Despite her protestations of leaving her behind, slender arms wrap tightly around my neck and she tucks her face against my chest. Trusting me to get her out of this nightmare. I knew the first time I saw this woman that she was going to ruin me… and seeing her like this has done it. I’m never going to be okay again unless she is. Seeing her healed, seeing her smile, is my new mission in life.
That, and sending Dominic to hell where he belongs.
The flames of my rage are fanned again as I enter the kitchen, my precious bundle held tight in my arms. Several of Dominic’s thugs are there, bound and sitting along one wall, their faces a mixed bag of anger and sullenness. How many of these degenerates put their hands on her? How many of them came on her like she was a plaything for them to use? Yeah, it didn’t take long for me to figure out what’s all over her.
One of the men smirks up at me from where he sits, his back against the grimy refrigerator. “Found our little cum dumpster did ya?” dirty laughter laces his words.
A shudder wracks Nikki’s body and her gasp is muffled against my shoulder as she presses herself more tightly against me. It feels like she’s trying to crawl inside of me and disappear. I step toward him without hesitating and lash out with my booted foot, kicking him hard in the ribs. His laughter cuts off abruptly under the impact and he falls to his side on the floor gasping threats at me and at Nikki as he clutches ribs that no doubt are broken. A satisfied smile tips up the corners of my lips. He’ll be feeling that, but not nearly for long enough. I don’t say a word. Not one of them is worth my breath. I stride through the living room and carry her out the door and straight into the backseat of the first SUV I see.
Blake’s sitting behind the steering wheel. His lips part and I can see the questions in his eyes. I meet them in the rear-view mirror and I give one firm shake of my head. There won’t be any questions right now. I refuse to discuss Nikki as if she wasn’t present. He tips his chin, acknowledging my unspoken message, and picks up his phone. He steps out of the vehicle and I listen with half an ear as he places a call to keep Agent Weaver, the FBI agent in charge of the Dominic Cerelli investigations, in the loop. It’s time for her and her team to come pick up the trash.
I slowly rock Nikki in my arms, smoothing my hand up and down the length of her back under the dirty sheet as we listen to his low-voiced conversation. She doesn’t make a sound. She doesn’t even move, just remains a still, slight weight in my arms, staring out the window at the house. I look at the house. It looks just like any other house, on any other street. Her empty expression and blank eyes reflected in the dark window echo the trauma that she endured inside those walls. I just hope we are both strong enough to endure the aftermath.
Forcing myself not to think about what’s in her hair, I press my cheek to the top of her head and murmur encouraging words. Trying to reassure her, as well as myself, that she’s safe now, that I will take care of her, and that I’m never going to let anyone hurt her ever again. She doesn’t respond. The words thrown at her in the kitchen seem to have broken the last of her spirit.
I fight the overwhelming urge to go back inside and beat every last one of those sorry excuses for men until they’re as broken as she is, but taking care of Nikki is more important. I have to make sure that she knows that the cruel words flung at her aren’t true. Not at all. Her value is infinite.
The weight of Xavier’s concerned gaze lands on me, and I turn my attention to him. I didn’t even notice him getting into the SUV. “I think she needs a doctor X,” I finally rasp. I don’t know what to do for her if she isn’t going to fight.
“Already have one coming to the hotel,” Blake speaks up as he slides back behind the wheel and I nod my thanks. “Dr. Halvorson will be there when we arrive.”
I know Halvorson, he’s a good man and a damn good doctor. He goes to the same gym as Bas and me. Military doctor, if I recall correctly. He’s bound to have seen some shit and hopefully can get through to Nikki and point us in the right direction to get her the help she’s going to need.
“Ellie and the other girls will be there too, and you know they’ll help take care of your girl if she needs anything,” he continues. I may not have gotten to know Blake very well, but I do know Ellie from around Luminoso. She works in housekeeping and is a sweet, pretty girl. I’m not surprised that she caught his attention.
I appreciate his concern, and I know he means well, but what Nikki needs is for every one of those sick sons of bitches to die. The need to hurt someone, to make them feel as helpless as I do, as I know Nikki does, is all that I want. Retribution. Vengeance.
“Dominic is mine now, X.” My voice sounds strangled, even to my own ears. I feel like I’m choking on my words. On my hate. There’s a long pause while Xavier weighs how to respond. He won’t want to say anything to make the situation worse. We’ve been friends my whole life. I know he’s likely my cousin or possibly even my brother. We’ve never talked about it, but it’s always there between us, and I know he feels responsible for this. For not doing something sooner to stop his dad and Dominic. As if he could have done anything while they were both alive. He feels guilty, and he doesn’t want me to take responsibility for what he feels is his to do, atone for the sins of his father and uncle.
I understand that, but I don’t give a shit anymore. I’ve tried to stay as far away from the business as possible my entire life, but not anymore. This is my fight now. When Dominic hurt my girl, he messed with the only person I’m willing to wade into the ugliness for. Her. X had better not stand in my way. I know he’s pissed but Dominic didn’t hurt Analise like he did Nikki. When Ana was kidnapped it was a power play. With Nikki, it was personal. I don’t know why yet, but I will.
“We can figure that out once we know where the sick fuck is.” X is trying to be diplomatic but I’m not going to accept anything less than reprisal for Nikki. At my hand. There will be time for us to argue about it later, once we know where Dominic is. Right now, the important thing is getting to Luminoso so Halvorson can check Nikki over. She needs to start healing. She… we have a long road ahead of us.
The drive didn’t take very long, but Xavier’s penthouse is crazy with activity when we arrive. I glance around, looking for Halvorson but he’s not in sight. He either isn’t here yet or is seeing a victim—no, a survivor—in another room. Not wanting Nikki to wait in the living room with everyone else, I slip down the hall to one of the spare bedrooms. It’s quieter away from the crowd and when I kick the door closed, we are alone surrounded by silence. Lowering us gingerly, I sit on the edge of the mattress unwilling to put her down. She hasn’t moved or made a sound since I carried her out of that hellhole. It’s no secret that she’s in shock. I’d know that even without my training, and there’s no way I’m leaving her alone. Xavier knows we’re here. Sooner or later he’ll send Halvorson to check on her. Until then, she’s in my arms and I’m not letting her go.
“It’s gonna be okay, doll,” I whisper softly into her filthy hair, rocking slowly from side to side, hoping my words and presence reassure her even in her silent state. “Doc Halvorson will be here soon.”