Chapter 19 Niko
We sat on the couch with Lila between my legs and her back to my chest. I ran my fingers through her crimson hair as she turned the pages in her book, wondering if this was what life would be like with her.
A shiver ran through her as I eased my fingers down her neck, then onto her shoulder, grazing the long, jagged cuts I’d put there only hours ago.
Fear had briefly flickered in her eyes before I’d dragged that blade across her skin.
Then, I felt the shift between us—the way she had finally given in and let her own monster out.
I knew trust didn’t come easily to her and wasn’t something I could force on her.
She had to do it in her own time, and I only had two days to prove to her she belonged here with me.
My phone dinged from the kitchen, pulling me from my thoughts, and I sat up, slipping from under her. She groaned as I moved, a frown tugging at her lips. I kissed her forehead and walked to the kitchen, picking up my phone to see a text from Vince.
It was Steven’s name, address, phone number, and work location, along with a photo of what he looked like.
He had salt-and-pepper hair, the same piercing blue eyes as Lila, and lips that turned up at the edges just like hers.
I glanced back at her, sensing her eyes on me, and smiled at her before returning to the text.
I shot Vince a text thanking him, and he sent me a thumbs-up in return. I shook my head and put my phone in my pocket, heading back toward Lila. She sat up on the couch as I approached and placed the book on the coffee table. I sat down, running my fingers along the scars on her thigh.
“I’ve gotta go run an errand,” I said, feeling my heart sink as I said the words. “I don’t know how long it’ll take.”
Her brows furrowed, and she tilted her head to the side, peering up at me through her lashes.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“I can’t say. Not right now, at least.”
She leaned against the couch and crossed her arms over her chest. Her brow quirked in question, but I couldn't tell her where I was going. She'd find out soon enough.
“Do you promise to be here when I get back?” I asked.
“Even if I wanted to leave, I have no idea where my phone is, no idea where we are, and I’d probably end up getting lost in the woods.”
I leaned forward pressing my mouth against hers, and her body relaxed as she moaned into me. Her lips parted as our tongues met, caressing and exploring. I placed my hand on the back of her head, wrapping my fingers in her hair and pulling gently. Her head tilted back, and she peered up at me.
“Is this your way of trying to get me to stay?” I whispered.
“You started it,” she said with a smirk.
I released her hair and stood from the couch, planting a kiss on her cheek. My stomach churned, and fear crawled its way into my chest as I thought about her not being here when I came back.
“Please be here when I get back.”
“I will,” she said.
Everything I was doing, everything I was planning, it was all for her. She had no idea how far I’d go to heal the wounds that had been inflicted on her.
I would burn the entire world down just to see her smile.
I parked across the street from Steven’s house, watching as his wife pulled into the driveway. She got out of her car, her blonde hair blowing in the breeze, and made her way toward the house. Their nearest neighbor was a mile down the road, giving me plenty of privacy for what I was about to do.
When I saw her enter the house, I got out of the car and placed the hood of my jacket over my head. My eyes searched for even the smallest hint of another person. When I saw it was clear, I made my way across the deserted road toward the house.
I slipped my hand into my pocket, feeling the cold syringe with my fingertips.
I made it to the front porch steps, keeping my footsteps light to avoid detection.
The front door was a navy blue, an odd contrast to the sky blue of the house.
Curtains were pulled tightly closed, not even a sliver of light making it through.
I peered into the small window of the door and saw the blonde woman standing in the kitchen.
Her back was turned to me, the heels she’d been wearing only moments earlier kicked to the side.
With one last glance back to the street, I turned the knob of the door and slipped quietly inside.
She didn’t hear me as I approached with the syringe gripped tightly in my grasp. I ran my fingers over the top and flicked the cap off into my pocket. My heart hammered as adrenaline coursed through me, and the sound of my pulse filled my ears.
A sharp ring sounded behind me, and before I could even have time to think, she turned to me. Her eyes widened in fear, a soft gasp escaping her lips. She stumbled back, grabbing at anything she could reach on the counter.
“Who the fuck are you?” she panted.
Slowly, I pulled the syringe from my pocket and lunged toward her.
Her feet slipped out from under her, and we fell to the floor in a tangle of limbs.
Her knee rammed into my ribs, knocking the air from my lungs.
She raised her hands and tried to claw at my face, but before she could, I plunged the syringe into her neck.
It only took a few seconds for it to take effect, her eyes fluttering closed as she continued trying to get out from under me. When her head fell back and her body went limp, I stood up and placed the cap back on before putting the syringe into my back pocket.
I glanced at the clock, seeing that it was almost seven, then back down at the blonde woman. I didn’t have much time before Steven arrived home, so I knew I had to act fast. Reaching down, I grabbed her by the ankles and pulled her toward the hallway that sat off to the side of the kitchen.
Her head lolled to the side, a string of drool hanging from her chin. I dropped her legs when she was out of sight and made my way back toward the kitchen. Just as I entered, I heard a car door close and looked outside.
Steven was exiting his car, his head down, looking at his phone. I hurried into the hallway, hiding from plain sight, and peered around the corner, waiting. The sound of the door opening and closing made my pulse spike, my excitement almost palpable.
“Nancy?” he called, his voice echoing through the entryway. “Honey, where are you?”
Only silence met him, since Nancy lay unconscious on the floor behind me.
He stepped into view, his brows furrowed as he turned to his right, searching for his wife.
When he came up empty, he turned toward the kitchen, his heavy footsteps thudding against the floor.
He glanced down to see her shoes on the kitchen floor, concern flickering across his face.
He stopped just before reaching the hallway.
“Nancy?” he said, worried.
He stepped into the hallway, coming face-to-face with me.
His eyes bulged as he took in my disheveled appearance, his face growing pale as he saw his beloved wife behind me.
A wicked grin slipped across my lips as I reached up and took him by the jacket collar.
His hands wrapped around my wrists as he tried to pull me off, but I held on even tighter.
“What the hell do you want?!” he screamed, his voice cracking on the last word. “I’ll give you anything, just let us go!”
“What do I want?”
I threw him to the floor, and his head smacked into it with brutal force. He let out a scream of pain as he reached back, his hand coming away slick with blood.
“I want to make you suffer,” I said with a laugh.
He glanced up at me, his eyes trying to focus, and he shook his head.
“I want to make you pay for all the pain you’ve caused.”
He tried to sit up, but I pressed my boot into his chest, forcing him back down.
“I d-d-idn’t h-h-h-hurt nob-b-b-ody,” he stuttered.
“You sure about that?”
He nodded, and I released him as I leaned down to pull out my phone. I brought up a picture of Lila, her crimson-red hair blowing in the breeze, her ocean-blue eyes bright and full of life. I turned it around for him to see, and his chin started to quiver as tears welled in his eyes.
“She look familiar?” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
“Fucking answer me!” I yelled, punching him in the jaw.
His head snapped sideways, and blood spewed from his mouth. He started crying, and I pulled him up to sit, meeting my gaze.
“It’s too late to feel bad about it now, Steven. The damage has been done.”
I pulled him up and sat him in a chair, watching as he swayed back and forth. He pressed his head into his hands, deep sobs wracking his chest. I stood with my arms crossed, waiting for him to end his theatrics.
“Alright, alright. That’s enough,” I said, slapping the back of his head.
He hissed in pain and looked up at me, anger flaring in his eyes. He tried to stand but stumbled back, groaning as he gripped the table beside him.
“Did she send you?”
“She has no clue I’m here.”
He sighed in relief, his shoulder sagging forward as he leaned back against the chair.
“Then you can still let me go,” he whispered, looking up at me.
“Not a chance.”
“Why? What good will any of this accomplish?”
I shrugged, pulling another syringe out of my pocket. His breathing quickened as I stepped forward and leaned over him, our faces only inches apart.
“You’re lucky I have even a sliver of self-control. If it were just for me, you’d be dead right now. But, this isn’t for me. It’s for her.”
“But she doesn’t even know you’re here!” he shouted, his voice unsteady. “You don’t have to do anything. Just let me go, let me take care of my wife.”
“Lila deserved better than the piece of shit parents she got,” I snarled.
“I-I-I thought her mother would take care of her,” he said shaking his head. “She loved her.”
“No,” I scoffed. “She loved the idea of having a family. The minute you left, Lila ceased to exist to her.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t. Because you didn’t bother acknowledging the daughter you already had. You threw her out like she was fucking trash!”
My fist collided with the underside of his chin, a loud crack filling the room. Blood oozed from the sides of his mouth as his teeth bit into his tongue. The chair tilted back and threw him to the ground, his eyes swirling with confusion.
“Now, I’m going to let her do whatever she sees fit.”
I leaned down and plunged the syringe into his neck. He reached up, grabbing and clawing, his eyes widening in shock.
A few seconds later, his movements had stilled, his chest rising and falling steadily, and I kicked him in the ribs.
“Fucking coward,” I mumbled, heading back toward the room I’d left Nancy in.
Her body lay sprawled out in the same position I’d left it in.
I walked over and pulled out my knife, dragging it across the skin of her neck.
Blood spurted, coating my chest and face, the warmth of it sending a thrill straight to my cock.
I shuddered, thinking of Lila’s blood on my tongue the night before.
When her blood had stopped flowing and her chest was still, I stood and made my way back to Steven. I reached down and grabbed him by the arms, throwing him over my shoulder. My knees trembled as I walked through the kitchen, his frame apparently a lot heavier than it looked.
I approached the door and opened it slightly, seeing that night had fallen. I peered up and down the street, making sure we were alone, before stumbling onto the porch.
All I could think about was Lila.
How would she react?
Would she be happy?
Sad?
Upset?
I truly didn’t know.
I reached the car and popped the trunk, throwing Steven’s body inside. For good measure, I punched him once in the temple, making sure he was still passed out. When he didn’t move, I slammed the trunk closed and headed to the front of the car.
My heart pounded as I slipped back into the car, worried about how Lila might react. I had seen how damaged she was because of this man and her mother. Her mother was already dead, life having dealt her a much harsher hand. But her father wasn’t.
At least, not yet.