Chapter Twenty One
Nick.
I was on the edge, one more push in the right direction and I knew I would explode.
I was mad, hell I was beyond furious at Miley and I didn't want to be, I didn't, but every minute that went by that she didn't tell me it was another inch closer I stepped towards completely blowing up. I didn't want to be that person so I was waiting, waiting for her to tell me, but there was a time limit and hell she was running very close to crossing the line.
We promised to tell each other everything! Yet here she was keeping secrets, again.
I mean maybe I wasn't being rational seeing as I had caused this issue to begin with but if the police had called me I would have told her, I would have! More to the point why was she so desperate to deal with this alone? Why the fuck did every single issue with Liam result in my wife switching off and shutting down completely to me?
I kept running on the treadmill trying to tire myself from all these questions and emotions, the gym was my only solution at the moment. I glanced at the clock knowing well enough Miley would be growing worried upstairs in the room to my absence but hell let her worry she was making me worry about her and the least I could do was make her feel the same way. Okay that was harsh, I didn't mean it.
I slowly came to a halt stepping off the treadmill sighing grabbing my towel. I just wanted her to talk to me. I wanted her to be honest, to let me help her, yet she didn't seem capable of being that person. I couldn't avoid Miles though, that wouldn't help anything. So I returned back to the hotel room, the second I opened the door I was faced with Lucy looking up at me frustrated.
"Where have you been?" She hissed glared up at me looking so much like her mom, "Miley and me were worried dad, you didn't leave a note you-"
"I'm fine Lucy," I snapped walking past as Miley rushed out looking at me relieved giving me a smile.
"Nick thank God! Where have you been?" She asked moving over to me looking at me up and down,
"The gym." I murmured simply as she just stared at me with raised eyebrows,
"The gym? Why didn't you wake me up, or-"
"Because I didn't want to Miley okay?" I felt myself respond towards her as I watched Miley's expression drop confused and I sighed shaking my head. "I'm having a shower then we'll go." I turned and walked towards the bedroom as both of them quickly followed.
"What about breakfast-"
"What about breakfast?" I repeated confused.
I headed into the bathroom as I heard a huff, "You said we'd eat breakfast together dad, you said-"
"I changed my mind Lucy, okay?" I stated clearly looking at my daughter closing the door on both of them.
The second the lock snapped I regretted my attitude, if i acted like this Miley would never tell me. I groaned feeling beyond stressed, it wasn't just Miley I was worrying about but the police, I mean Liam was right pointing his finger at us he just chose the wrong person. I didn't think he'd consider it, and what if dad's contact hadn't kept his ties completely clean and we got traced back? What if the blame was put on Miley and not me? It was my idea and it had to be done, he deserved to be locked away but still maybe the risk was too great? Had I made a mistake?
The shower didn't help, although it calmed me down there was still an internal battle within. When I opened the door and found Miley sitting on the bed, her eyes staring at me with pursed lips I knew what she was going to say before she most likely did.
"What's wrong Nick?" She asked standing up smoothing out her silk blouse,
"Nothing,"
I swallowed walking over to the suitcase as Miley followed me. After a moment her hands pressed against my back gently rubbing her fingers down my wet skin.
"Don't lie, did something happen with work?" She asked quietly her voice hitching, "Your family? Or is it me? Did I do something wrong?"
"You did nothing okay," I replied bitterly, that was the problem she did nothing.
"Did you talk to someone from your family?" She asked quietly as I nodded pulling out a shirt.
"I talked to dad,"
"Did he say something that upset you?" Miley pushed as I nodded again.
"He said something and-"
"Nick what ever he said it doesn't matter okay?" She announced seriously as I turned and looked at my wife who gave me a smile, "All that matters is that I love you, who cares what they think? We don't need them, we don't need any of them if they don't accept us okay? Look I'm sure they're just mad at the moment, I think by the time we get home the storm will have blown over, hopefully." I nodded realising she thought dad had said something about us and not her.
"I know, we'll face that when we get back." I whispered nodding in agreement as she looked away.
"Yeah we'll look after everything once we get back, but for now..." Miley looked at me moving her hand to my cheek, "Can we just forget everything, work, our families, isn't that why we eloped? Please just even for today can we just enjoy it?"
I saw the pleading look in her eyes and realised she did want to tell me, Miley wanted to tell me about Liam. She just didn't want to upset our time together, Miley wanted to tell me when we got back obviously.
"Okay," I nodded smiling at her, "Okay sure, I'm sorry."
Miley smiled and leaned up pressing her lips against mine, "Thank you," She whispered kissing me, "I love you."
"I love you more,"
Miley kissed me again wanting more as I responded with harshness and brutality, God I wanted her. I pulled our lips closer together making it clear to her we were okay, that this was all okay for now anyway. Next thing I knew we were on the bed and she was all over me, her hand clutching my neck drawing me closer while the other hand grasped my back dragging me against her. Miley's lips were like fire on my skin making the passion explode as my hands roamed up her back. I broke away gasping for just a mouthful of air, before pressing my lips on the one spot I knew made her moan. She didn't disappoint either, Miley let the noise come from lips on impulse. I wasn't thinking I was just feeling the emotions running through me as I felt my toes curl in the bed sheets my body needing hers. I grabbed Mi's pants dragging them down as she removed her top flipping me over so I was on the bottom. My eyes widened suddenly realising,
"Lucy?" I hissed.
Miley smirked unhooking her bra, holding it teasingly so I couldn't see anything, "Left while you were in the shower."
"What about sightseeing?"
"We have all day don't we, and right now I am sightseeing." Miley whispered throwing the bra away as I nodded in agreement, I could live with that.
Miley.
"Nick, Nick?" I murmured watching my husband staring aimlessly, "Nick?"
His head shot back and looked at me, "Sorry, what? Did you say something?"
I frowned watching him, my arms wrapped tightly around my body freezing my ass off. "I was asking if you had any idea where we are going, because I feel like we're walking in circles-"
"I know where we're going" He replied bluntly and started walking away from me again.
I stood there for a moment looking around the street that just appeared the same as all the others. I thought I'd love Paris but honestly I was hating every second of it because of Nick. Something was wrong with him, really wrong and I didn't know what it was. It's like I was constantly flicking a switch, one second he was the charming guy I married next thing I knew he was this snippy adolescent who was constantly giving me dirty glares. I didn't understand, he said it wasn't about me so why was he acting like this? Why was he ruining the one and only day we had together?
"Nick why don't we just go to the Eiffel tower?" I yelled at him keeping my position.
I dug my feet into the snow making it very clear I wasn't doing this anymore, I didn't want to walk around in freezing cold temperatures while he was a complete jerk. Nick turned and just looked at me up and down,
"I thought you wanted to see Paris Miley?" He snapped at me, "I thought-"
"I wanted to be with you." I responded simply.
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean? I'm right here." Nick retorted striding back towards me frowning.
"Not the Nick I know, he's not here, he hasn't been since we arrived in Paris."
I held my courage glaring at my husband who just looked at me almost like he was entertained by what I'd just said.
"You're joking right?"
"Nick you're acting crazy, one minute we're having sex and you're all over me saying it's all okay and now this..." I murmured completely confused, "I don't understand what's wrong with you, I don't-"
He just stared at me furiously, "Me? You think I have a problem?"
"Yes!" I felt myself yell finally blow up, "YES! You've been a jerk ever since we go here, why? What did I do?"
"What did you do?" He repeated looking at me incredulously, "You lied to me, that's what you did Miley!"
He gave me a filthy look turning away as my mind went into overdrive, what did I lie to him about?
"What the hell are you talking about?" I chased after him confused. "I didn't-"
Nick stopped dead in his tracks and turned raising his fingers pointing it at me, "I promised I wouldn't do this, but God I can't believe you're being so damn selfish, for once why the fuck can't you just open up to me Miley? I'm your husband, yet you still want to leave me out of the fucking loop-"
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" I felt myself scream at him gritting my teeth completely lost.
"The cops," He hissed at me, "You didn't tell me they called, you didn't tell me anything!"
My eyes widened as I realised what this was about, Liam, this was all about Liam. I opened my mouth a million questions coming to my head along with a sickening feeling in my stomach. What did he expect me to say? That I was sorry? That I was going to tell him? Would he even believe me? Did I care? I closed my mouth knowing that if I said anything right now to him it would be taken completely out of context.
"Nothing to say to me?" Nick hissed staring at me with judgemental eyes.
I kept my mouth closed as I looked down at the snow, "I'm your husband, I love you Miley but this-"
"I'm scared okay?" I felt my heart yell before my brain could register what I was saying.
Nick just stared at me as I bit my lip, "I'm terrified Nick, and you can't understand that! You don't know what Liam put me through, you will never ever understand okay? So I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I knew how you'd react, how it would ruin this for us, for me. So I'm sorry I decided to keep it to myself because I just wanted to enjoy this moment of us being together." I retorted feeling myself choke up, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you okay?"
He just stared at me unmoving as I felt overwhelmed I didn't want to deal with this I hadn't wanted to when I got the call from the Detective and I still didn't. So instead of standing here and letting my husband rip me to pieces for keeping something private I just turned and walked away wanting nothing more than to collect my thoughts in private for a moment.
"Miley,"
"Miley come back,"
"Miley."
I kept walking for a few more seconds before he finally caught up with me, his hand tightly grasping my shoulder as I pulled away turning back to Nick's apologetic face. "Oh God, don't cry I just-"
"I'm not crying!" I snapped at him feeling a tear fall, "I'm not, I just...I wanted to enjoy our honeymoon."
Nick sighed offering me his hand, "Okay, okay I'm sorry I shouldn't have yelled I just...I was scared too."
"Of what?" I whispered staring at his hands, "You have nothing to be scared of,"
Nick gave a small sad laugh, "After you got attacked that was most likely the worst few weeks of my life, you were off in another world Miley. None of us could reach you, it took me so long to break down the walls and with all this I was scared I was losing you to Liam again. That he'd yet again started pulling us apart and I wanted to protect you this time, I didn't want him to hurt you."
"Well it's too late," I responded dismally, "He's already hurt me again, and you have too."
I turned away again as Nick followed, "Miley please, I'm sorry I was being a dick I just-"
"You're being overbearing."
"I want you to be safe God damn it!" He yelled. "Because I love you and it's my duty as your husband to look after you, to take the burden of your problems too so we can work through them together as husband and wife. Remember our vows, remember?"
I stooped as his hand fell lightly this time on my waist, "I'm sorry okay? I'm sorry too." He whispered.
I pinched my lips and gave a small shallow nod, "Okay, but you need to understand-"
"That we still need to work on the whole telling each other everything issue? Yeah I know."
I nodded and turned around staring at him truthfully, "I was going to tell you, I was. I just wanted the right time."
"I don't doubt that, I just wanted to know right now so I could help you. I can see you hurting."
I smiled moving my gloved hand up to his cheek, "You were helping by being you Nick, up until you found out- wait how did you find out?" I asked confused.
"The detective called dad, he's been snooping around work." Nick responded quietly.
I looked at him confused, "Why? That doesn't make sense, you didn't have anything to do with Liam's bust did you?"
Normal innocent people would have responded instantly, yet the two second hesitation instantly made me feel sick. Nick looked at me his eyes shifting downwards to the left as he gave me a measly shake of his head,
"No of course I-"
"Oh my god," I hissed looking at him, I knew he was lying, I knew he was I could read Nick like a book. "Did you plant the drugs on Liam?" I felt myself yell seeing the tell tail signs that clearly depicted he was lying.
"Miley I didn't do it!" He yelled looking away.
"Look at me."
"Miley I-"
"Look at me!" I yelled at him clearly.
When he didn't turn I clutched both his arms staring into his brown orbs, "You planted the drugs on Liam, you did that so-"
"No," He hissed staring at me shaking his head, yet it was right there in his eyes. "No I didn't, I didn't-"
"Then who did? You're lying, I can see it- Nick what did you do?" I hissed at him terrified.
Nick just looked at me truly scared as he shook his head, "I didn't do anything, I didn't plant those drugs on him." He yelled as he continued to shake his head, "But even if I did he deserves this Miley, he deserves to go to jail for what he did to you! I had to make him pay, I had to give you the justice that you rightly deserved! I had to do something!"
My eyes just watched him as it suddenly clicked, "You paid someone to do it didn't you?" I felt myself whisper.
Nick just looked at me his expression blank but his eyes were so bright, so clear to me. I was right.
"Oh my god." I felt myself choke taking a step back
"Miley he deserved it, he-"
"How could you?" I screamed feeling sick my mind reeling,
Nick groaned glaring at me with gritted teeth, "He tried to rape you, he-"
"How could you risk this? He was out of our life Nick! He was gone, yet you brought him back into it. You jeopardised us!"
My voice completely died down to strangled whisper as I started crying looking away from him. How could he do this? What if he'd been caught? Hell he still could be! And then the one thing I was trying so hard to protect would be gone! I just wanted to be happy, and I had been, yet now this...why had he gone and done something so fucking stupid?
"I wanted to protect you, I wanted him to pay, I just-"
"What about me?" I screamed looking at him my body now shaking all over convulsing with sobs, "All I'm hearing is 'I' you wanted him gone, you wanted him to pay- What about me? What about what I wanted?"
"What? You didn't want him to rot in hell? Miley he attacked you, he-"
"I want you!" I sobbed covering my face, "I just wanted you, and if you get caught I won't have you anymore."
That thought alone terrified me more than anything, because I didn't want to lose him. I never wanted to be without Nick again but he was scaring me and I didn't know what to do.
"Miley,' Nick whispered his hands pressing on my back, "Miley baby I'm not going anywhere, they'll never find out I set it-"
I dropped my hands stepping away from him, "I can't believe you did this."
"Miley just-"
"No!" I pushed his outstretched hand away, "No! Stay away from me." I cried.
"Miley babe, I wanted to-"
"Just leave me alone, I need to get out of here, I need to-"
I turned walked away breathing heavily as I tried to clear my thoughts, "Miley you can't tell anyone, just stop, come back I can explain-" He followed as I felt sick at the idea yet how could I live with this? That my husband had sent a man to jail through corruption the one thing I was sure he wasn't until now.
I waved down a taxi and opened the door as Nick moved to get in and I just stared at him,
"Get the hell away from me." I hissed at him deadly serious.
Nick just looked at me speechless as I slammed the door in his confused face telling the driver the hotels address.
I tried to think, to see reason but I just felt disgusted with Nick, my mind swirling with guilt and panic. I had to get out of here. I had to leave Paris and there was no way in hell Nick was coming with me.
A/N: Sorry for all the emails/notifications you most likely got, I posted this chapter and it didn't seem to work, the first or second or third time- blame ff not me I swear! haha On a side note thanks to all the people who continually let me know, I think I got more messages asking where the chapter was then I normally get reviews haha!