bricks and bartenders throwing bottles around.

"This is our golden opportunity, guys, we could get a record contract here." I say, grinning.

"Don't ruin it by getting drunk then, Zeke." Matty teases, slapping me on the back.

"Haha, very funny." I fake laugh.

He chuckles and walks to the bar, ordering drinks with the others. People start to dance around me and a familiar looking woman strolls over to me. Leaning my back on a pillar, she introduces herself as a record producer. Okay, don't mess this up now.

"So, what do you do Zeke Matthews?" She asks, her voice laced with confidence probably from the wine she cradles in her hand.

"I'm actually in a band, we're called Fighting Blind." I announce.

"Really? That's a good name, catchy. What sort of songs do you write?"

"I'd say rock and pop. We are playing a few tonight, we were booked by Mr Stark after he offered us a small loan." I explain.

"And now, the person you came here to see: Tony Stark!" a man shouts into the microphone.

A spotlight appears and shines on Tony Stark, he raises his hands as he marches into the club and grins his expensive white teeth. Walking beside him is his assistant Pepper Potts, smiling as always. Next to them is a shy teenage girl wearing a flowing blue dress with her hair in curly ringlets. I hold back a small gasp. She's beautiful. Her eyes stay on the ground, but I catch a glimpse of her eyes darting up. They meet mine and shine with curiosity. Wow.
*

Slamming on the brakes, I stop in the middle of the empty car park. I wrap my hands around the steering wheel, locking together at the top, my fingers slipping in between each other, just like Skye used to hold my hand. So tight that I could feel her pulse. I grip the steering wheel so tight that the leather squeaks under my skin. Leaning my forehead on the leather, I take deep breaths. In through the nose. Out through the mouth.

"I promise I will find you, genius." I whisper into the empty car.

Unlocking the front door, I step into the empty house. My footsteps echo on the tiled floor. I feel so empty. No Skye. I promised she'd be safe, it was one of the last things I said that night at the bar. The night she went missing. She went home with Captain and when he woke up, she wasn't there. I remember the phone call.

*
Closing the door, I smile as Lucas' snores are drowned out by the wood. I walk to the living room, checking on the sofa for Skye. Nope. Strolling down the glass stairs to the basement, I unlock the door and step into the dull room. I check in all the cars, sometimes Skye falls asleep in them. I check by the suits and on the sofa by the entrance. The phone rings in my pocket and I pull it out.

"Zeke Matthews." I say.

"Hey, Zeke, it's Captain." Cap announces.

"Hi."

"Morning, I have an issue." He admits.

"Ok. What's going on?"

"Skye followed me home last night, I let her in and she fell asleep on my sofa. I gave her a blanket and then went to bed. I woke up this morning and she was gone." Cap explains.

"Gone? What do you mean gone?" I question, the anger already in my voice.

"I don't know."

"Cap how can she be gone? There's people out there that want her dead and you're saying she's gone?"

*

"Jarvis, did you scan all media?" I ask.

"Yes, Mr Matthews. But, I did not find anything related to Skye's disappearance." Jarvis admits.

I sigh loudly, throwing the pen onto the desk. I grumble under my breath, running my shaking hands over my stressed and exhausted face.

"Jarvis, anything? Anything at all? Please."

"There is nothing, Sir Matthews."

My phone ringing silences my anger. Pulling it out of my pocket, I instantly click accept.

"Zeke Matthews." I say.

"Zeke, it's Tony. You need to get to SHIELD, we think we have a hit on Skye."