“Nate, you need to calm down,” Ella said as she ran down the front steps, following Nate closely.

“How the hell can I calm down?” Nate retorted over his shoulder without slowing down. “Some asshole has my girls. He hit Shelby; I’m going to fucking kill him and Nina when I get my hands on them.

“I understand, I really do,” Ella tried to reason as she followed Nate through the gap in the bushes to his driveway, where his car was parked. “But I just need you to stop and take a breath. I don’t want you driving like this. What if something happens to you…”

“I don’t care about me, Ella,” Nate said as he spun around to face her, cutting her off mid-sentence. “Don’t you get that? I only care about my girls right now.”

“I know you do,” Ella replied, trying her hardest to remain calm. “But if you get into that car and kill yourself, who will save your girls then, huh? What will they do without their dad? Please, Nate.”

Nate stared at her for a moment, and Ella knew she had somehow reached him. He blew out a deep, calming breath, as he pushed his hands through his hair and closed his eyes.

“I know,” he finally replied as he opened his eyes and looked at Ella. “I just need to find them.”

“I know you do,” Ella replied. “But do you even know where to look? What if they are close by, and Cassie calls again, but you are on the other side of town by then?”

“I’m not going to search,” Nate sighed. “I’m going to Nina’s sister’s house. She knows more than she is saying and I am not taking no for an answer this time. Nina is with that asshole she was fucking a few years ago. I don’t know why I never thought of him before. Jess knows who this asshole is. She covered for Nina when she was fucking him, so she probably knows where he lives too.”

“Maybe you should call that detective,” Ella suggested worried that Nate would do something stupid and end up in trouble.

“He will tell me to wait till tomorrow, Ella,” Nate replied as once more he turned and walked towards his car. “I can’t leave my girls with them another night.”

“Fine!” Ella exclaimed as she hurried after Nate once more but this time she blocked his way. “We will go see Jess, but I am driving. That’s the deal, take it or leave it.”

Nate stared at Ella for a moment, then leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead, and quickly wrapped her in his arms, as Ella released a breath of relief.

“Okay,” he whispered against her skin. When he released her from his embrace, he handed her the keys, then walked to the passenger side of the car and climbed in.

Ella blew out another deep, steadying breath before she too walked to the car and reluctantly climbed in behind the wheel.

“Wouldn’t you rather take mine?” She asked as she looked over at Nate, unsure if she should drive his expensive car. She was used to her own little car and wasn’t sure if she could manage Nate’s BMW. “I don’t know if I can drive this one.”

“Ella,” he said as he looked at her with a half-smile on his lips. “Just start the damn car.”

“Okay,” Ella sighed as she turned the key in the ignition, then slowly reversed the car out of the driveway. She glanced over at Nate one more time, before she slipped the car into drive, then set off in the direction Nate told her to go.

Nate gave her directions to Jess’s house, but other than turn left or turn right, he didn’t say another word while they drove. Ella knew his mind was racing, but she just wished he would try and calm down a little. She knew he wanted to kill the asshole that Nina was with, and as for Nina, Ella didn’t know what to think about her. She couldn’t believe any mother would do this to her children.

Fifteen minutes after they set off, Nate told her to pull over outside a house in a quiet cul-de-sac. Ella hadn’t even turned off the engine when Nate had his seatbelt off and was reaching for the door.

“Nate,” Ella said as she reached out and took hold of his arm. “Wait.”

“Ella, I need to know,” Nate sighed. “Jess can tell me where the girls are.”

“I know you do,” Ella replied. “But if you go in there screaming and shouting, either she will refuse to tell you anything, or she will warn Nina that you’re on the way, and Nina will take the girls somewhere you will never find them.”

“I just need to know where they are,” Nate said giving Ella a pleading look.

“And we will,” Ella assured him. “I promise. I just need you to try and remain as calm as you can. Be the father that the girls need right now.”

He stared at her for a moment, then nodded and gave her a smile before he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the lips. Then they both pushed open the doors of the car and climbed out. Nate waited for Ella to join him on the sidewalk before he started up the pathway to Jess’s house. When they reach the door, Nate took a deep breath before he rang the bell.

As they waited for the door to be opened, Ella slipped her hand into Nate’s and held it tightly. She held her breath when the sound of the latch been opened came from the other side of the door.

“Nate!” Jess exclaimed, but she didn’t seem that surprised to see Nate standing there.

“Jess, I need to know where he lives,” Nate asked, getting straight to the point.

“He?” She replied, and Ella knew that she was surprised by his question. “Who’s he?”

“The asshole,” Nate replied. “I don’t know what his name is. But I know that’s where she is.”

“She isn’t with him,” Jess insisted, and Ella felt that she really believed what she said. “She ended it with him five years ago.”

“No, she didn’t,” Nate replied. “And she is staying with him now.”

“She…she would have told me,” Jess said, looking a little hurt by her sister’s deceit.

“Jess, he hit Shelby,” Nate said, and the words almost choked him. “Cassie called me. Jess, she said she was scared. Nina is on a bender, and this asshole is hitting my girls.”

Jess looked at Nate for a moment, before she stepped back and told them both to come in.

Ella followed Nate into the house, wondering if her being here was the best idea in the world. Maybe it would have been best if she waited in the car.

When they reached the living room, Jess looked at Ella for the first time.

“I know you think my sister is a bad person for doing what she has done,” Jess said as her eyes held Ella’s. “She isn’t a bad person. She is just in a bad place.”

“Then tell me where she is,” Nate said as he moved closer to Ella. “I will get her help, but not till I know my girls are safe.”

“I want the girls safe too,” Jess said as tears trickled down her face. “I love them, too.”

“Then tell me where they are,” Nate pleaded. “Tell me, and I can go and bring them home.”

Without saying a word, Jess walked out of the room, leaving Nate and Ella alone. She returned a few moments later holding a piece of paper.

“I didn’t lie to you when I said I didn’t know where they were,” Jess said as she looked at Nate. “I haven’t heard from Nina in days. I didn’t know she was still in contact with him.”

She held out the piece of paper before she continued.

“This is the address I had for Nick,” Jess explained. “He has an apartment in the bay area; overlooking the sea. Nick Stevenson is his full name.”

“Thanks, Jess,” Nate said as he took the paper from her hand.

“Bring your girls back home, Nate,” Jess said as she reached for his hand, and gave it a squeeze. “Just please, be careful. Nick isn’t a good guy.”

Nate nodded before he grabbed Ella’s hand and headed for the door.

When he reached the car, he held out his hand for the keys and gave her a pleading look.

“I will give you the keys,” Ella said as she looked up into Nate’s eyes. “But first I want you to call Pete.”

“Ella…” he began to reason, but Ella stopped him.

“I’m not going to stop you from going to get the girls,” Ella continued. “I promise. But I need you to call Pete and ask him to help you. Do this right, Nate. Don’t give Nina the chance to say you were the bad guy here.”

Nate stared at her for a moment, and Ella knew he was struggling with what he should do.

“Okay,” he sighed and pulled out his phone as she handed him the car keys.

Nate called Pete and told him that he knew where the girls were. Pete suggested that Nate waited for him to arrange to have the girls removed from the house by the police department, but Nate told him he was going to get his girls with or without him.

Thirty minutes later they were pulling up outside an apartment building across from the ocean front.

“Maybe you should wait here,” Nate suggested as he looked over at Ella.

“I’m not letting you go in there alone.” Ella insisted. “Either I’m going with you, or you’re not going at all.”

“How did I know you were going to say that?” Nate replied with a sigh, then gave her a smile. “Then I guess we should do this.”

They both climbed out of the car and made their way up the front steps of the apartment building. Nate looked for Nicks name on the intercom.

“Nate,” A voice came from behind them, and when they both turned, there was a man standing there.

“Pete,” Nate said as he walked back down the steps to where the man was standing.

“I knew you wouldn’t wait,” Pete said as he shook Nate’s hand. “And I didn’t want you going up there alone. I ran this Nick Stevenson through the system, and he has something of a bad temper.”

“Then I am glad to have you here,” Nate said as he turned and looked at Ella. “This is Ella Cassidy…”

“You’re the Chief’s daughter,” Pete cut in as he offered Ella, his hand. “Henry and I go way back. That’s why I’m here. The Chief doesn’t ask for help unless it’s something that’s important to him. I owe him for saving my ass more than once, so I will never let the Chief down.”

“I’m sure he is very grateful,” Ella said as she shook the man’s hand.

“Ella…” Nate sighed, and Ella instantly knew what was coming next.

“I’m not waiting down here,” Ella insisted as she turned to Nate. “If you go up there, those girls are going to be beyond terrified. You might need someone to get them out of that apartment quickly. I can do that.”

“Ella, I think Nate is right,” Pete said quickly.

“With all due respect, Detective,” Ella replied turning back to him. “If you know my father, then you know he is the most stubborn man alive. Well, that stubbornness runs deep in my family.”

“Then what the hell are we waiting for,” Pete laughed as he turned back to Nate. “There is a couple of units on the way, just in case we need them. But I think to go in as quietly as possible, is the best thing for the girls.”

Pete turned and walked up towards the door, and pressed the intercom. When security answered, Pete, held his badge up at the security camera, as he introduced himself. A couple of moments later, the buzzer on the door sounded, and the door clicked open.

“I guess this is it,” Nate said as he gave Ella a worried look. “Please wait here…”

“I’m going with you,” Ella said as she reached for his hand. “Now let’s go get your girls.”

Nate nodded then turned and led Ella into the building.

As they rode up in the elevator together, Ella could feel Nate’s whole body tremble. She just hoped after all this; the girls were in this apartment.

“I’ll knock on the door,” Pete said as they walked along the hallway to the apartment. “You two stay out of sight until they open the door.

When they reached the end of the hallway. Nate and Ella stopped, as Pete took a step closer to the door. Just as he was about to knock, there was a loud voice shouting from inside the apartment, followed by the sound of crying.

“I WANT MY DADDY!” A child cried, and Ella instantly recognised Shelby’s voice. Nate instinctively rushed towards the door, but Pete stopped him.

“Let me do this,” he pleaded with Nate.

Ella took hold of his hand once more, and led him back a few steps, but she knew she wouldn’t hold him back long.

Pete took a breath, then reached up and knocked on the door.

Ella held her breath as they waited for someone to open the door. After what seemed like a lifetime, the lock on the door turned, and a man appeared in the doorway.

“Yeah,” he growled at Pete as he looked him up and down.

“I’m Detective Masterson,” Pete said as he showed the guy his badge. “I’m looking for Mrs. Nina Reagan.”

“I have no idea who you’re talking about,” the guy replied in an impatient tone of voice.

Nate pushed past Ella and then past Pete.

“I’m here for my girls!” He exclaimed as he pushed passed Nick Stevenson too.

“HEY!” Stevenson yelled as he stumbled backward. “You can’t just barge into my home like this; I know my rights.”

“I’m not a cop, asshole,” Nate said as he made his way down along the hallway. “I’m their father, and I have rights too.”

Nate opened door after door before finally he opened a bedroom door and found his two girls sitting side by side on a bed.

“DADDY!” They both cried in unison, as they ran to Nate, and he wrapped them both in his arms.

“Daddy has you, girls,” Nate said as he held his daughters close to him.

“I said get the hell out of my apartment,” Stevenson said as he followed Nate down the hallway, followed closely by Ella and Pete.

“My pleasure asshole,” Nate said as he stood up and took each girl by the hand. “Now get the hell out of my way.”

“Take the stupid brats,” Stevenson retorted. “I’m sick of their whining anyway.”

Nate stared at him for a moment, then without even blinking he drew his fist back, and knocked Stevenson on his ass.

“You ever touch my girls again, and I will kill you,” Nate growled as he stared down at the guy laid out on the floor.

Nate walked down the hallway with his girls, and when Cassie saw Ella, she ran to her and gave her a tight hug.

“Let’s go home, Sweetie,” Ella whispered as she held the girl tightly.

“Let’s get out of here,” Pete said as he led them down the hallway, back towards the elevator. As the doors opened, and they stepped inside, Nina appeared in the hallway, and it was clear she was drunk.

“NATHAN!” She cried as she stumbled along the hallway. “I WON’T LET YOU DO THIS!”

“Like you have a choice, Nina,” Nate said as he stepped back off the elevator. “Look at yourself. You can barely walk. You let that animal hit our girls. You’re their mother, and look at them, they are terrified because of you.”

“THEY BELONG TO ME!” Nina cried as she stumbled down the hallway. “I WILL NEVER LET YOU HAVE THEM. YOU WILL NEVER WIN! I WOULD RATHER DIE FIRST!!”

“THEY’RE OUR KIDS, NINA!” Nate shouted. “They belong to no one. You’re supposed to love them. You’re supposed to protect them, and you failed.”

“Please don’t do this,” Nina begged as Nate turned his back on her and stepped back onto the elevator. “PLEASE!”

“Say goodbye to your mom, girls,” Nate said as he pressed the button for the ground floor.

“I WON’T LET YOU DO THIS!” Nina sobbed as she fell to the floor and gave Nate a look that sent a shiver down Ella’s spine. “NATHAN!!”

The doors to the elevator finally closed, and Ella released a deep breath relieved that Nate finally had his girls back.