Chapter 100: #HUNDRED

NICHOLAS’S POV

I had barely finished reading Mom’s messages when another one came through, and this time I didn’t need to guess her mood. She sounded worried, I could practically hear her voice as I read the text.

"Please answer me when you can. I know you have your reasons for being away, but I’m worried about you. Your stepfather told me everything was fine, but you know how I am. I care about you. I can tell when something isn’t right."

I stared at the screen, unsure of how to respond. I knew I couldn’t tell her the truth through a text message, especially not when I didn’t know who might see her phone afterward. I started typing a response, deleted it, then tried again before finally deciding that a call would be easier.

The moment I pressed the call button, she answered.

"Nicholas, thank God," Mom said immediately, her voice noticeably shaky as she answered. "I’ve been staring at my phone waiting for you to call me back. I saw that you had read my messages, and when you didn’t respond, I started thinking something had happened to you again. Are you okay? Please tell me you’re okay because I’ve been worried since your stepfather told me you were away."

For a second, I paused. "Is Gareth there?"

She paused. "No, why?"

Thank fuck.

"Nothing. I’m okay, Mom," I assured her, sitting down on the bed and rubbing my forehead. "I’m fine. I’m sorry I didn’t respond immediately. I just got upstairs and saw the messages."

There was a pause before she spoke again. "I know you said you’re fine, but I still feel terrible. I had hoped you would be around for us to talk, but your brothers already took you out before I could do that," she admitted, her voice becoming softer. "I keep thinking about the fact that I wasn’t around enough when you needed me. I was always working, always travelling or staying outside the house for one reason or another, I wish I could hold you right now."

I closed my eyes. "Mom, please don’t blame yourself," I said, leaning back against the headboard. "You didn’t know what was happening, and it was never your fault that you couldn’t stay home. Everything you do is for me, I know that. I never thought you didn’t love me."

"But I still should have been there," she replied. "You’re my son, and whenever I think about everything you’ve gone through recently, I keep wondering whether things would have been different if I had been home more."

"Maybe, but that isn’t relevant now," I said, keeping my voice calm because I didn’t want her to hear how uncomfortable the conversation was making me. "I’m safe right now, and I don’t need you to worry."

She became quiet for a moment. "Is your stepfather with you?"

The question caught me off guard. "No," I answered quickly before realizing how suspicious that might sound.

Mom noticed. "Why did you ask me earlier whether he was home?" she asked, her tone changing. "You asked about him almost immediately after answering the phone, and now you’re telling me he’s not with you. Nicholas, is something happening between you and him?"

I sat up straighter. "No, Mom. I was just asking because I wanted to know whether you were alone."

"Why would you be worried about whether I’m alone?" she asked, clearly unconvinced.

"I just wanted to make sure you’re okay," I replied, choosing my words carefully. "You’ve been worried about me, so I’m allowed to worry about you too."

She sighed softly."Something isn’t right. I can hear it in your voice."

I looked down at the floor. "There’s nothing you need to worry about right now. I’m staying with the brothers, and they’re taking care of me. They’re just trying to give me some time away from everything that happened."

"Then why didn’t you tell me about the trip?" she asked, sounding hurt. "I had to hear it from your stepfather."

"I didn’t really plan it myself," I explained. "Everything happened quickly, and I didn’t want you worrying more than you already were."

"And where exactly are you?"

I hesitated. "I’d rather not say yet."

Mom became silent. "Nicholas."

"Please, Mom," I said, sitting forward. "I’m not trying to hide things from you because I don’t trust you. I just need you to trust me this time. I’m safe, I’m with people I trust, and I promise I’ll talk to you properly when everything settles down."

She sighed again. "I don’t like this. You sound different."

"I’ve had a lot happen. That’s why." I brushed it off.

"I know," she said quietly. "That’s why I’m worried."

I swallowed before changing the subject. "Just promise me you’ll be careful around him."

There was another pause. "Your stepfather?"

"Yes," I replied, trying to make the concern sound natural rather than suspicious. "I just don’t want you to be alone with him if something feels wrong. Keep your phone with you, and if you need anything, call me immediately."

"Why are you saying this?" she asked, her voice becoming more cautious. "Did he do something?"

"No," I said quickly. "I’m just being protective of you. Don’t overthink it."

She clearly didn’t believe me completely, but she didn’t push further.

"All right," she said after a moment. "I’ll be careful, but you need to promise me something too. Whatever is happening, don’t disappear on me again. Call me. Even if you don’t want to explain anything, just let me hear your voice."

"I promise." I assured her.

"And Nicholas?" She suddenly said.

"Yes?"

Her voice cracked. "I love you, and I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me."

My throat tightened. "I love you too, Mom. I’ll call you again soon."

We ended the call a few seconds later.

I remained sitting on the bed with the phone in my hand, staring at the screen. I felt strangely lighter after the conversation.

It was always like that with my mum. She always made me feel safe and protected. I hated that she was beating herself up for it. She knew I was fine, but I understood her concern. She wanted me to stay in her line of sight for as long as possible to keep telling herself that I was fine.

I stayed in my room for most of the rest of the day. I didn’t feel like going downstairs, and the brothers came up to check up on me. After assuring them I was fine, they left me where I was, telling me to take a rest.

By nighttime, I had decided to pretend to sleep early.

I switched off the lights, got under the covers and kept my phone beside me. I heard the door open sometime later, and although I kept my eyes closed, I knew someone had entered. The footsteps were very quiet, followed by the sound of someone standing beside the bed.

A hand briefly touched my shoulder, but I didn’t move. "He’s asleep," someone whispered.

Another voice answered quietly, "Then let him rest. We can check on him again tomorrow."

The door eventually closed.

I opened my eyes after they left and stared at the ceiling for a while.

Did they need something? Well, if it wasn’t important, I didn’t want to hear it this night.

Soon, exhaustion pulled me under and I slept off.

The next morning, my phone was full of missed calls. I woke up and immediately frowned at the screen.

Most of them were from my stepfather.

There were so many that I stopped counting after a while.

I hadn’t received that many calls from him before, and seeing his name repeated across my screen made me uncomfortable. I didn’t answer any of them. Instead, I got dressed and went downstairs.

The brothers were already gathered in the sitting room.

Elijah was holding his phone while Cassian stood near the window, and Adrian was speaking quietly to Roman. From their expressions, I could tell something was wrong before anyone even noticed me.

"He’s been calling all of us," Elijah said as soon as he saw me. "Dad hasn’t stopped since yesterday. I’ve ignored every call, but he’s still trying."

I walked closer. "My stepfather has been calling me too."

The brothers looked at each other at my words, then Elijah lowered his phone. "How many times?"

I showed him the screen and his eyebrows lifted. "That’s a lot."

"Yeah, it’s kinda unsettling." I agreed.

Adrian took a moment before speaking. "He’s probably trying to figure out where we are."

Elijah looked toward him with concern. "Do you think he can trace us somehow? Because at this point, it looks like all of us disappeared at the same time and decided not to answer him. If he starts asking questions, won’t he eventually figure out that we’re avoiding him?"

Cassian folded his arms and looked at Adrian. "He’s already suspicious. The question is what he’s going to do once he realizes we’re not coming back."

Adrian picked up his phone and checked the latest missed call before placing it back on the table.

"Then we need to assume he’ll start looking. And we need to plan for what happens when he finds us."