I Got You
chapter Eight
Tiffany
O nce again, I come awake abruptly. Whatever is in that needle is powerful. I’m still in the old house, but I notice the room is darker. The sun is going down and has taken the natural sunlight that was once shining through the dusty windows with it.
A sudden loud noise from somewhere in the house grabs my attention. It sounds as if people are moving furniture around. The shouting comes next. My brain is still too foggy to register what’s being said.
Rolling over to my side takes a lot more effort than it should. My body feels heavy. Whatever they gave me in that shot must still be in my system. I force myself to roll again. I misjudged how close I was to the side of the bed and hit the floor with a thump. Hot pain races up my elbow and to my shoulder.
However, I don’t stop. I have no idea what’s going on in the house, but I need to find a way to get out. Using my upper body and legs, I crawl along the floor like a worm. It feels like I’ve crawled for hours. When I look back at where I fell, I’ve only moved about an inch from my original spot.
“Tiffany,” my name is shouted by that familiar deep voice.
It’s him. It’s Nico. Is he here to rescue me?
I open my mouth to call out to him and a croak comes out. Gathering a little more energy, I start to crawl again.
“Tiffany,” he calls for me again. Happy tears spill down my cheeks. Never have I been happier to hear a familiar voice.
“Mr. Basille, you have to stay back. We only allowed you on this rescue mission as a favor to the Mayor,” another male voice says.
“Nico,” I call out in barely a whisper. I try again and this time my voice carries. “Nico.”
Pounding footsteps draw closer to my location. Pounding at the door has my eyes drawn to the wood barrier. It sounds as if someone is trying to kick the door down. That theory is proved when the door splinters open and Niccolo Basille is standing there breathing heavily.
Happy tears come anew when his eyes land on me.
“Nico,” I whimper his name. Happy to see him.
He quickly storms over to me and without a second of delay, lifts me off the ground cradling me to his chest.
“I got you, beautiful. I’m here.”
Placing my head on his shoulder, I bury my face in his neck. His spicy scent soothes me even more. I don’t know where he’s taking me, I only know that I feel safe in his arms. Closing my eyes, I allow the adrenaline and the remainder of the medicine to lull me back into unconsciousness.
***
“Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Best,” the detective in the blue suit says standing. “We are going to try our best to find the ones that kidnapped you and the one they called Saint.”
Unfortunately, by the time Nico and the police showed up at the house my kidnappers were gone. Other than me, they left no trace of even being there.
“I have to be honest here,” blue suit cop says. “we’ve been trying to catch Saint and his crew for a while now and they are like smoke.”
“What does that mean for her safety,” Nico asks.
He has not left my side since he brought me to the hospital five hours ago. They tried to tell him that only family could come back with me when he checked me in. However, the look he gave those nurses had them changing their minds. I’m so thankful for him. I don’t know if I could’ve gotten through all the questioning alone.
I have him to thank for my rescue. Because I was on the phone with him when I was taken, Nico immediately notified the authorities. He took a private jet back to the states and got his own investigation team to ping my last location from our phone call. They were able to track my phone back to the house I was held hostage at. Thank goodness that Ghost guy used my phone to call Marcus.
The second detective with bushy eyebrows rubs at the back of his neck. “I would advise Ms. Best to lay low for a while. Change your routine for the next few months and don’t go places without a companion.”
“Can you find another place to stay for a while?” the first detective in the suit asks. “I’m pretty sure Saint’s people will be watching your house. The man isn’t one to give up so easily.”
Shaking my head, I look down at my clutched hands. “I don’t have anywhere else to go. My best friend and her husband only have one bedroom. My father lives 300 miles away and I still have to work.”
“She has a place to go,” Nico says as if he didn’t just hear me.
“Alright,” the bushy brows detective says. “We’re going to let you get some rest. If anything else comes to mind that could help in this investigation, give us a call.” He places a business card on the small rolling table beside my bed before leaving out of the room with his partner.
The moment the door closes, I turn to Nico.
“I wasn’t lying. I don’t have anywhere to go right now. I mean, I could rent a place but that would take a while.”
He holds up a hand to stop me. “You can stay with me.”
Okay, is it just me or is this man too good to be true?
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” he asks, tilting his head to the side.
Because although I work for you and you’ve saved my ass countless times in the last three months, I don’t know you. However, instead of saying that, I say, “I wouldn’t feel comfortable invading your space.”
He shrugs. “I don’t mind. Seriously.”
“I know, but I do.”
I don’t honestly think Mr. Basille would hurt me or anything, but I don’t think it’s smart to move in with someone I don’t truly know.
“Alright,” he says holding his hands up in a surrender posture. “You don’t have to move in with me. But you will move into my downtown condo. I’m never there and it’s fully furnished.” Before I can tell him, he’s being too generous he continues. “Don’t even think about arguing with me on this one.”
Shaking my head, I fight my smile. “You’re just too good to me. I owe you big.”
He grins and I enjoy how it softens his face. “Does that mean I can stop paying your salary and get your services for free?”
I toss my head back and laugh. “I won’t go that far. However, I will pay rent.”
This time, I cut him off from arguing with me. “No exceptions, Mr. Basille.”
He holds up his hands. “Okay. We will discuss payment later.”
A knock at my room door has mine and Nico’s head swinging in its direction. The laughter that was once on my face withers up and dies.
“Hey baby,” Marcus says. He’s holding a bouquet in his hands with a sad look on his face.
How the hell did he find out I was here. It goes without explanation that Marcus and I are over. Like, there is no coming back from bargaining me off to pay his debt.
“Who told you I was here?” I ask.
“The police. They came by to question me.”
He walks into the room, glancing in the corner, he stops when his gaze lands on Nico.
“What’s he doing here?”
“Are you fucking serious, right now?” I thought those words were said in my head, but the way Marcus’s eyes widen at me, let me know they came out.
“I know I have a lot of explaining to do—and I will, but I think we need to talk alone.” He cuts his gaze to Mr. Basille.
Nico stands, but I hold up a hand to stop him.
“No, he stays,” I say, keeping my gaze on Marcus.
I didn’t necessarily want Nico to hear what I had to say to Marcus, but just the thought of him coming in here demanding the man that saved my life had to leave, pissed me off.
“Are you sure, Ms. Best? I don’t want to cause any problems,” Nico says.
Poor guy, he has been nothing but nice since I met him. Yet, I keep pulling him into all my shit.
“I feel safer with you here.” Which isn’t a lie. My nerves are still pretty shot to hell from the entire ordeal.
With a simple dip of his chin, Nico sits back down.
“You feel safe with him?” Marcus parrots, grabbing my attention. “You’ve known me since high school, yet you feel safe with this stranger?”
“This stranger ,” I say, emphasizing the word stranger. “Saved my ass when my boyfriend thought to pimp me out to pay his debt.” I didn’t tell the cops that tidbit of information.
I explained to them that Marcus had run up a debt to Saint, and I was supposed to be his collateral, but I didn’t tell them about the entire phone call. I guess part of me still wanted to protect the man I’ve loved since I was sixteen.
Even from my bed, I catch the sound of the loud breath Nico just took. I don’t dare look in his direction. Marcus takes a step closer to the bed.
“I panicked, Tiff. Okay, I admit that wasn’t the right decision, but I didn’t know what else to say.”
“You could have turned yourself in. Hell, it was your debt. I told you that gambling wasn’t a sure thing.”
“You’re right,” Marcus places the bouquet at the foot of my bed, before taking a seat beside me. “I fucked up. I’ve already talked to someone about getting help for the gambling.” He grabs my hand in both of his, clutching it to his chest. “And baby, I promise to spend the rest of our life making up for this.”
I snatch my hand away from him. “If you had come to me before all this and told me about the debt, we could have worked it out. I would’ve forgiven you. But your decision on that phone sealed the deal for our relationship. I’ll never trust you again, Marcus.”
He shoots to his feet. “Are you serious? I messed up once and it’s over?”
“You didn’t just cheat, or stay out all night, you tried to sell me off to a known criminal. And you’re talking to me about taking you back? I have every right to have your ass arrested.”
Marcus drops down to one knee. “Okay. Okay, you’re right and I’m thankful you didn’t. But come on, Tiff. We can work this out.”
“We can’t. Not this time, now get the hell out of my room before I change my mind.”
I’ve dealt with a lot in this relationship. Some things that should have had me choosing the exit door long before this. However, I refuse to be blind any longer. My feelings for Marcus won’t go away overnight, but in time they will.
Marcus stands, dusting a hand down his pants. “I know you’re hurt and angry with me now, but I’m going to get my shit together. When I do, I’m coming back for you, baby. I’ll be the man you deserve. Just wait for me, Tiff.” With those words, he turns and walks out of my hospital room.
As soon as he shuts the door, the tears fall. For nine years I’ve loved him. My heart will need time, but my head has made her decision. I don’t look up when I feel the bed beside me dip. I slide over and soon after strong arms wrap around me pulling me into warmth and security. I should put some distance between us. Yet instead, I bury my face in his chest and breathe in his incredible scent. I can borrow his strength for a minute.