Chapter 12
Twelve
Charlie
“Nova, how did you know I talked to NOS? You had nothing on you but a Knights shirt when you got here.” I watch the woman in front of me spiral, trying to figure out how I could have been so wrong about her.
“Ah, ah, ah. I can’t tell you all my secrets and ways. Now I’m done talking and ready to get home. So, let's go, Ice.”
Squaring my shoulders, I say, “Nova, I’ve already told you I’m not leaving. The call to NOS was a bluff.”
Nova walks in short, tight lines, muttering to herself. “Ice, you have to come back. If you come back, they’ll let me go. Wart promised to make me his Ol’ Lady and said I wouldn’t have to pay my dues anymore.”
I want more than anything to pull this woman into my arms. She is so sad and broken, just wanting someone to tell her she's okay and is enough. Looking at her, I see who I was when Six pulled me out of hell and then NOS tried to put me back. I squeeze Blitz’s hand reassuringly before stepping away from him.
Nova is so lost in her muttering and pacing that she has no idea I’m approaching her.
I reach out just as she makes another pass, touching her arm.
She stops, looking at me, and without thinking, I pull her to me, holding her as she breaks.
Her hot tears run down my shoulder as we sink to the ground.
Movement around us causes her to stiffen in my hold.
She sits back, a look of icy determination written on her face. “I’m sorry, Ice. I have no choice. They have Bella May. I have to get her back, and this is how I will.”
I search her face, trying to understand. “Nova, you’re not making any sense. Who is Bella May?”
Nova wraps her bony fingers around my throat. “You’re not allowed to say her name. You get to decide right here, right now. You come with me and no one gets hurt in your precious little club. Or, I fucking start killing people.”
“Help me understand,” I start to shake as fear settles over me.
“There is nothing to understand,” Nova hisses, spit hitting face.
“You’re right,” Blitz’s voice causes some of my fear to fall away. “Let her go.”
Slowly Nova’s eyes move from my face to his. “What will happen if I don’t? It's just the three of us out here.”
“If you believe that, you really are fucking stupid,” Blitz sneers, his voice closer to me.
In the next second, dirt flies up, pelting my bare skin and causing Nova to jump and loosen her hold on me.
“That is the only warning shot you will get. The very next one will be placed in your brain.” Blitz’s voice holds an edge that I’ve never heard before. It’s deadly with the promise of pain.
“Please, we can help you. We will get Bella May for you,” I hurriedly say because I don’t want to see a woman with such promise die because of those motherfuckers.
“Three …” Blitz counts with every step closer. “Two …”
“Nova, please. I can’t lose.” I’m trying to beg, but her grip tightens on my throat, cutting off more airflow. “Blitz, don’t do this. She doesn’t get it,” I wheeze.
“One …” Blitz’s words carry on the wind to the archangel.
Between one blink and the next, Nova’s eyes go wide and then her grip on my throat goes slack.
She falls to the side with those unseeing eyes staring at me.
Blitz catches me, holding me up as I try to catch my breath.
I fight to get free of him, needing to get to her.
He lets me go, and I crawl to her, cradling her head in my lap as sobs rack my body.
“No, Nova. Why did you have to do this?” I sob, my chest feeling as if it’s been cracked open and my heart ripped out.
“We could have helped you. You promised me you would make it out.” Brushing hair from her face, I silently beg her to blink, to breathe.
I grip the side of her head, shaking her slightly.
“You said … You said that staying wouldn’t change anything, that you wouldn’t let them win. ”
The sound of footsteps coming drops me into the past. Hands reach out, grabbing me as I try to hold on to Six.
They took him. I am screaming and fighting the hands, begging for it not to be true.
I’m losing him all over again, and this time I won't make it out. Hands, so many hands everywhere, touching, groping, pinching. It’s all too much.
Blood-chilling screams break through the fog long enough for me to focus on Remedy before I feel a sharp prick in my neck.
My body starts to go limp as I tilt my head, looking at Blitz, who is looking at me with pure devastation in his eyes.
“I’ll always protect you, even if it’s from yourself,” he whispers against my temple just as the darkness swallows me.
I have no idea how long I’ve been out for when I’m finally able to peel my eyelids open.
I’m lying in Blitz’s bed, his arm wrapped around my waist. He is breathing deeply, bringing a small smile to my face before my eyes slide closed once again.
A nagging feeling that I’m forgetting something keeps trying to pull at me.
I reach out for the thought, but my eyes are too heavy, and I pass out before I can get a hold of it.
The next time I wake up, I’m alone and thankful for it.
My bladder is screaming, so I gingerly and slowly sit up, and my head spins.
Shuffling to the bathroom, I take a look at myself in the mirror, gasping when I see what appears to be blood splattered on my face and arms. My eyes continue scanning the woman in the mirror, taking in the developing bruises blooming around my throat.
I try to wrap my mind around what happened as it all comes rushing back.
How could I be so fucking wrong? How can someone who used to be so sweet, loving, and full of so much potential and happiness completely change?
My head spins with runaway thoughts, my breathing gets heavier until I’m hyperventilating and barely staying on my feet.
The sound of the bedroom door closing finally breaks the spiraling thoughts.
After a couple of deep breaths, I shuffle to the shower, turning it as hot as it will go, and then go to release my screaming bladder.
Stripping out of what must be one of Blitz’s shirts and nothing else, I step into the shower, letting the hot water beat down on me.
I watch as the dirt, blood, and grime swirl around my feet.
It feels like I should cry, scream, or throw a tantrum.
I should feel something, but I don’t. I feel nothing but numb.
Fingers sliding down my back cause me to gasp in surprise.
He kisses my shoulder, not saying a word.
The sound of a bottle being opened is the only sound in the room.
Without a word, Blitz's big hands start massaging shampoo into my scalp.
“I know you’re not okay and I didn’t expect you to be.” Blitz’s low timber of his voice and the movement of his fingers working through my hair give me the security I need to be honest.
“Why did she have to die?” I’m surprised at the question that pops out.
“Sometimes that’s just the way it is, my Sparrow,” he whispers, a tinge of anger in his voice.
“She was scared and hurting.” I drop my chin to my chest.
Blitz turns me around, lifting my chin so I have to look at him. “If I ever have to make the choice between your life and anyone else’s—I will choose you every fucking time.”
The truth in his words wraps around my aching heart like a hug.
I pull my chin from his hold and go up on my toes so I can wrap my arms around his shoulders, kissing him with everything I have, pouring all the words I can’t say into this kiss.
Blitz slides his hands down my back, cupping my ass and lifting me up.
My back hits the cold tile, causing me to pull away with a gasp.
Running my fingers into Blitz’s hair, I move to guide his mouth back to mine.
Blitz holds back. “I am sorry that you’re hurting. What I am not sorry about is making sure that you are safe. That will always be my top priority, no matter the sacrifice.”
I have no words because my heart is shattered that Nova is gone, and by the look in his eyes, he is feeling the weight of taking a life as well. We stay in the shower, just watching each other. Using the grip on his hair, I pull his face closer to mine, our lips a whisper apart.
“I will never be angry with you for who you are and what you need to do to make sure I am safe. My heart may break, and I may even be sad depending on the situation, but it will never take away from the love I hold in my heart for you. We’ve fought this and tried to honor Six in all ways, but he would want us to be happy, and he knew you would come through for me.
” I kiss him gently on the mouth before pulling back to kiss him on the cheek and jaw before nipping his earlobe.
“What I need now is for you to make me yours. To worship me in the only way that you can. Love me, Blitz.” I finish on a moan as he tightens his grip, grinding me onto his cock.
“Your wish is my command,” Blitz groans against my mouth.
He spends the rest of the night doing exactly that—in the shower, on the counter, against the wall, on his desk, and in bed. The man works me over to the point I sleep like a fucking rock.
Groaning, I stretch, feeling every ache as I do.
I throw my hand out to the other side of the bed and find it cold.
Sighing, I stand from the bed and go to the dresser, pulling out clothes before going to get in the shower.
I scrub my body and wash my hair to get ready for the day.
As I’m braiding my hair to keep me from having to spend nearly forty-five minutes blow-drying it, there is a soft knock on the door.
“Come in,” I call out.
Slowly, the door opens, and in steps Ainsley with Tasia right behind her. They look around the room, and when they don’t see Blitz, they relax. I smile to myself as I turn back to the mirror, swiping on some mascara.
“Ladies, to what do I owe this visit?” I quiz them.
They look at each other and grin before looking back at me.