Secrets
Nate sat in John McRory’s bar, drinking a club soda and soaking in the atmosphere. He knew Sophie worried about him living above a bar, spending his downtime eating greasy fried food and surrounded by alcohol, but he wasn’t going to fall off the wagon, not again. It wasn’t the sight, taste, or smell of the alcohol that tempted him. Rather, it was the oblivion it brought, blessed relief from the visions of Sam breathing his last. Nate shook his head to dispel the image. He would never forget his son and probably never forgive himself or IYS for their part in his death. Times were changing, though. He was changing. His team, his mission, helped to heal the old wounds. Every time they helped an innocent, he felt a piece of his soul mend. Besides, since they bought the bar, Elliot made sure he ate a well-balanced meal at least twice a week. It was these musings that were interrupted by the tinkling of the bell above the bar door. Nate was surprised the rain pelting outside usually kept most people inside. Looking up, he saw a young woman with the brightest blue eyes he had ever seen. Her face seemed to be half sparkling eyes and pouting lips. She was gorgeous, but it was the tears shining in her eyes that drew his attention.
“Is Nathan Ford here?” The girl’s voice shook as she searched the bar, her small body trembling.
“I’m Nate Ford, what can I do for you?”
“I’m looking for my mother. I heard the Lewis’s say your name and I haven’t seen her in two years and now Jesse’s gone and I know he had had something to do with it. No one believes me, and he’s been making suggestions, and I just don’t know what to do.”
“Slow down, take off that jacket, it's soaked. Well, just sit down to a nice meal and you can tell me all about it.”
She smiled gratefully at him, then shrugged out of her jacket, taking her beanie and scarf off to. For all the good it had done her. She was shaking with cold, and she swayed a bit, her legs going weak. Strong hands caught her arms.
“Hey, you ok, kid. When was the last time you ate anything?” Nate asked his voice concerned.
Once her scarf and hat were not obscuring her face, he saw that while she was still beautiful, she was very young.
“Uh yesterday morning. I used all my money to get the plane ticket here, and cabs are like way expensive in Boston . There are a lot of bars, and I was robbed by a homeless man. I was trying to give him money, and he just stole my purse. I mean, who does that? I was trying to help, and then it started raining and…” She burst into tears and threw herself in Nate’s arms. His arms automatically encircled her rubbing soothing circles on her back. His fatherly instincts kicking into overdrive. This big eyed, fast talking girl bringing back all his protective instincts.
Alec elbowed Eliot as they walked into the bar, chin gesturing towards Nate. His arms around a woman.
“Well Damn, didn’t know Nate had it in him.”
“Look at the body on her. Now that’s a real woman, all dangerous curves and pouty lips.” Eliot followed the lines of the woman in Nate’s arms. She was tiny, maybe five feet, but she had a generous figure and gorgeous curls that brushed her chin curling delicately around her jaw. Eliot shifted, feeling his jeans getting uncomfortably tight.
“What are we looking at?” Sophie’s voice behind them caused both Alec and Eliot to jump.
Eliot nodded towards Nate.
“Well whose that then? Seems a little young for Nate, but if he wants to rob the cradle, then who am I to say a word.” Giving Alec a look, they followed Sophie and Parker, who had been quietly observing them.
Sophie walked to the table, her heels clicking as she went drawing Nate’s eye. Lifting a brow at him, he shrugged and gently moved the woman from his arms. Her face was still buried in his chest little sobs escaping her, and Sophie felt terrible for the momentary jealousy that she had felt.
“Guys, this our new client we're going to help find her...”
“Mom!” The girl’s voice interrupted Nate’s and she stared slack jawed at Sophie before launching herself in her arms.
“Darcy! What are you doing here, darling? Do the Lewis’s know where you are?”
Sophie inspected her baby girl, brushing curls from her face before squeezing her again. Inhaling the jasmine scent of her. Darcy had favored Jasmine since their first trip to Paris she had fallen in love with the delicate scent, and Sophie breathed it in. She had missed her so very much.
“Mom”
“Mom”
“Mom”
“Ha Sophie’s a mom!”
Four voices spoke at once. Most of them had shocked looks on their faces while Parker seemed to be cackling with glee.
“Darcy, I’m going to call the Lewis’s and tell them I have you, then well get you on a plane back home.”
Immediately, the girl pulled free of Sophie, her face, taking on a rebellious look. Her arms crossed over her ample chest, chin pointed defiantly.
“I’m not going, and you can’t make me.”
“Darcy, you are fifteen years old while you live under my house. You will follow my rules!”
“I’m 17 mom God! And I’m not living under your house. I’m living with some Randoms you paid to raise me.”
“Darcy Elizabeth Lewis!’
“Hey, Sophie, why don’t you and I go upstairs so we can set up a guest room for Darcy. Parker can take her shopping. She doesn’t have any clothes here and she’ll need toiletries.” Nate’s voice was calm, he drew Sophie towards him with one arm while patting Darcy’s shoulder with his left hand. Looking at Parker he added “Eliot, you and Hardison go with to uh help Parker. Eliot get her something to eat please she hasn’t had anything since yesterday.”
“I can pick out clothes. These jeans have 17 hidden pockets and a lock pick set.” Parker pouted.
“I know babe, you are amazing at picking out clothes.” Alec kissed her cheek before shaking his head at Eliot.
“Darcy, This is Alec Hardison, Parker and Eliot Spencer they’re our team. They’re going to get you everything you need. Don’t worry we’ll take care of you. When you come back you can tell us what’s going on ok.” Nate’s voice was firm but tender. Sophie had never heard him take that tone with anyone and realized she was seeing a new side to him, the fatherly side. She decided it was quite an attractive side to his personality. Apparently Darcy thought so too because she hugged Nate before glaring at Sophie and following an excited Parker out into the rain.
“What on Earth is she doing here?” Sophie asked once they were upstairs.
“I’m not sure she came in soaking wet in tears, nearly passing out. She only said that she was looking for her mom?”
Sophie collapsed on the plush leather couch. She had missed Darcy so very much, but she never wanted Darcy to be part of this life. What they did was dangerous. She just wanted to protect her baby girl.
“You never mentioned you had a child?” Nate’s voice was low, Sophie could tell he was furious. The quieter he got, the angrier he was.
Nate for his part was seething. Seeing that poor kid sway with hunger had touched something in him that hadn’t been awake since Sam. Those big blue eyes had seemed to look into his very soul. When she had thrown her arms around him, he felt worthy. How could Sophie have a child and they not know? How could he not know? they were together. While he knew she enjoyed her secrets he never would have guessed a child to be one of them. How could she leave her child? Nate would have gladly given his left arm for one more minute with Sam, but Sophie had abandoned her hopefully only child and hadn’t even known how old she was.
“Don’t you look at me like that Nathan Ford! You have no idea what it was like for me. I was young on the run from Interpol and pregnant. I love Darcy! I gave up grifting for her. I spent six lovely years, just the two of us wandering the world. Then Armando Villanueva spotted me, we had met years before on a job and well he wasn’t pleased to see me again. He sent men after me they took Darcy. She was just little girl but they took her and were going to kill her over some stupid painting! I gave them everything I had to get her back. I knew I couldn’t keep her after that. She would always be in danger but I had to support her and what skills did I have besides grifting? I had some friends in the trade they were older wanted to retire, so I gave them Darcy. Brought them a house with a big backyard in small town in California. She could live a normal life. No one trying to kill her or use her against me. I visited her a couple times a year taught her a few things. I took her on vacations but when we started this whole thing, I couldn’t risk her. I love what we’re doing helping people. I thought just a few more years and I could go to Darcy with clean hands tell her I did something good.” She sighed and waved her hands in a vague gesture. “Time seems to have gotten away from me, before I noticed years had passed.”
Nate rubbed his hands over his face and sighed. It must have difficult for Sophie to admit that she couldn’t do something. She always seemed so indomitable that he sometimes forgot there was a vulnerable woman in there. He wouldn’t judge her. Not when he would have made the same decision. If giving Sam up had meant that he would have lived, Nate would have done it in a heartbeat. He wouldn’t turn Darcy away though she had traveled across the country for a reason. Something had shaken her badly enough for her to go searching bars for him. He shuddered when he thought of the things that cold have happened to a beautiful girl on the streets of Boston.
“Let’s give her a few days. You can spend some time with her. We can see what she needs.” He waved away her protest.
“It’s been over two years since you’ve seen her Soph. In all that time has she ever run away? Ever done anything like this?” At her head shake, he continued. “She traveled across the country alone and scared, if she’s anything like her mother she doesn’t scare easily. So whatever drove her here we need to look into.
Sophie sighed, knowing Nate was right and hating it. She was glad to see Darcy again, but she also knew it was so very addicting. Seeing her little girl was akin to drugs once she got a taste she never wanted to stop. How was she ever going to send her back once she had spent time with her. Once she saw how Nate doted on her. Because Nathan Ford had apparently taken one look at Darcy and declared himself her protector and wasn’t that something. All these years she had spent jealous of Maggie, Nate’s ex-wife and the family he had with her. Now Darcy’s presence seemed to awaken his previously buried fatherly instincts. Sophie smiled a bit wishing that she had met Nate sooner, maybe she could have given up the game, raised Darcy they could have been a family. She shook those thoughts away if wishes were horses even beggars would ride. She had made her choices. She wouldn’t regret them. Darcy was here now, Sophie was determined to make the most of her time with her.