Niko: Love me Harder (6 page)

He shook his head and she got in, laying stiff, as she wondered what was next. He went around and turned off the lights before she heard the soft rustle of clothes. He was undressing. She clenched her fists and waited.

He grabbed something and began pulling it on. Night pants? She let out an audible breath of air. She’d believed she could trust him, but now she had proof.

“Dee, go to sleep. You need the rest.”

“How do I sleep? How do I close my eyes and get rest when all I can see is a nightmare?”

“Why don’t you start by telling me about it?”

She took her hand and rubbed her face, knowing she’d been holding it in for months. What would it hurt?

“I was supposed to stay with Rena and Aran, but I didn’t want too. Rena was so hurt, but I knew they needed time alone to become a couple. I was a third wheel, so I left. She warned me that I might be a target and begged me to stay. Funny, my paranoia didn’t kick in until it was too late. I just needed space.”

She lay in the bed remembering the cloying need to get out, to be alone.

“I went home and everything was good. I spent the day just hanging out at my place until the walls started closing in on me. That’s when I decided to go to the store. I needed something, coffee. I needed coffee, but I was trying to stop giving SB’s, the local coffee shop, all of my money.”

She hadn’t even thought about Rena’s warning, grabbing her keys, she got into her car and hit the local grocery store. While there, she’d flirted with a few guys, grabbed the coffee and creamer. Creamer was one of her guilty pleasures. Then she’d headed back home.

“I had parked in my assigned spot, when I thought I heard a low moan. Then I heard a desperate voice begging for help. ‘My wife has passed out someone help please. She’s pregnant. I have to get her to a hospital.’ I never thought about it. I rushed over to help, only to find out it was a trap.”

Her body shivered just a little and her voice was expressionless as she told her story.

“He caught me so easily. Me the prepared one. I guess my mind was on other things. He stuffed me into the car, leaving my good coffee and creamer on the ground. I sort of thought it was a joke at first because, I could tell I knew him or at least knew of him. I was blindfolded and bound. Next thing I knew, I’m tied to a chair and the blindfold was gone. He left me. He left me alone with a maniac.”

“The maniac was the one at the park or the one at the bank?” Niko had been there for her at the bank and from what Rena had told her all the brothers had rescued her from the park.

“Neither. He was something totally different from either of those two. I had never seen him before and to be honest, I didn’t see him this time. All I got was shadows. Frightening shadows that haunt my dreams. They stalk me at night.”

“Was there anything you could see about him?”

She shook her head yes, rubbing her arms as if the temperature had dropped. Her body shook as fear clouded her eyes.

“Tell me.”

“You’ll think I am crazy if I do.”

He smiled, but all she could catch was a small twist of the lips. “Tell me anyway.”

“His eyes turned yellow and they glowed like an animal’s caught in the headlights of a car.” He’d been shrouded in shadows, but those eyes had been vivid.

“Did you see anything else?”

She told him about the claws and the drawing sense of terror she felt when she saw his nails grow and his hand change, becoming an animal, one she couldn’t pinpoint.

“Did he touch you, kitten?”

Silent tears ran down her face and her body shook in fear.

“I need to know what he did. Please tell me.”

Niko’s voice had become soft, the kind of voice you could lose yourself in. His voice said trust me, I’ll never betray you. She found herself inching a little closer to him. She wanted the warmth his voice promised. She needed to touch the burning inferno. She needed to touch him to drive away the coldness of the memories.

“He walked towards me silently. He should’ve been right in front of me, but I couldn’t see him. All I could see was the shadow of that creature on the wall.”

‘Do you want to know what hell is?’ He whispered that in my ear and still I couldn’t see him. I wanted to reach out and defend myself, but I was helpless. He ran the tip of one long, sharp claw over my shoulder.”

‘I could cut you,’ then he laughed as if it was a private joke. Then he said, ‘I’ll cut you. Do you wonder where I’ll do it?’

“He ran his claws over me. Down the front of my shirt, making sure he touched my breasts, pinching and pulling at them. He even ran his hands up and down my legs. When he was done he laughed.” Her body had been ice cold, she had frozen in place. Fear that a sudden move from her would cause him to kill her ensured that she would be motionless. ‘The back of your neck at the base of your skull. That’s where I’ll cut you.’

“He took one of his claws and cut me there deeply. I thought I was dead or at least paralyzed for the rest of my life. He watched the blood flowing and laughed. He called the base of the skull the doorway to the mind for his people. Then I saw his tongue come out. It was long and thin and moved like a snake. He bent his head to me and licked the wound, groaning at the taste of my blood.”

She raised her tear stained face to him. The tears flowed harder as she gave herself permission to finish.

‘You’re infected now. Death, when it finally comes, will be a relief. Don’t worry, insanity will find you long before then.’

“I could feel it, whatever it was invading my body. It wanted to take me over, to make me into something else. My brain burned, but I fought back as impossible as that sounds. Finally I passed out. When I woke up, I was with Rena’s boss Mr. Harris and he was looking at me with sad eyes. You know the rest.”

“I know the rest.”

He moved over, closing in the last bit of space that separated them. He took her in his arms.

“Sleep kitten and rest.”

Chapter Ten

She stretched, feeling something hard holding her down. She shook her head in quick denial. There was no way she’d fallen asleep in some man’s bed. She opened one eye just a crack and everything rushed back in.

She hadn’t fallen asleep in some man’s bed. She’d fallen asleep in Niko’s arms. Where’s a random stranger when you needed one?

“I know you’re awake,” Niko said.

“Am not.”

“Not only are you awake, but you’re alive and unravished. I guess Rena won’t be crying over your coffin after all.”

The man had no compassion. If he did, he wouldn’t be reminding her of last night.

“Didn’t your mother teach you compassion?” She used her sharp tone of voice on him, trying to hide her embarrassment.

“No, she didn’t. I never met my mother. None of us ever did.”

Why must she always say the wrong thing? She closed her eyes, wishing for a do over or a wall to bang her head against.

“Forgive me, Niko. I was being rude. I guess I was trying to save face.”

“How would you know, kitten? It’s not something I ever told you. I was thinking about breakfast. Do you cook?”

“Not really. I don’t eat a lot.”

“I know and now you eat even less. So I’ll see what I can make for breakfast.”

“I’m not hungry. I’ll skip it.”

“No, you won’t”

“Yes, I will. I said I’m not hungry.”

“Go take a good look at yourself, kitten. You’re nothing but skin and bones. You keep this up, Rena will be crying over your sealed coffin.”

The fact that he said Rena and not himself was like a kick in the gut and she wasn’t appreciating it.

“I know you think I’m too small, but…”

“Stop. Not think, I know you’re too small. Those clothes you’re wearing that are hanging off your body, those are your clothes. Clothes that at one time fit and I’m betting even looked nice on you. Now you look like a child playing dress up.”

She dropped her eyes to look at her hands. He was right. Her clothes weren’t fitting the way they should be. She’d bought smaller clothes, deciding that no one would notice anyway. He’d noticed.

“I need to change.” She left the bed and made her way to the bathroom.

It was easy to pretend on the phone with her bestie that everything was ok, because she couldn’t see her. But hiding things from Niko that would be a different story. Good thing she was leaving today.

She got herself together and walked out. She had a breakfast to pretend to eat.

“Lead the way. I’m ready.”

They walked out the door and towards a staircase. At the bottom he led her to the back of the house, which contained a big open kitchen.

“This is beautiful.”

“Thanks.”

“Have a seat. Breakfast or lunch? It’s pretty late.”

“In that case, it must be lunch.”

She watched as he opened cabinets, pulling out ingredients. “What are you making?”

“Thought we might have another salad. Something light.”

“Sounds good.” If only she planned to eat it.

“Nicolas is coming over today.”

“That’s great. I haven’t seen him in a while. It’ll be nice to see him, if I’m still here when he gets here.”

“You’ll still be here.”

“What’s he want by the way?”

“I asked him to come over. He’s going to examine you.”

“Niko, say what? Why would I let that quack touch me?”

“Would this be the same quack who saved Aran’s life or the same quack who takes care of Rena and would’ve done more for you after the kidnapping if you had let him? Is that the quack we’re talking about? Dee someone tried to hurt you, you need to see a doctor.”

She didn’t meet his eyes. He wouldn’t understand. She couldn’t let Nicolas touch her. Yes, he was a good doctor. He was actually a great doctor from what she’d been told. That’s why he couldn’t touch her.

He would know. He would know that the creature who held her had done something to her. She had to get out of here.

“That would be him. Give him my apologies for having missed him.”

She got up and walked out of the kitchen. She was dressed appropriately. She’d found a pair of stretch pants, a pair that she’d been squeezing into before, but they fit now. She paired it with an oversized shirt that she’d tied at the side like it was a fashion statement. A pair of baby doll shoes completed the ensemble. She looked average enough to walk out without drawing attention to herself. She reached the door, turned the lock and pulled. It didn’t budge.

She turned the lock the other way. Nothing. She turned her head to the right, saw a nice big window and crossed to it. She unlatched it and went to lift it. Nothing. Taking a deep breath, she tried every window in every room until she found the back door.

Smiling she unlocked it and nothing. Pissed off she walked into the kitchen.

“You’re back in time.” He slid a salad plate over to her. It had the best looking chicken salad on it.

“It smells good.” The words were dragged out of her mouth.

“Thanks.” He set a much larger plate in front of him. “Eat before the chicken gets cold.”

She eyed the vegetables and the pieces of chicken. Reluctantly, she began to eat. She ate about half on her plate before putting down the fork.

“I’m full.” It was defiant. She’d just dropped the gauntlet.

“OK.” He reached over and dragged her plate to him. “Wouldn’t want it to go to waste.” He poured the remainder on his plate and polished it all off.

“I noticed none of the windows seem to open. Are they painted shut?”

“No.”

“Just no? Why don’t they open?”

“Because I don’t want them too.”

He got up and started clearing off the table. She joined him at the sink and helped him load the dish washer.

“Niko, what is happening?” Her voice came out soft. She’d been in situations like this where she’d been hurt.

Niko wouldn’t hurt her, of that she was sure. He might make her eat, but really, she could live with that. No one besides Rena ever forced her to eat.

He reached out and ran a hand down her cheek.

“I’ll explain it all, but I need Nicolas to examine you first. No worries, kitten. If he finds something that you might be scared of we’ll take care of it. No matter what, you won’t be hurt.”

She nodded her head, but didn’t meet his eyes. She would have to wait and see what happened. “What do we do while we’re waiting for him to come?”

“Hale developed this virtual reality game that feels so real. Would you like to play?”

He looked so excited at the prospect of playing, that she had to say yes. He was probably just excited about kicking her butt in the game. He took her to a game room that reminded her somewhat of Aran’s.

“We all have a room like this. It’s a central meeting place in our homes when we get together.”

He took her to a love seat that sat in front of a huge screen. “I’m going to attach these to the side of your head. Don’t worry, you’ll forget they’re there. They will allow you to feel like you’re actually in the game.”

She got comfortable while he got himself together. “Where’s the controller?”

“You’ll do it with your thoughts. Don’t worry, you’ll see how it works.”

The screen came on and the scene in front of her spread out to touch her. She felt like she was wearing 3D glasses.

Her avatar walked on out. She almost fell off the couch. This was how she saw herself, not painfully thin and scared to eat. No, she was blessed with the same beautiful breasts except now she had an ass that would make men crash, she had legs that seemed to go on forever and one of those muscled stomachs she could never achieve no matter how much she worked out.

She was flexing her arms and jumping up and down, getting a handle on how to control her avatar. She was going to kick his butt in this game. She looked down at her feet and found a weapon.

She loved it. It was small, but it looked deadly. She tried to pick it up, but couldn’t grasp it.

“You have to link with it. Once you do, it’s yours. No other can use it.”

“How do I do that?”

“Concentrate on it. Feel the weapon hum, almost as if it has a voice of its own. When you feel it, follow the path with your mind. You’ll see it flash a bright blue. Don’t pick it up. Just connect with it.”