Playing with Fire: A Standalone Dark Romance

Chapter Forty-seven

Fuck me, I hurt.

Everywhere.

The door to the private room they’re holding me in opens, and Malakai storms in. His neon blue eyes land on mine immediately before he crosses the space and cradles my face in his hands.

“Hi,” I croak.

His eyes jump between mine, a war within them, a battle of rage and panic.

“I’m okay.” I whisper.

“Shit, kitten,” his mouth presses on mine softly, nothing like the all-consuming kisses we’ve shared before. This is tender, as much for me as it is for him. He tells me he’s here while also reminding himself that I am okay.

My body is still shaking, fear making it impossible to fully relax. They attacked me, tried to abduct me from my own hotel. If Malakai hadn’t found us, where would I be? What were they going to do?

“Shh,” Malakai soothes, “You’re safe.”

His forehead rests on mine and the touch of him quietens everything else. I still hurt, my head aches and my body feels as if I’ve been hit by a damn truck, but the fear eases a little.

He’s here. They didn’t win.

He saved me.

“You came for me,” I say, feeling the sting of tears.

“I will always come for you, Olivia. Always, you hear me?”

Swallowing, I gently pull back, letting out a breath as I lay back on the pillows to give my muscles a break. “Who were they?” I ask because I know he will have that information.

“I’m finding out,” He growls, hardness entering his expression. “One of them is dead.”

I widen my eyes, “What?”

“I killed him.” He says it with no shame, regret, or guilt. He says it like he had no problem doing it and would do it again easily. I shouldn’t be surprised by it, but I am.

“There were two,” I stutter.

“Yes,” He agrees, “They won’t be a problem for you again, Olivia.”

“Did you kill him too?”

“No. But I will.”

Malakai takes a seat in the chair next to the bed, and I get a proper look at him now. I don’t know how I missed the blood all over him, it’s splattered over his face, his hands are stained with it. Swallowing, I avert my eyes to the window, seeing white flakes drifting down from a pitch black sky. It’s much too peaceful when there’s so much chaos inside me.

“You don’t have to be afraid of me, Olivia,” Malakai’s words are spoken softly, a whisper, “I’d never hurt you.”

I let my eyes fall closed against the sting, “I’m not afraid of you.” I confess honestly, “I’m afraid of everything that surrounds you.”

“You’re safe,” He repeats.

“Did they target me because of you?” I ask him bluntly. I have to know what I am facing, and then I have to decide if I want to continue allowing myself to fall deeper with him. How much risk is too much?

“I don’t know, Olivia.” He reaches for my hand, curling his strong fingers around my much smaller one. The blood is a malevolent reminder of the monster he is but when he touches me like this, so gently like I’m fragile and precious, I don’t see the monster at all. “But I promise it’ll never happen again.”

“How can you make that promise, Kai?”

He shudders, it’s gentle and subtle but I feel it where our hands are connected, “Because there is nothing I won’t do to make sure you’re protected. I will burn every city to the ground to eliminate any threat to you. I am your shield, Olivia. Your bullet. I am your husband.”

My lashes flutter but words fail me.

“Rest, kitten,” Malakai stands, leaning over the bed. His hand smooths back some hair from my forehead, the callouses on his fingers scraping on my skin.

“Are you leaving?” I panic.

“I’ll be right back,” He promises, “I need to change and wash off the blood. I’ll send Willow and Sebastian in, okay?”

“The nurse won’t let them both in,” I remind him.

“Don’t worry about that,” he says, gently pressing his mouth to mine before he then kisses my forehead and strides from the room.

A few minutes later Sebastian enters the room, “Well damn,” He whistles, “She’s alive.”

He clicks the door closed behind him and comes to the bed, staring down at my face in concern. “You good?”

“Yeah,” I answer, “Sore.”

I reach for the water on the bedside, but Sebastian is there first, grabbing the cup and guiding the straw to my mouth.

“I have a concussion and a few bruises,” I deadpan, “I didn’t lose the use of my limbs.”

It doesn’t stop him though and knowing I won’t win, I take a few draws of water, wetting my lips and tongue.

When I’m finished, he puts it down and takes a seat just as Willow sneaks into the room, quickly shutting the door behind her.

“Shit Oli!” She gasps, rushing over. Both hands grab one of mine as watery eyes flick around my face, cataloguing my injuries. “Well tonight didn’t exactly go to plan.” She winces, her thumb brushing over my knuckles.

“No,” I agree. “What a shit show.”

Sebastian scoffs but says nothing as Willow climbs onto the bed to lay down next to me. She rests on my shoulder, and I lean my cheek down on top of her head. “I lost my phone.”

“I’ll get it sorted,” Sebastian answers.

I was going to phone my sister, but now I think I’ll wait. If she finds out about this, she’ll be on the next ferry over, and I didn’t want her or her new boyfriend near Malakai just yet because of how angry they both were that I was doing this.

Willow stays in the bed with me and ends up falling asleep there, but I stay awake, watching the snow while Sebastian sits quietly beside me. I know he’s only here as a bodyguard, but it’s nice to have his company. I like Sebastian. I like them all.

I blow out a breath, almost wanting to laugh since this is not how I expected any of this to go.

Malakai returns about two hours after he left, dressed now in a pair of dark denim jeans and a sweater, hair still a little damp from his shower but his skin is clean, hands too.

“Well then,” Sebastian stands, shaking Willow gently, “I’ll get this one home.”

Willow groans and buries into my side further, refusing to wake.

“She’d sleep through an earthquake, I swear,” I laugh.

Rolling his eyes, he gently lifts Willow from the bed, and she snuggles right into his chest. His arms happen to curl just a little tighter, not that I let on that I notice. Malakai opens the door for them before he takes the seat Sebastian just vacated.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay,” I tell him. I’m not in too much pain, though I am worried about looking in the mirror. I know my face is bruised but I don’t know how bad it is.

“You understand you won’t be able to go anywhere alone now?” He says softly.

I nod. Figured as much and I didn’t much mind having company if it meant never experiencing what I did today again. I’ve never felt so helpless, not even when my ex blindsided me with that damn video.

“I’ll assign a bodyguard once we get home,” He tells me, “He will be with you whenever I am not. Even at work and with Willow. He’ll be trained.”

“Trained like you?” I hedge.

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

“When you’re ready,” He continues, “I will train you in self-defense and how to use various weapons. I won’t have you at risk.”

“I hope I never have to use it.” I confess.

“If I have anything to do with it,” He leans in, “You’ll never have to.”