Chapter Nineteen
Nixie
“It’s not safe,” Calvin argues with me for the billionth time. After the events of the past few days, I haven’t been to work, but I’m itching to get back to some sort of normality in my life, and if I’m honest, I can’t just sit around this house for another day.
“I will be fine. Bert is there, remember?” I tell him, trying anything to get him to understand.
“Oh, yeah, the fifty-year-old man will be able to protect you,” he scoffs and rolls his eyes.
Anger fills my body. How dare he speak of Bert like that! “You don’t know him! I do! And he would protect like I was one his daughters,” I shout back at him.
He must see how annoyed I am, because he comes over and wraps his big, stupid, muscly arms around me, and I instantly relax into them. Asshole.
“Look, Nixie, I’m sorry. I believe he would.”
“I can’t stay cooped up in the house. I need some routine and balance in my life,” I tell him.
After what feels like an eternity of waiting for a response, he sighs.
“Okay. On one condition.”
“What?”
“You let me get you a bodyguard to be discreet around you at work.”
I can see in his eyes that this isn’t up for debate. Even if I was to say no, he would still do it.
“Fine.” I roll my eyes.
“If I didn’t have to help my brother and his guys track Cormac down, you know I’d be watching you. It’s my favorite thing to do.” He winks at me.
“Stalker,” I laugh.
“Just for you, darlin’, just for you.” He smirks as he places a kiss on my head and leaves me in the bedroom alone. He walks over, talking on his phone.
I get lost in my own thoughts when Calvin comes back in.
“All sorted. Maddox is going to go with you today until I sort something permanent out.”
“Maddox?”
“Yes. Why?” he asks.
“Well. He’s not exactly easy to blend in with a normal crowd, is he?” I smile.
“That’s true,” he laughs. “But I know for sure he will keep you safe, and he will see danger before you see it.”
With that news, I walk into the closets and go about finding something to wear for work. In the end, I settle for a cream chunky sweater and black mini skirt, paired together with tights and my boots.
Once dressed, I walk to the bathroom and apply a little makeup and throw my long black hair into a messy bun.
Movement in the corner of my eye makes me turn my head, and I find Calvin standing in black pants and a white button shirt, his brown hair just dying to have me run my fingers through.
I look away before I literally drool over the man.
“Don’t worry, darlin’. I feel the exact same way.” He smirks at me of course he knew exactly what I was thinking.
We rush out the house together before either of us take it too far. Calvin drives me to work. I’m so looking forward to being back. I’ve missed it all. I love being there surrounded by all the different types of books and the worlds they have.
“Why don’t you have a car if you can drive?” Calvins question pulls me back from my thoughts, only for other thoughts to invade the once happy space in my head.
My breathing picks up and my hands are starting to get all clammy. I try very hard not to let these thoughts come up.
“Hey, it’s alright. You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to,” he says as he reaches over and gives my leg a squeeze. I look up at him. He has a smile on his face, but I can see the concern behind it.
“No. No. It’s okay. I don’t want there to be secrets between us,” I tell him as I take a deep breath. He just nods and waits patiently for me to continue.
“When I was eighteen, I was driving a few friends home from a party. I was the designated driver. They had all been drinking, and they were singing along and having a good time on the journey back home.” I stop to take a breath. Calvin squeezes my leg reassuring me to continue. “They were trying to get me to sing along and have some fun, but it was like three in the morning, and I was starting to get tired and just wanted to get home.” I stop again, this time looking out the window, taking in at the familiarity of the route to work. “Anyway, I started to sing along with them for a little bit, when all of a sudden my friend in the passenger side grabbed the wheel because she said she saw something in the road, causing us to end up on the opposite side of the road. All I remember is two big bright lights coming towards us, followed by a loud honk, and then I woke up two weeks later in the hospital with broken ribs, leg and a concussion.” The words fall out, part of me feels relief for telling someone.
Calvin has now parked up outside the library and is looking at me with sorrow all over his face.
“And then not long after I woke up, my parents informed me that all three of my friends had died in that crash.” My words come out as sobs.
“Everything was different after that. My friends’ parents blamed me for it, even though it wasn’t my fault. My parents felt the strain of their friends and the people of the community judging them. So, when I was all recovered, they gave me some money and told me to get out of their house,” I say quietly.
“Are fucking serious?” he shouts, and I flinch. “None of this was your fault, darlin’. You have to believe that.”
“I do know now, thanks to years of therapy,” I laugh and play with my fingers in my lap.
“I can’t believe your parents just kicked you out after such a traumatic experience.” I can hear the anger in his voice.
“Believe it or not, I can. I never fit in with my parents’ idea of a perfect family. My older brother and sister are doctors and lawyers. None of those career paths were for me, even though they continued to pressure me all throughout my teenage years,” I scoff.
“I was always in the library, and my dad hated it. Hated the fact that I preferred to help out in the library than go to his family days out so he could run for mayor. Of course, he won, and once that happened, I was well and truly the last thought on their minds.” I smile weakly at Calvin.
“When was the last time you spoke to them?” he asks me.
“When they kicked me out at eighteen,” I reply.
His whole body is shaking with anger now.
“Anyway, I better get going.” I wipe the tear falling quickly before he notices.
I go to open the door and Calvin’s hand wraps around my upper arm, pulling me toward him. “As much as I hate your family right now, I can’t thank them enough. They might have pushed you out, but they pushed you right into my arms, and I promise you, this is where you will stay. Forever.”
Oh, boy, this man knows how to make you feel. It’s hard to think that someone wants you as much as that, but I honestly believe everything he says. He embraces me, and part of me just wants to crack and let out all the emotions, but before that happens a knock comes on Calvin’s window, causing him to huff out in frustration.
“Hate to break up the lovey dovey sesh, but we gotta go,” Maddox says as he points his thumb over his shoulder.
“Perfect timing as ever, Maddox,” Calvin says through slightly gritted teeth.
“Yup.” He smiles back, causing Calvin to roll his eyes as he gets out of the car and walks around to my door. I step out and he embraces me again. “If you aren’t feeling it. Ring me and I will be here, okay?” he asks.
“Promise.” I nod at him.
“Good girl.” He smirks and kisses me on the lips, I wrap my arms around him deepening the kiss and I swear I hear him growl. There’s a sudden bang on the hood of the car, which makes me jump.
“Lets go” Maddox whines
“Hit my car again and I will slam your head on it” Calvin shouts at him which just makes Maddox laugh. The guy is crazy, but yet I feel safe around him.
“Go before I change my mind and take you in and on this car,” he rasps out.
“That’s an option?” I smile and run from him before he can change his mind.
Calvin stays in his car as we walk across the carpark and up the steps to the library.
“Once we are in there. You will not see me, but I will see you, okay?” Maddox says.
I nod as I open the door, hearing Calvin drive off.
“Miss. Nixie. Oh, I have missed you.” Bert’s energy instantly makes me feel better and more at ease. Maddox is still behind me, keeping quiet.
“Bert.” I smile at him and return his hug. “It’s so good to see you. Have I missed much?” I ask.
“Not really. Malcolm doesn’t work here anymore, so at least he won’t be hovering around you anymore,” he says. Hearing Malcolm’s name sends a shiver down my back, and I hear Maddox let out a small chuckle.
“Bert, this is Maddox. He will be the one hovering around, but don’t worry, he’s a good guy. I think?” I tell him.
“Is everything okay?” Bert asks, concerned.
“Yeah. Just precaution. I’ll let you two get acquainted,” I tell them both as I make my way to the staff room to put my things away.
The morning goes by and nothing unusual happens, which makes me feel a bit better. At least I’ll be able to prove to Calvin that my workplace is safe. The thought of rubbing it in his face makes me smile.
“Oh, I recognise that smile.” I’d know that croaky old voice anywhere. I look up to see the lovely Edith standing at the counter.
“Hello, Edith.” I smile at her.
She leans her hip on the counter. “So, who’s the guy?” she asks.
“What guy?” I shrug my shoulders at her question.
“The guy who’s got you smiling like a damn fool.” Her grin widens.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Edith.” I smirk at her.
“Just these ones today?” I point to the stack of books she placed on the counter, trying to distract her from any more questions.
“Mhmm,” she replies, smirking at me.
I scan the books onto her account and place them in the bag she brought with her.
“Oh, miss. One thing,” Edith says as she gets the bag ready on her arm. “My dear Edgar makes me smile just like that, and we’ve been married for sixty years now, and a love like that never goes away. So enjoy each other, and live happy.” She winks and makes her way to the front door. I watch as Bert helps her down the steps.
Love?
Do I love Calvin?
I mean, I’ve been in relationships and had friends with benefits. But I’ve never uttered those four letters to someone before.
And anyway, it’s too early to be in love…isnt it?
I go about my afternoon, trying to distract myself from the thoughts. The library starts to quiet down as closing time dawns. My shift is nearly up, and fair play to Maddox, because I have not seen or heard him all day. I don’t know if he is even still here.
I walk to the staff room to collect my things. Just as I open my locker, a buzz comes from my bag. Taking out my phone, I see I have a text notification on the screen from an unknown number.
He can’t keep you safe forever.
Sooner rather than later he will be
mine. Say Hi to Maddox for me ;)
Before I can fully register the message, Maddox is at my side, snatching the phone out of my hand and reading it himself.
“Who the fuck is this person?” he shouts and pulls out his phone and rings someone.
“Tanner, a message has just come through on Nixie’s phone now. Work your magic, yeah?” he says angrily before putting the phone down on him and ringing someone else.
“Calvin, yeah, okay. See you soon,” he says.
“Come on. Let’s wait in my car for Cal.” He hands me the phone back.
We walk out, saying goodbye to Bert as we pass. My mind is in overdrive. Why is this person hiding and sending threats to me? If it is the woman that Calvin has been promised to, why not just come out of the woodworks and claim him, instead of lurking about in the shadows?
We walk to Maddox’s car. He opens the door for me to get in and I numbly climb in. I’m exhausted from having these threats on my head.
“Don’t worry, Nixie. We will get this sorted,” he tries to reassure me but I’m not so sure that will happen anymore.
It’s not long until Calvin’s big SUV comes racing into the car park, coming to a stop right in front of Maddox’s car. He literally jumps out of the driver”s side and I can see how tense he is.
He swings my door open and crouches before me “ You okay, darlin’?” His voice is gentle on my ears.
I just nod, because I just don’t have the energy to find the words that I want to say.
He nods at Maddox as a thanks and proceeds to pick me up, carrying me back to his car like a baby.
“I can walk,” I say quietly.
He smiles. “I know, but like I’ve said, I enjoy you being in my arms. Now let’s go home,” he says as he puts me in the car and buckles me.
The drive is quiet, and I can sense Calvin looking over at me every two seconds.
“Are you sure you are okay?” he asks again.
I take a deep breath in. “I don”t know if I can do this.”
Calvin stops the car in the middle of the road. Cars beep and swerve around us. My eyes widen at the scene.
“Please drive,” I beg him.
“You can’t do what?” he asks.
“Calvin, please drive. Please get out of the middle of the road,” I ask him again.
He must sense the panic in my voice, as he drives off and pulls into a diner car park off the side of the road.
“Okay. Now. What can’t you do?” he asks again.
“The threats, Calvin! I can’t live my life on the edge all the time,” I shout at him.
“We’re sorting it. I promise,” he says.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” I look at him.
“I don’t, and I promise you Nixie. This will be sorted!” He raises his voice.
“How!?” I shout back.
“By killing any fuckers who keep getting in my way of loving you to fullest!” he says firmly and drives back off in the direction of home.
He loves me.