As soon as I utter his name the door swings open. Halvorson enters quietly, a grim look on his face.
“What are we dealing with, Callen?” he asks, as usual not wasting time with pleasantries. I’ve always appreciated his directness.
“Honestly I don’t know Derrick. She’s been missing for three weeks and I don’t know exactly what they did while they had her.” I have a good idea though. I don’t say that out loud, knowing that Nikki is awake and listening. “When I realized it was her…” I hesitate, unable to stop the feelings of shock and horror I felt from returning. “I didn’t even do an assessment. I just got her the fuck out of that shit hole,” I admit, knowing from a medical standpoint that was a mistake. I don’t have to say more. I’m sure Blake filled him in on the situation when he arranged for him to be here tonight. I look down at Nikki’s face. Her cheek is still pressed over my heart and her tawny eyes are open wide and full of terror as she stares up into mine.
“I’m going to need to examine you.” Derrick squats beside us, his voice is low and gentle as his broad hand carefully settles on her bare shoulder. He needs me to let her go so he can do his job, but I don’t want to. I know he’s seen and treated more than his fair share of trauma victims. Both in the ER here and overseas if the gym gossip is true, not that I’d ever ask. That’s not the kind of thing a man volunteers to talk about, and we aren’t close enough for that by any means.
My heart twists as a shudder rips through Nikki’s body at his touch. I’m too surprised to move as she jumps off my lap in a flurry of movement, red fabric billowing around her. Her voice is small and pleading as she flings herself away from Derrick, and me, and crouches in the corner of the room.
“Please.” Her voice is a raw whimper. “Please. Don’t touch me!”
Derrick reaches her before I do and stoops low beside her. His hands reach out to touch, to heal. It’s what he does, but he draws them back and, glancing up at me, mouths, “Her name?”
“Nikki,” I whisper, stepping back to give him space even though I want to haul him away from her and gather her back into my arms to soothe her fear.
He slowly reaches out a hand toward her again. “Nikki, I’m Dr. Derrick Halvorson. I’m here to help.”
“Nikki, it’s okay. Please let us help you,” I plead, stepping closer to them. Her wild eyes flash between us and far too late I realize how scary we must look to her. How much bigger than her we both are. Before I can step away and tell Halvorson to give her more room, she opens her mouth. Her wail of terror and desperation ricochets through the room, gutting me.
Before either Derrick or I can move, the door flies open behind us. I whirl around to see who it is and Ana steps inside, a look of dismay and anger on her pale face as she shouts, “Get away from her!”
“She needs help, Ana, but she won’t let us near her.” I try to explain, my pleading voice cracking with emotion.
“Of course, she won’t, you idiot!” she snaps, her scowl raking me from head to toe. “Take a look at yourselves and see if you can figure out why she might be afraid of you two.” She huffs and pushes at Derrick’s shoulder until he too gets up and takes a step away from Nikki. She’s right and we both know it.
“Go finish tending to the others, doctor. I’ll stay here with…” her voice trails off in a question.
I can’t stop my sigh, knowing I’m being banished along with Halvorson. “Nikki, her name’s Nikki.” Ana nods and looks pointedly at the door. I follow Derrick into the hall before stopping. “I’ll be just outside if you need me,” I offer. Ana smiles tightly and after a long look at Nikki shivering on the floor, I close the door and slide down the wall, resting my elbows on my knees and dropping my face into my hands. I’m so tired. It’s been a long-ass day and an even longer month. From the instant I saw Nikki in Tassels I knew I’d do anything to have her by my side. I never thought these feelings could develop so fast, but I haven’t once questioned them. I only got one damn night with her before everything got fucked up. And once again, Dominic ruined someone's life. Just like he did my mom’s. He destroys everything and everyone he touches. He’s pure fucking evil and I wish he was gone. Out of my life and out of Nikki’s, forever.
Chapter Ten
Nikki
Panic courses through me as I watch a petite, very blonde, pregnant woman hurry through the door like an avenging Valkyrie. She yells at them before ushering Grayson and the doctor out the door. I know that they didn’t mean to frighten me, but I’m grateful for her intervention. I couldn’t help the wave of terror that rushed through me when the doctor touched me. I don’t know why Grayson’s touch doesn’t set off the same cascade of alarm within me. Maybe because I knew him before. Kind of anyway, but he’s familiar and that’s comforting when nothing else is.
Once we’re alone, the blonde awkwardly lowers herself to the floor beside me. I watch warily, unable to stop rough breaths from ripping from my tender throat. I know I’ll hyperventilate if I can’t calm down. Logically I know I’m not in danger anymore but knowing it and convincing a body that doesn’t feel like my own anymore are two totally different things.
“Hi, Nikki. I’m Analise, but you can call me Ana if you want to.” Her voice is warm and kind. She’s dressed in a cute maternity top and leggings, her silvery blonde hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun. She smells sweet, like some flowery body wash, making me aware of how dreadful I must smell. Uncomfortable and burning with shame, my eyes focus on the red sheet still wrapped around me while I nervously pick at the dirty fabric. I want to throw the hideous reminder in the trash, or better yet burn it, but I don’t have anything else to cover me.
“The doctor really does need to examine you. Get samples for evidence so we can nail the bastard who did this to you.” The venom in her words breaks through the haze of numbness clouding my thoughts. She hates the man who did this to me almost as much as I do.
“Then just scrape the evidence off my skin,” I whisper, pulling the sheet down revealing the flaky crust painted across my chest. She swallows hard, the color in her cheeks draining away. Knowing I’ve shocked her makes me feel bad. I’m mortified, and deep down I’m angry that my condition made this nice woman feel sick. I pull the sheet back up, covering myself, and look away, focusing on controlling my breath and attempting to get my wildly swinging emotions under control.
“Is that…” she whispers, but doesn’t finish the thought, so I do for her.
“Semen?” I spit out the word and the pressure inside bubbles up from my belly and bursts from my lips “Cum. Jizz. Spunk.” I can’t stop the poisonous flow of words as the echo of cold-blooded voices reverberate in my head. “They all called it something different when they jerked off on me.”
“Did anyone…” she swallows hard, “force… intercourse on you?” she asks hesitantly after a long, weighted silence.
“No,” I respond, dropping my head back against the wall with a thunk. “That would have been easier to deal with than what they did do.”