Initial Plot (End)

Thomas hadn't been able to have a single conversation with Austin for the past month and a half. Austin had been taking more jobs than before. His schedule left little time for conversation or any rest. The laid back friend he knew had been covered up and hidden from the world. What was left was the carcass of a man always in a foul mood.

Thomas tried to inquire the reason behind his split with Skylar but Austin avoided the topic at every juncture. He was beginning to think he had one option left. Thomas picked up the phone and dialled Austin's mother.

Austin pulled of his jacket and sank into a chair. His next mission required him to be on flight in less than two hours. He closed his eyes and made a mental checklist in his head.

The door to his room swung open, Thomas walked through. His features hardened noticeably. He came to stand in front of Austin's desk. The file in his hand dropped to the desk, the soft skin of the folder collided remorselessly against callous wood.

Austin wasn't fazed. He stared at the file and back to Thomas. Thomas could not control the anger he felt.

"What is this?" Austin gazed to the file.

"Testament of your idiocy." Thomas exploded.

Austin raised his brows at him. He had never once been chewed out by Thomas but he was curious as to why.

"You left her on the words of your predatory brother?" his voice rose an octave higher.

The weight of Thomas' words sinking in and Austin was no longer amused. He eased back on the chair and stood to his full height.

"This is neither the time nor place." Austin's jaw clenched.

"This is as far as I go letting you ruin the one thing that made you happy."

"And what say do you have in any matters of my life?" Austin retaliated.

Thomas shook his head. " I am standing by as you and your family continue to victimise an innocent woman."

Austin scoffed. He couldn't bear to think of her. Every day that passed proved that nothing got better with time. He couldn't forget her, but he didn't want to talk about her.

"She never had a romantic relationship with Colin, you fool."

"You are not making any sense." Austin growled.

"He raped her!" Thomas shouted with so much force that the vein at his temple throbbed inextinguishable fire.

"What?" Austin calmed down for the first time in a month.

Thomas sighed. "When you were getting married I had Draven investigate the relationship between Colin and Skylar. I was suspicious of your mother's hatred for her and a few months now, we found out she had been kidnapped and forcefully assaulted by him repeatedly. The reports and witnesses have been erased into non-existence due to the power of your family name."

Thomas sighed, "It was breach of ethics but Draven was able to pull her therapist records. She kept the baby so as to compensate for the hurt she felt. She was broken, Austin. The baby gave her a chance to have some meaning after what happened. Despite that abortions aren't legal save in exceptional circumstances, rape is one but there all the evidence of that was hidden. And, Skylar lost the baby because Colin terrorised her at work that day."

"Why didn't you tell me!" Austin felt the vault on his emotions unlock.

"I was waiting until I had built my case against him. In that file, you will note that Skylar wasn't the only woman he targeted."

"Did my mother know?"

"Yes. She wanted you two to break up before you got too close. I think she feared that you would eventually find out."

Austin had never felt so much anger in his life. "I am going to kill him."

"You won't need to. My case against him is solid now, he can be prosecuted." Thomas said.

"I need to get her back." Austin grabbed his jacket and ran out the door.

***

Skylar hated the idea of having two weeks mandatory vacation. Her employers were upgrading the equipment and doing some renovation at her work place. This was the first time she had been alone with her own thoughts since she last saw Austin. It troubled her that he was already on her mind after two days of being free.

A knock sounded at the door and Skylar happily welcomed any form of distraction. When she pulled open the door she swore her eyes were playing tricks on her. Her heart roared to life and her knees grew weak.

"Before you attempt to slam the door in my face, which I admit is justified, I want you to know that I'm sorry." His words sounded sincere. All she thought about was relief she felt at having the opportunity to hear his voice again.

"Austin-" he raised a finger to silence her.

"This in no way can ever make up for the way I treated you, but I hope you can give me the opportunity to make it up to you, every day for the duration of our fleeting lives." He was pleaded.

"I am not angry with you. I understand that I am not the most credible source when compared with the name of a Cyner."

"I promise you, I will fix it. Why didn't you tell me what he did to you?" he needed to know, hoping it had nothing to do with lack of trust or comfort.

"I didn't want to be the one who made you think ill of your family." She said, her eyes avoiding his. He raised her gaze to his.

"You, Skylar, are all the family I need." He pulled her into his arms, deciding there and then that she was where she belonged.