At Your Service (BWWM)

Chapter 35 (Dyan)

When I came to, it was quiet but only for a moment. The room was white with a small window, a chair in the corner and a machine beeping to my left. It was bleakly and my eyes adjusted to the faint light easily.

My eyes burned, my ears ached, and my body ached but not as bad as my chest. The act of breathing was causing me pain and the tubes in my nose were uncomfortable, almost stifling.

That was where my moment of quiet ended as my brain kicked into gear replying memories from my wedding day. The attack, being tied up and gagged, my health spiralling because I didn't take my medication. I had held it under my tongue before spitting it into the sink once Thelma was gone. Maybe it was a sign of my declining mental health. I would rather die than continue to serve the Ryders and Nicalus.

Next was the bright light and ear-splitting sound, I remembered feeling a familiar touch, Jovaughn's. I remembered people fighting, being grabbed and seeing Jovaughn staring at me with worry and fear. I was then headed to the floor, which embraced me hardly and then two bangs.

My heart started to pound harshly as my thoughts finally aligned and I realized what had happened. Jovaughn had tried to rescued me and he might be injured or dead...

The doors burst open seconds later and a doctor entered followed by a nurse. They went through the entire process of testing my vitals and checking if I was fully conscious and in my right mind. I answered their questions to the best of my ability and when they were satisfied they left but not before a woman stepped in.

She has long blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun, bright brown eyes and an angular face with minimal wrinkles. She wore a black dress with white dots and collar.

"Miss Ryder, my name is Lauren Nickelback. I am the director for the FBI," she introduced as stood by my bedside.

"Hello," I croaked out before using the remote to raise my bed slightly. She smiled in acknowledgment.

"Miss Ryder approximately 24 hours ago, our team had entered Alberstein Mansion and save its residence from an attack led by the Silver Sword gang. We were able to get the staff and your family out safely and apprehend the men and woman involved. While there, it was brought to our attention that Nicalus and your adoptive parents were involved in illegal experimenting," she paused her eyes softening and I nodded, gesturing her to continue.

"The Ryder family has been placed under arrest and to be sentenced in a month's time. Professor Nicalus Alberstein has been placed in FBI lock up but because of your predicament, our board has voted to allow him to continue with his research towards a long lasting stabilizer. He will be confined in a secured facility where he will develop this stabilizer to aid in your full recovery."

As she said these words, I knew it was a load of bull. They were just using my state as a valid reason to aid Nicalus' research so they could benefit from the cure within the future.

"Now, approximately two hours ago we were informed that Nikita Yahontov, who you knew as Sharona Peterkin, has escaped. A convoy was transporting to a secure location when they were hit and our men killed. With Yahontov on the loose, your identity is now compromised and soon, a lot of people will start to hunt you down to get their hands on the cure. That is why we are putting you into Witness Protection."

Her words soaked in and a shiver went through my body. I remembered Sharona helping the men to take over and holding a knife to my neck. All this time I thought she was just Nicalus' side fuck but she was undercover for a Russian gang.

With her out there, I wasn't safe. I would be targeted, kidnapped, drained and exploited for their financial gain. I could see where Witness Protection made sense but they were ultimately doing the same thing. They wanted to have eyes on both Nicalus and I so when the cure is stable they could reproduce it and sell it.