“And what are those?”
She breathes out through her nose. “Have you been sleeping?” She knows I don’t unless I can’t help it. “Are you angry with me? I apologize that I haven’t been here for you. My father’s not doing too well. Terminal cancer. But I’m here now, and you can tell me why you’re having trouble sleeping.”
She shared with me, so she thinks I’ll share with her?
“Why do you think?”
“I don’t know; I’m not a mind reader, unfortunately. Maybe you could tell me?”
“I’d rather die.” It comes out without me realizing it. A slip of the tongue. I said too much.
Her brow furrows as silence parades around us. Finally, she clears her throat. “Right, okay. Well, I guess that’s all for today.” Her smile is strained. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
Chapter Fifteen
That night there’s a storm. Violent wind rips through the building, rattling the bedroom doors, as if someone were trying to get in. Thunder bangs in the sky, instantly followed by a flash of light that whitens the room. Rain begins, heavy and loud, battering against the roof and my window.
It’s sometime past one in the morning. Security finished their rounds five or so minutes ago. I’m wide awake and restless, but not because of the storm.
The shame of touching myself while thinking of Milton thickens in my throat. How could I have let that happen? How? And now I can’t stop thinking about that stupid contract he wants me to sign, the worst part being I want it to be more than him making me pay for what I did to him. I want to know what it feels like to be with Milton Hood.
I don’t know why. I’m psychotic for entertaining the idea. Sick in the head. Deserving of being here. I’m consumed by a man who cares less about me, wanting his return when all he wants to do is torture me.
I’m sick, sick, sick.
Tossing on to my other side, frustrated by my thoughts, something catches the corner of my eye. As I look up to see what, my heart stops at the dark form in the doorway. Just as I’m about to open my mouth to scream, it rushes forward, and a hand crashes against my lips.
“Shh,” Nicolas hushes as my eyes widen. Something cold presses against my throat and I whimper behind his palm at the blade on my skin. “Don’t give me a reason to hurt you, free bird.”
It’s been months since I’ve seen him, and time hasn’t been kind; he looks awful. Cuts tarnish his swollen face, blackening in areas where bruises have formed. Ashy hair falls around shoulders now, wet from the storm and dripping water on my face. He looks every bit of the man Blake abused him to become. “I’m going to remove my hand, but if you scream, I’ll cut you. Understand?”
Nodding, he takes his hand away slowly. Warily. When I don’t scream, he relaxes, lessening the pressure on the knife against my throat.
“Daddy misses you,” he taunts with a smirk, the weight of his body smothering me. He smells of alcohol and smoke, and he’s here. How the fuck is he here? “We’re bringing you home soon.”
My head shakes, “No—”
“You will come home if you want to keep that little murderous secret you have to yourself.” He sighs when I gasp. “That’s right, I know all about what you did. I’ve been watchin’ you all this time, knowin’ how that mama of yours made all the bad things her daughter did go away.”
“Wh—what?”
“Did you get my present?” he asks, evil pouring into his gaze.
My head flinches back, tears welling in my eyes when he flashes me a cold smile of deviousness. “It was you. You dug up my baby.” His eyes squint harshly as my stomach churns. “I didn’t know I was pregnant, I…” Had a headache. Didn’t want to be alive anymore. Tried to kill myself. I couldn’t live with the guilt of betraying Milton any longer. Which one to tell him? “Does he—”
“No. But he will if you make this difficult for me. You know he’s wanted to put a baby in you for years to replace the damaged one,” he spits, talking about himself. “If he ever found out, he’d kill you, and you know it.”
“I’m…”
His hand goes around my neck, and fear coats my insides as his fingers close around my throat. “Fuckin’ cunt. Do not say you’re sorry. You’re not sorry. I can’t stand the damn sight of you. Nothin’ but a dirty whore!”
“Nick, I can’t…I can’t breathe…” His hand clenches tighter, crushing my windpipe and blocking out air. Kicking out my legs, I slap his hands, trying to get him to stop.
“I’ll come for you during the wedding. Blake wants you back where you belong.” I smack his arm frantically. I can’t breathe. I’m going to die! “Since you got yourself locked up in a psych ward, you’re protected, and the wedding is the only opportunity, so be ready to come without a scene…And Heidi…”
He leans in so close I’m not only being strangled, I’m being crushed by his weight. “Don’t even think about getting anyone to help you. Because I will kill them all.”
Finally, he lets go, and I inhale loudly, coughing when air fills my lungs too fast. Placing my hand over my chest, I look up, still gasping, my room now empty, and Nick long gone.
I pace my room all night, until the first traces of daylight uncover another stormy day, which seems to only add to the impact of Nick’s sudden arrival.
My hands grasp the sides of my head, heart palpitating, and stomach cramping with nausea. No. This isn’t happening. It can’t be. I have to get out of here. There’s no way I can go back to Blake. I can’t.
As my thoughts swirl too fast in my head, only one person comes to mind. There’s only one who can help
