Nicky Page 11

  Bella looked stunned at this. Nikoli hadn’t shared anything with her...ever. He’d never said so much in all the time she’d known him.

  He stared at her for a moment then asked, “Well? Do I have a chance to get my family back? Can you and Malina forgive me enough to give me another chance to make this right?”

  Bella stared into his haunted silver eyes. She could clearly see he really meant everything he just told her. “I’d like that. I know Malina might be ready to forgive you as well, thanks to Serenity. “ She shook her head. “That poor girl.” A tear dripped down her cheek as she looked at Nikoli. “I don’t know how or why but one moment we were watching a movie and Malina got up to get another drink then Serenity tackled her to the floor and all hell broke loose.” She looked away. “Raven shut off the lights and I couldn’t breathe I was so scared. Serenity protected our daughter by throwing her body over Malina’s. That girl took three bullets to save her life.” She sat down on the bed and sighed.

  Nikoli knelt down on the floor and rested his head in her lap. “Yes, I know. I’m finding out that’s just the way she is. Nicky told me she also told him that he had to come back and face me. She wouldn’t let him just walk away from his family. She would never make him chose between her and me.”

  “Oh Nikoli, that poor girl has not had an easy life. Her back is...” Bella began telling him about what she’d seen when she’d helped Serenity get dressed.

  Nikoli sat up and covered her mouth with his fingers. “I know my Bella, Zhora gave us in vivid details what he did to break her but he also told us he didn’t think he’d even dented her resolve.”

  Bella closed her eyes as she remembered the scars on Serenity’s back. “That poor girl hasn’t known even one day of happiness in her life. Until she met your son. Please don’t ever doubt that she loves Nicky. I’ve seen the way she looks at him and I think he’s looking back at her the same way. If you ever loved him, then you won’t stand in their way. Accept her and you’ll get your son back. Accept her and Malina will learn to trust you again.”

  Nikoli nodded slowly. “I have a lot to make up for, to that girl. I just hope she’ll give me the chance.”

  “I think she will.” Bella sighed. “She just wants to belong somewhere.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “We all want that Nikoli. But some like you, just never knew it. I am so glad you have finally shared your heart with me.” Her tears fell down and one splashed on his cheek.

  He rose up and grasped her face. “I promise to be the man you deserve, the father Malina and Nicky deserve. I will also try to be a better man than the one that fathered Serenity and to be a help to her. I will try with all my heart and soul.”

  Bella smiled through her tears as she leaned forward and kissed him sweetly on the lips.

  Chapter Twelve

  In a house in Albany, a warning flashed on a computer set up in a security room. Fifteen minutes later, Owen Vandross stepped inside the room and went over to the computer. Sitting down, he began clicking keys and a few minutes later, he growled.

  Picking up his phone, he called a number he hadn’t used in years. When the phone was picked up on the other end he told the other person, “She downloaded her birth certificate and got married in Nigari Falls. Find out to who and where she went after that. I need you to find her quickly and quietly. Then don’t touch her, just let me know where she is.”

  Owen slowly turned around and stared at the wall behind him. Pictures of all sorts and poses greeted him. Some were taken from afar and some were taken from close up. From ceiling to floor, the photos told their own story.

  Owen had watched her grow up. From the time they found her when she was seven. When Melanie Cross came to tell his boss she had given him a freak for a child and that if he didn’t want the whole world to know about her, he’d better pay for her silence, Arthur hadn’t believed her. At first, then she showed him the birth certificate and he still hadn’t believed her.

  Melanie told them where the girl had been living up until that day and Owen had driven with him to Norwich. They had spoken to the Mother Superior and then went outside to where Mother Superior told him the girl usually could be found.

  The girl Serenity had been a shock to look at the first time he’d seen her. Arthur had gasped then turned away. Owen had stared at the child with both awe and horror. She almost looked like a ghost she was so white. From the top of her head all the way down to her feet.

  Her skin was looked white and when she walked into the sunlight, her whiteness was blinding. Mother Superior began telling them about the girl but Arthur hadn’t wanted to hear about her. Instead, he threw money at the nun and walked away. Owen had shaken his head but he knew Arthur as well as any man. Arthur didn’t care about anyone other than himself. He thought money could buy anything or anybody. No one ever told the man no.

  They hadn’t spoke all the way back to Albany. When they arrived at Arthur’s political office, the other man didn’t even look at him, he just whispered, “Get rid of her. I don’t care how you do it but get it done. She will never be part of my family tree no matter what. She’s a freak and the Bailey family doesn’t breed freaks.”

  Owen hadn’t been surprised by his order. He’d been expecting it since Melanie had dropped her bomb. Owen and Arthur had grown up together. They had been as close as brothers at one point, then one night that changed. That was the night Arthur met Melanie and her sister June. Arthur was just getting involved in politics and June thought she would do well as a wife of any up and coming politician. She had gone after Arthur with everything she had but it hadn’t been Junie he took that night but Melanie.

  Melanie who was only sixteen at the time. She hadn’t really wanted to go with Arthur but the man hadn’t given her a choice. When Owen dropped her off later, he’d seen her condition and he didn’t say a word.

  A few weeks later, Melanie had gone out of town and Junie had continued to seek out Arthur. Melanie stayed gone for over a year and when she came back, she stayed away from Arthur on purpose, which made for complicated family outings as Arthur and Junie were getting serious.

  Then Junie announced she and Arthur were getting married. She was going to be the next Governor’s wife. A year later, Junie and Arthur got married in the wedding of the season. They’d been married now for close to nineteen years.

  The only thing was Owen didn’t think either of them were happy. They tolerated each other only because Junie wasn’t going to give up her status as Arthur’s wife. She liked the luncheons, the committees and the never-ending bank account.

  Arthur was more discreet than he was stupid. Junie knew he wasn’t faithful but as long as he didn’t embarrass her with a hooker scandal. she really didn’t care where he was or who he was with. She also thought what was good for the goose was good for the gander. She wasn’t faithful to him either but Arthur was too stupid to realize it and Owen wasn’t going to be the one to tell him that little fact.

  Melanie crashed Arthur’s hopes of a family with Junie when she gave birth to the freak. Arthur hadn’t wanted a child after that. Junie hadn’t been happy with his decision and tried her best to get pregnant. It took her five long years but then it happened. She got pregnant. Arthur almost had a fit when she told him. He’d been worried the whole nine months she’d been pregnant that her child would match the baby her sister had.

  When her baby had been born normal, Arthur had demanded a blood test and the little girl was his child. Arthur had been happy enough and he doted on his daughter. Owen never told the man he’d missed taking the girl in Norwich out. He tried once but she survived the night he got her locked out and he hadn’t been able to get close enough to get another chance.

  He had to be careful about how he did what Arthur wanted. He couldn’t have any connection to him or to Arthur with whatever happened to her. When the girl turned fourteen she’d run away from the nunnery and no one had seen her for a couple of years.

  Then he ran into her unexpectedly and in
a rash moment, he dragged her off into the nearby woods and left her there with what he thought was a fatal stab wound. When he went back three days later to check on her, she was gone. He didn’t know if she actually survived or wild animals had carried her body off.

  That’s when he put a tracer out. He’d hired a man to find the girl but only to find her. Over the years, Owen recognized he was obsessed with this child. Every once in a while, his detective sent him pictures of her. By the time Owen got to where the photographs had been taken the girl was always gone. No trace had been found of her in years. Through the film, he watched her grow up and become a beautiful woman.

  Now after all this time, he got another hit on her.

  Whoever it was, she married was a smart man. His name was hidden for all intents and purposes. And her name was listed under her mother’s last name not her fathers.

  Owen was enraged at the idea of another man taking what he considered to be his prize. That small bit of enlightenment had given him the strength to do what he should have done all those years ago. He realized that the reason he hadn’t killed her before had been the battle of wits between them. He had been playing a dangerous game with her all these years. He wanted to witness her broken and begging for death but now he knew he never would. She had gone and found herself a man to hide behind. Now his unholy rage at losing her was tipping the scales for him to finally put an end to her. Actually, he’d take them both out. Her, because she betrayed him and the husband... just because he could. The more he thought about the idea the better he liked it. He would make her watch him kill her husband then when he’d taken her man away, he would finally tell her that she was supposed to have been his all along.

  But first he had to find her.

  His eyes narrowed as he glared at one of the last pictures he had of the girl. As Owen stared into her silver colored eyes, he vowed he would be the last thing she ever saw with those eyes. Him and him alone.

  Nicky slowly opened his eyes as he felt a growing heat at his side. He turned his head and saw Serenity laying next to him. He went to brush a strand of hair away from her face and felt her heat. Her skin was flushed with fever and Nicky grew alarmed. “Baby, wake up baby.” He tried to wake her up with hurting her.

  Serenity slowly opened her eyes and they were glazed over with fever. “What? What’s wrong?”

  “You’re burning up. We need a doctor.”

  Serenity shook her head. “No I don’t need a doctor. Just cool me down in the shower. This happens every time I get hurt.” She tried to get up but couldn’t quite make it. She flopped back down on the bed and looked so helpless. “I guess I need your help. Just get me into a cool shower.”

  Nicky wasn’t so sure but he gathered her up in his arms and carried her over to the bathroom. He sat her on the toilet and turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature he shivered as the water hit him. He turned and helped her to strip off her clothing. Lifting her into his arms, he entered the shower and the water streamed over both of them.

  Serenity groaned as the cool water washed over her. She turned her head and tried not to cry out as the water felt like tiny blades of steel on her skin.

  She should have warned him this would happen. Her body couldn’t take the pain killers but she also couldn’t take a simple aspirin. She always got violently sick if she did. She had learned that lesson the hard way growing up but she had learned it.

  After a long time, she felt her body temperature coming back down and she sighed. She knew Nicky must be freezing but he never said a word. Looking up at him she smiled. “I think I’m cool enough.”

  Worried, he looked down at her. “Are you sure?”

  She nodded. “You must be frozen by now, we can get out.”

  “I not worried about me I’m worried about you,” he insisted.

  “I’ll be ok.” She he began to shiver.

  He reached out and shut down the water then carried her out to the bathroom and sat her down on the toilet again. Grabbing the oversized towel, he wrapped it around her shoulders and briskly began rubbing her down. He was careful not to hit her wet bandages as he dried her the best he could. He dug out the first aid kit and redid her gauze bandages.

  The wounds appeared ok and he checked for any redness but didn’t see any. When he was done, he wrapped a robe around her and carried her back to the bedroom. He called down to housekeeping for a set of clean sheets and when they arrived, he changed the bedding. Then he came over and knelt in front of her. “How are you doing sweetness?”

  “I’m doing better. My fever broke so I should be good.”

  “Is there anything I get you? Aspirin, Tylenol?”

  Serenity shook her head. “I can’t take it anyway. All that stuff does is make me violently sick. At least it did when I was a kid.”

  “So you can’t take any kind of pain reliever at all?”

  She shook her head.

  “Anything else I need to know about?” Nicky asked.

  “There are other types of pain relievers other than the man-made kind. Willow bark works well for pain and castor oil works for headaches. Aloe Vera relieves sunburn and pickle juice does too.”

  Nicky tilted his head and stared at her. “And how do you know that?”

  “You learn quickly when you have to. But its all good.” She smiled at him.

  Nicky shook his head. “You are definitely different than most other girls I’ve ever known.”

  Serenity shrugged just a little hurt by his admission. She’d known she was different than most all her life but hearing Nicky say it that way just hurt. She tried to look away but he wouldn’t let her.

  He turned her face back to his and smiled. “Most girls wouldn’t know that pickle juice can take the burn out of sunburn, or care. They wouldn’t know or care about the willow bark either. They would waste a doctor’s time and their father’s or husband’s money to get an aspirin.” He paused and smiled at her. “I think I prefer your way better.”

  Serenity smiled then her smile slowly faded. “I am a hot mess when it comes to getting along with people. Most people look at me and only see the outside of me. You took the time to see the real me and that means so much to me. I don’t know how it can be in the shape I’m in that I want you right now but I do.”

  Nicky snorted grabbing her hand he drew it down to his pelvis. “You aren’t the only one. I know you’re weak from a fever and took three bullets just hours ago but I want you too. He curled her fingers around his hard cock and moved it up and down. “I can’t seem to get enough of you sweetheart.”

  Serenity sighed. “I need you.”

  “We can’t.” Nicky groaned. “You aren’t strong enough for that.” He pulled away, picked her up and carried her over to the bed, “But there are other ways for pleasure.” He laid her down on the bed and gently removed the robe she was wearing. He caught his breath when he saw her naked body. Her breasts were full and high her waist was narrow and her hips rounded slightly tapering to her lean legs. She wasn’t very tall but her figure was a wonder for him to view.

  He knelt beside her and crushed her lips with his own. She moaned as she felt him skin to skin. Nicky slipped down to her throat and nibbled his way to her collarbone. He went to her right to avoid her injured shoulder. He slipped past her shoulder and kissed the swell of her breast.

  Serenity arched her back while his lips and teeth closed over what she offered him. He sucked her nipple into his mouth and his teeth bit down gently. Serenity moaned as Nicky’s fingers slipped down to her belly and beyond.

  When he touched her apex, she shivered and widened her legs, opening up her core for his fingers. Her ran his fingers down and then back up her slit gathering her moisture. He moved toward her clit and gently pulled apart her lips to uncover her hidden treasure. He kissed his way down her belly and the closer he got the more her scent hit him.

  Wildflowers and cinnamon. He paused and took a deep breath, breathing her essence deep into his lungs. He went closer to he
r mound and gathered her moisture on the tip of his tongue. Flavor exploded on his taste buds and he groaned at his first taste of her.

  Serenity moaned and lifted her hips slightly. Nicky used her action to slid his hands under her ass and lift her to his mouth. He suckled and licked his way down her slit, slowly opening her for his invasion. His thumbs parted her lips and he slowly licked her clean.

  Then he slipped his finger into her body and began his rhythm of pushing in and pulling out again. With each new cycle, he pushed in a little deeper. Them he added another finger and she arched her back. Now he was plunging inside her and she gasped in pleasure.

  “Oh god, I want you inside me, I need you to fill me up...please.” She begged.

  Nicky groaned, his cock was hard and hot and he so wanted to grant her wish. “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Please the pain would be so worth it,” she pleaded.

  Nicky moved into place. “This isn’t going to take long.” He warned with a smile as he pushed himself deep inside her core. She instantly slicked his entry with her juices and he responded by pushing in as far as he could go. He hissed as he filled her up. He closed his eyes and lost control, losing himself in her pleasure.

  Serenity reveled in his possession. Her body was screaming as she was built up to the point of no return and then she flew over the edge into pure bliss. His mouth covered hers and he pushed himself in one more time, then he exploded inside her.