Chapter 9 Niko
The room was warm and welcoming with light purple walls, the same color Lila had picked for her apartment.
A dresser was pushed against the far wall, opposite the bed, with some of her favorite pictures spread across the top.
Her journal lay on the nightstand next to a vase filled with her favorite flowers.
Lila lay curled up in a ball on the bed, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. The sedative had knocked her out faster than I thought, her body going completely limp in just a few seconds.
She let out a soft moan, and her eyes began to open slowly.
My heart pounded as she looked around the room, her face etched in fear, before her eyes finally landed on me.
A soft whimper escaped her lips as I stood from the chair I’d been sitting in and walked toward her.
She scurried back, pressing against the wall, getting as far from me as she could.
“Who are you?” she asked, her voice shaking.
My hood still covered my face as I walked forward, watching as she became increasingly unsettled. I lowered my hood as I stood in front of her, anxiety flitting through my chest. She gasped and shook her head as she let the realization sink in.
“Jason, from the club,” she whispered as her eyes widened.
I looked down at her, those piercing blue eyes peering at me with fear and confusion.
Her bright red hair was disheveled, sticking up at odd angles.
Leaves and tiny sticks were embedded in her hair, and dirt was smeared across her cheeks and forehead.
I reached forward to wipe it away, but she jerked back, her hands shooting up in a defensive gesture.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I murmured, wiping away some of the dirt anyway.
Her body tensed under my touch, her knuckles turning white as she clenched her fists.
“Then why am I here?” she asked.
I stepped back and leaned against the dresser, crossing my arms over my chest. Nothing I said right now would bring her any comfort, so I just spoke the truth.
“Because I want you here,” I said, matter-of-factly.
She leaned against the headboard, the shirt she wore sliding down just enough to reveal the tops of her breasts. My cock hardened at the sight of her, so fragile and broken.
“What happened to Casey?” she said, panic lacing her voice.
“She’s fine. Just knocked out with a sedative.”
Her shoulders slumped forward with relief at my words and she sank into the bed, pulling a pillow over her stomach.
“That was you that sent the hand, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
I didn’t bother with lies. I wanted her to know it was me. It was all me.
“Why? Why would you do that to him?”
Anger flared in my chest as I remembered his hand on her, touching what was mine.
“Because he touched you,” I said with a shrug.
“Casey will come looking for me, you know,” she scoffed.
I chuckled darkly and shook my head, pulling out her phone from my jacket pocket.
“Casey thinks you took off because you were scared.”
I walked over to the dresser and placed the phone down, feeling her eyes follow me as I moved.
“She knows I’d never do that.”
Turning to face her, I saw the knowing look in her eyes.
“Will she, though? Wouldn’t be the first time you’ve done it.”
Her brows furrowed in confusion, and I leaned forward, placing my hands on the footboard.
“Tell me I’m wrong,” I said with a smirk.
Anger blazed brightly in her eyes as she glared at me.
“How the fuck would you know?” she said through gritted teeth.
“I know a lot more than you think.”
“You met me a few days ago for a fraction of a second. How would you know anything about me?”
Ignoring her question, I moved over to the bed and sat down, noticing her ankle was swollen. The skin around it was dark purple and inflamed. I reached forward, gently taking it in my hands, and she let out a hiss of pain before pulling it away.
“What happened?” I asked, moving toward the side of the bed.
“Seriously?” she sneered. “What happened? You fucking happened!”
She pulled her legs into her chest, burying her face between her knees. Silence filled the room as I tried to think of something to say, guilt slithering its way into my chest.
“Is it broken?”
She peered up at me through hooded eyes and shook her head.
“What do you care?” she mumbled.
I sat down on the bed and held out my hand, nodding for her to give me her foot. Hesitantly, she extended her leg and placed it in my hand. Gently, I pressed down, feeling the swollen skin. She whimpered as I turned it left and right, up and down, then in circles.
“Not broken,” I said, “just badly sprained.”
I stood from the bed and headed to the other side of the room, where the bathroom was. Flicking on the light, I walked to the cabinet under the sink and grabbed the elastic bandage from the first aid kit.
As I entered the bedroom, Lila sat with her back against the wall and her hands resting in her lap. She squirmed and refused to look at me, her muscles tightening as I moved closer. I glanced at the dresser and noticed her phone was gone, but I didn’t say anything.
I sat on the bed, pulled her injured ankle into my lap, and massaged it.
She tried to pull it away, but I held it in place, ignoring her grumbles and protests.
I took the elastic bandage out of its box and wrapped it snugly around her ankle before releasing her.
Her leg didn’t move as she looked at me, her brow furrowed as if she was trying to figure me out.
“Where’s the phone, Lila?” I asked, my tone neutral and even.
She fidgeted, pulling herself into a tight ball, and shrugged her shoulders.
“No idea. You had it, not me.”
“Good luck sending out a text or call. There’s no service in here,” I laughed.
Her shoulders fell, and a look of defeat flashed across her face.
She let out a yelp as I grabbed her leg and pulled her toward me.
The phone slid out from under her, and I grabbed it, placing it in my back pocket.
I climbed on top of her, pressing my hands into the bed on either side of her head, our faces only inches apart.
The warmth of her breath brushed against my cheek, causing me to shiver.
“Don’t ever lie to me again.”
Fear flashed in her eyes as I leaned in closer, pressing my lips to her ear.
“Be a good girl for me, Lila and you just might get a prize.”
Her body shuddered underneath mine, and my cock strained against my pants.
I could feel the heat radiating from her skin, burning like a fire against me.
My hands gripped the blanket beneath us as I fought the urge to shove my cock in every one of her holes.
With every ounce of strength I had, I pulled myself up and stood next to the bed.
“I’ll bring you some ice for that,” I said, nodding toward her ankle.
She looked at me, giving me a slight nod, before I turned and walked toward the door. I slipped the key from my pocket and into the lock, hearing a loud click as it popped free. I glanced over my shoulder to see Lila still lying on the bed, her eyes watching my every move.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For… the… wrap thingy.”
I nodded and left the room, the door closing with a loud bang behind me.