Closer to the Heart (The Heart Trilogy Book 3) (3 page)

Charlotte sighed at the feel of his warm soft lips and turned her head so that her mouth could find his. If she closed her eyes tight she could imagine it was Mitchell there with her
.
Zac
h
put his finger on the tiny cleft in her chin and tilted her face upwards so that he could gaze at her face before he parted her lips. She felt his tongue tango agains
t
her
s
and she lost herself in the feeling it ignited deep in her belly, a fluttering sensation that was almost the same as the flame that Mitchell always lit.

She moaned as he pressed against her body, his grip felt sure and firm on the small of her back. In her mind Santa had bought Mitchell back to her on Christmas Day as she stood in the snow and le
t
Zac
h
bruise her mouth with his, graze her skin with his stubble and try to erase a million memories. Jester barked as a bright light flashed in the distance and jolted her into reality. Pushin
g
Zac
h
away she stumbled and fell into the snow.

Scrambling onto her feet she ignored his outstretched hand and instead clipped the lead back onto Jester.

“I have to go now”

“Merry Christmas my sweet, innocent Charlotte”

He watched her walk back towards the house, the swing of her hips still tempting him to chase after her and catch her back into his arms. Lay her down on the soft blanket of snow and defrost her feelings for him. He had felt her respond and with Mitchell out of the picture perhaps she would be his.

A mix of confused emotions travelled through Charlotte's head. One minute it had been Mitch kissing her, the next it had turned int
o
Zac
h
and into the mix was the soft touch of her best friend Shelley.

From the edge of the park Keith put his camera away and took the short walk back to the warmth of his car. Felicity had been right to suggest a little stakeout on Christmas Day. With this clip Mitchell would realise Charlotte was not just fooling around with her best friend but also the club owner. He watche
d
Zac
h
stride confidently towards the corner and then he disappeared from sight as Charlotte opened the door and pulled a wet dog inside.

Chapter 4

Mitchell woke with a start and stared up through the roof window to see blue sky dotted with falling snow. He must have slept although he didn't remember in his drugged state. His limbs still felt heavy as he walked to the bathroom. Under the hot water he thought of Charlotte and just hoped that his text had reached her and that maybe his none arrival would have set off alarm bells.

He made a coffee and then sat and waited, he had no idea what time it was since he had thrown his watch at Charlotte. Striding over to the window he gazed down onto the white ground, the driveway evident from the fresh tyre tracks of the party guests leaving at some point in the early hours. The sun was still low in the sky so he pulled on his practice clothes and went downstairs. Letting the music play on random he settled into his usual warm up before a song caught him and he glided effortlessly around the floor.

The drugs had worn off enough for him to gather momentum as he endeavoured to dance off all the pent up rage he felt inside. It slowly bubbled and churned like a toxic cauldron that he wished he could pour over his mother. Taking a short breather the music changed to “She's like the wind
”
it
s
simple melody floored him completely as he crumpled onto the hard, wooden surface. His vision was filled with images of Charlie, as she had breathed these words into his ears not that long ago. Christ, he wante
d
her
,
no he needed her so badly right now. She had been right all along about how awful his mother was, she had seen through the clever, beautiful facade she always wore to hide the evil inside.

Crawling towards the stereo he skipped to the next track and wiping his tears he stood up and stared out of the large windows that ran the length of the room. He saw the backdoor open and Felicity appeared, swathed in her fur coat. He watched as she sauntered to the door and his mind wondered if he should just barge past her and try to escape. Then he realised that he had no shoes on so he wouldn't get far in this weather. Slumping back down against the wall he waited for her to enter.

“Oh Mitchell, you're awake on this beautiful Christmas morning” she gushed, as if nothing unusual had happened.

“Why, Mum?” Was all he could muster.

“Why, what dear? Being here with me is the best thing for you. I couldn't just let you run back to that little whore”

He winced at her words but remained silent, head bowed into submission.

“Aren't you going to wish me a Merry Christmas” she chirped.

“No” Mitch replied, he stood up and dragged his feet upstairs.

“Dinner's at two, I'll send Daniel over to fetch you and please dress smartly, you know I hate casual”

She walked away and locked the door behind her. With his mind racing Mitch hit the shower again and then made some toast and another coffee. With no phone and no laptop he had no hope of making contact with anyone. He also knew that even if he could get away from Daniel the security men at the end of the drive would no doubt halt his escape. Looking out the back windows all he could see was woodland, he had no idea what was beyond or if it was fenced. He just needed to have patience and at the same time find out where his bike had gone.

With his grey suit trousers o
n
h
e
chose his pale pink jumper, one of Charlotte's favourites. Then he splashed on some aftershave and waited, he felt like a prisoner in what was supposed to be his home. The snow had stopped falling as he watched Daniel appear through the back door and gingerly walk through the slush on the courtyard. He fumbled with the lock and Mitchell almost decided that perhaps he should take a risk and try to floor him and run. He took another look outside and saw his mother in th
e
door way
,
watching and he knew that this was not the right time.

He followed Daniel over to the house and sat down with the two of them for Christmas dinner. Felicity sat at the head of the large table, Daniel to her left, Mitch on her right. The only thing missing was waiting staff so Daniel had to keep getting up to do the honours. A first course of Scallops was served in silence. Mitch pushed his around the plate and ate
a
couple. The main course had clearly been plated up by the staff from the party. In a brief flash Mitchell remembered the wonderful aromas that always accompanied his Nan's turkey. He squeezed back a tear, afraid to show despair in front of the cruel woman beside him.

“This is delicious” Felicity broke the silence, as she poured them all a glass of pinot noir.

“Merry Christmas an
d
it’
s
so lovely to be sharing it with my favourite men” she trilled, holding her glass aloft. Daniel tapped his glass to hers but Mitchell remained motionless.

“Come now, darling. Please join in”

Wearily he did as he was asked, his anger now simmering very close to the surface, the red wine curdled on contact. A traditional Christmas pudding followed which Mitch forced down before a coffee.

“I think we should adjourn to the lounge and open some presents” Felicity declared, as Daniel offered his hand. Mitch trailed along behind and sat down in the farthest chair. The painting of his father dominated the room and he couldn't help but stare at it and scowl. He never wanted all this? All he wanted were parents that loved and supported him, now he endure
d
a jailer.

“Daniel can choose a present first, then Mitchell and while you're there you can find one for me” she said, lounging back against the soft cushions, champagne in hand.

Mitch watched as Daniel pulled out a parcel and then another from the pile. He handed the one to Felicity who tried to fake excitement, although he eyes remained impassive. It amused Mitchell, as obviously all the presents for his mother has been purchased with her money, she had probably even chosen them. Daniel exclaimed over the expensiv
e
Savill
e
Row suits, shirts, assorted ties and cufflinks.

“Come on and join in, I didn't forget you” his mother said, staring over at him.

“I don't need anything if you're keeping me prisoner here” his words echoed in the cavernous room.

“Prisoner....prisoner, is that what you think of your dear mother” Felicity replied, venom dripped from each syllable.

“This is for the best, for your future which is going to be so much better than your past”

“How” Mitch questioned, hoping that his mother would reveal her plans.

“Does he need to know?” Daniel asked.

“Oh I can't see why not, I'll need his full co-operation for it to work” she replied, waving her empty glass in Daniel's direction. He took the hint and refilled it, along with his own. He took a brief glance in Mitchell's direction but saw that the champagne flute in his hand was untouched.

“So Mitchell, my son here is the plan” she giggled, taking a sip.

“For the next few months you will have to keep hidden, the barn is very secure and I can close the large doors that are still in place over the big windows. If anyone needs to take a look Daniel will be there with you and can conceal you in the small cellar beneath. I bet you haven't even found the hidden door for that have you?” She laughed again at the shock in his eyes.

“You might be good at cyber snooping but I designed that building's interior as your father needed
a
wine cellar
.
It’
s
the perfect hiding place”

Daniel grinned at her, his hand resting on he
r
stockinge
d
legs as they shared the sofa and the plans.

“During this time I will organise new documents as you become Matthew Carmichael-Astaire. The reclusive only son of Anthony who now wishes to move from his solitary existence in the United Kingdom to stake his claim and make the Health Spa brand International” she swept her hand grandly in the direction of the portrait. Mitchell could feel the sweat seeping down his forehead, his knuckles clenched white in his lap.

“Then with some hair dye we will transform your dark locks to blond, like Anthony's used to look like when he was younger. Your features are very much like his so there should be no problem as we all escape to America. I can happily run the Spa in your shadow as you become the rich
,
Englis
h
aristocrat who is looking for a perfect wife”

Felicity leaned over and surprised Daniel with a passionate kissbefor
e
gazing at Mitchell.

“That all sounds rather well planned, but how do you plan to get rid of your real son Mitchell Cooke?”

She saw him lean forward in the chair, his pallor was wan and matched the snow that had started to fall.

“That part of the plan is already in progress. I know you sent a text to that little slapper of a girlfriend saying you were going home. She received it by the way” her eyebrows arched.

“James phoned to find out if you had left when it started getting late. I told him you had decided to stay at the party and had no intention of going home” her smug smile, pierced him to the core. Closing his eyes he saw Charlotte scrunched into a ball of despair, like she had the day he had walked out on her. His hands yearned to reach out to his vision, fold her back into the security of his embrace.

Then the sheer force of anger and hatred took hold as he leapt from his seat and in a blink he pinned Felicity back against the cushions.

“So” he snarled “Charlotte will start to look for me and so will James, they will see through your lies”

“They won't need too, your wrecked motorbike and bloodstained leathers in the nearby river will deal with your death, the banks and water might get scoured but the damage to your helmet would make it a search purely for your body”

His arms lost their strength as Mitchell staggered back, clutching his stomach as the bile rose inside him.

Running from the room he found the nearest bathroom and retched into the basin. The few remnants of Christmas dinner were expelled until he was dry heaving and nothing remained. He felt hollow inside, his head throbbed with pain and his eyes smarted from the salty tears flowing down his cheeks. Sliding down the cold tiles he huddled into a small ball and rocked. He couldn't think as the revelations of hi
s
mother’
s
despicable nature gripped his soul. In that moment he knew he would have to try something rash to escape or his life would be over.

“Mitchell, Mitchel
l.
Ar
e
you alright” he listened to her sharp voice. She appeared in the doorway and stared down at his broken shell on the floor. Her mouth turned down in sorrow but her eyes were lit with what
?
Power Jo
y
Success
.
Mitch found it hard to fathom as he stood up and pushed past her.

“I can't stay here a minute longer, let me back in the barn”

“Daniel will take you, and don't even think about running as the security guards are close enough for me to call”

“Merry fucking Christmas, Mother” he spat. Then he turned and followed Daniel back across the courtyard. Listening as the lock was turned outside and he was imprisoned once more.

Lying on the bed he watched the day fade to evening and then night. The snow clouds obscured the stars and moon as Mitchell let go and wept until his tears ran dry. He pulled his dressing gown on over his shivering body and inhaled deeply. A faint trace of Charlie's perfume still clung to the collar and in a small way it soothed him into sleep.