Finding Scarlett (Sequel to Scarlett's secrets)

Chapter One - You have no one to blame but yourself...

Caleb 

I was in a complete panic, pacing the coffee shop. I rushed back outside, wanting to double-check in case I had missed her. I went around to double-check behind the car in case maybe she had passed out for some reason. Still, nothing and then something caught my eyes. It was an envelope with my name handwritten on the back. It was the same handwriting as previous notes I have received. I rip it open.

You have no one to blame but yourself, Logan. Anything that happens to Scarlett is on you! 

“f**k!!!” I shouted.

“What is happening, Caleb? Why are you shouting?” I heard Nate asking.

“She has been taken, Nate, my past has finally caught up with me, and Scarlett has been brought into it,” I told him.

“Lock up your car and come inside Caleb, we can sit and talk this through,” Nate said as he turned and walked back towards the coffee shop.

I did as he asked and followed him into the shop. My mind is going into overdrive. I don’t know what I am going to do. I took a seat at a table closest to the counter as Nate went behind the counter.

“Water Caleb?” Nate asked.

“Yes, please, mate,” I said as I put my head in my hands.

Nate got us both some water, resting on the counter and looked at me. 

“I can possibly help you find her,” he announces. 

“How can you help?” I ask. 

I appreciate the offer, but to find Scarlett, I will need more than a laptop. 

“My dad works for the government,” he whispers, “As in the secret intelligence agency,” he adds. 

“What? Seriously? Aren't they supposed to keep all the information secret?” I ask. 

“Yes, but my grandfather was the same, also,” he said. “My family wanted me to do the same, but it’s not what I wanted to do,” he added.

“You are going to be a brilliant help to me,” I said, smiling up at him before taking a drink of my water.

I can’t believe Nate knows people who will hopefully help me trace down my beautiful Scarlett. I still don’t even know where to start. As I just sat there thinking, I saw Nate get out his phone and his thumbs moving reasonably quickly. He must be sending someone a message.

“Right, that's me texted my dad.” He said as he looked back up at me.

“Thank you for doing this for me mate, I don’t want you to get involved in all my dramas,” I said.

“That’s what friends are for Caleb,” Nate said.

Nate’s phone pinged, and he picked it straight up to read what was sent to him. I sat eagerly staring at him, just waiting for him to tell me anything. For all I know, it might not even be his dad replying to him.

I was terrified in case they hurt her. I swear to God, if they harm her in any way, I will kill all of them without thinking twice. I will not ever forgive myself if something happens to her. 

“My dad will phone soon. He says he has information,” Nate said, looking up at me. 

“I need to find her, Nate,” I whimper, “I don’t know what I will do if I lose her. She is the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, and without her, I think it would kill me,” I added. 

I’m not really sure what to do whilst we wait for Nate’s dad to be in touch. I feel pretty useless just sitting here while she is out there with people doing who knows what to her. Nate was looking pretty anxious with everything that was going on. He must have heard a few horror stories in his life with his family doing what they do for a living. I know they shouldn’t share stories about their work, but I'm sure they have let some slip.

“Sorry, love, we are actually closed,” Nate said as he stood up to leave the table we were at.

“Ohh, I see.” a female voice said.

I turned my head to see it was a regular. She comes in once a week with some friends and sits for ages. I gave her a wave as Nate was shooing her out the door but in a friendly way. Nate turned the open sign to closed then locked the door behind him.

“Sorry mate, I completely forgot to shut the shop when we came in,” he said.

“It’s all good, honest,” I replied to him.

“Do you have an idea who took her?” Nate asks. 

“Yes, someone from the gang that I used to be part of, but I am not sure if they sent someone, or it was someone that Scarlett once knew that had taken her to them,” I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. 

“Caleb, we will find her,” he said. 

We don’t know that, but I appreciate him trying to make me feel better. I will not be OK until I have my girl back in my arms. I know it’s easier said than done, but I need to try and be positive to get her back in my arms soon enough. Hopefully, Nate hears from his dad soon so we can start looking for her.

Nate’s phone started to ring, my head perked up, and I looked straight at it. Within seconds of it beginning to ring, Nate had it in his hand. 

“Dad,” Nate said as soon as he answered the phone.

He was silent for a few minutes with just the odd mumble here and there, replying to whatever his dad was saying.

“Great, dad, we will see you soon,” Nate said, then he hung up the phone. 

“Some good news, mate, my dad is going to come by the shop and sit down with you to go through some things,” Nate said as he stood up.

“Brilliant, Nate, thanks for being a great help,” I said with some hope in my voice.

“Do you want a latte while we wait for my dad to get here?” Nate asked.

“Yes, please, Nate, cheers,” I said.

As I sat there waiting for his dad to arrive and for my coffee to be made, I put my head on the table and tried to blank out the noise of the coffee machine. I still cannot believe what has happened today. Not even that long ago, we were getting ourselves ready to disappear together to start a new life, and now I'm just sitting here without her.

I could feel the tears brimming in my eyes as I thought about her. I hate that she is alone, and I am not there to protect her. She has been protecting me for some time, without me even knowing it, and now when she needs me the most, I am not there for her! I feel a few stray tears escape from my eyes, and I quickly wipe them away.

When I get her back, I swear I am not ever letting her out of my sight again. I will protect her with my life, marry her and hopefully, once we are settled, a family of our own. Is a family even possible for Scarlett and me? I don’t know! I had so much in my head at once I couldn’t keep up. Finally, I snapped back to reality, still just sitting waiting for Nate’s dad to come by the shop.