Overthrown

Chapter 13

His body tightens for a second as he realizes the depressing weight of what I have said. He tugs me almost on top of him, wrapping his arms around me. "If it helps, I have never let someone sleep in the same bed as me. Security measure." That can't be though, he has had to have relationships before. I tilt my head to place a small kiss on his arm as I pull them tighter around me.

Pressing his face into my hair and taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry for thinking that you and Jason..." He begins to apologize for his earlier comments but I stop him. "Please. Don't talk about him. It just makes me mad and I don't want to be mad right now." I quietly but sternly warn.

One day we will discuss the atrocities I have experienced at Jason's hands but today is not that day. I can't handle being pitied and I especially can't take Nikolai viewing me that way. I've seen it in Luis's eyes, I debated firing him after he found me that way.

"I'm sorry. Won't happen again. Get some rest." His voice void of emotion.

He doesn't want me to see that I've hurt him. Nikolai pulls away quickly and rolls onto his side facing the other direction. Fuck. This is exactly what I wanted to prevent, me hurting him. I lie there on my side looking at his back for a moment, debating on turning him back to me and apologizing. I strain my neck reaching towards him before placing a kiss on his shoulder.

"Goodnight."

I mimic his position on the other side of the large bed. Staring out at the wall as a single tear drop falls, I always fuck shit up. Exhausted, I close my eyes and immediately fall asleep. I pray that my nightmares don't make an appearance tonight but I know that my pleads are pointless. As I drift unconscious, my body submits to the fatigue.

Nikolai's face appears in the doorway, the morning light shimmering off his blue eyes. His signature smirk, "Angel." I reach out for him but suddenly his expression changes. "You didn't think you could escape me, did you?" But it's not Nikolai's voice coming from his lips. His face begins to morph in front of me. Squinting my eyes shut pressing my palms against my face, I already know who is standing in front of me without looking.

"Princess, open your eyes."

His hands gently pull mine from my face as I am forced to look into his eyes. Jason is standing in front of me with an evil smile. That damn smile that has always shown his true intentions. The sinister thoughts that lurked behind those honey-brown eyes. Fear jolts through my body as I'm unable to control my breathing. People discuss fight or flight response but I'm unable to do either. I'm completely frozen stricken with fear when all I want to do is run.

"How long did you think you could hide from me, Princess?" He coos in my ear. His voice gentle while he caresses my arm. His touch feels like razor blades slicing into my skin as I involuntarily flinch away. Rage flashes in his eyes, "YOU ARE MINE. DO YOU HEAR ME?" His voice booms against the high ceilings.

"Y-yes." I can't help but stutter because my body is shaking. "Shh, princess. I just need you to understand that as long as you are mine. I will do whatever I want to you, whenever I want. And when I finally grow bored with you. I will kill you." He threatens in his gentle voice again. I prefer the yelling.

"But first...I say we put on a little show for the man you thought could replace me." He laughs as two of his guards drag a beaten Nikolai into the room. No. No. No. Please God. "Don't hurt him. Please. I will go back with you. I will do as you command." I beg to Jason. "Oh Princess, you seem to have me mistaken for someone who cares." His says while he caresses my face. Out of nowhere he yanks his hand back and slaps me across my face.

"Now. I said we were going to put on a show. You can choose to participate or not. But as you know I like when you fight back." Not again. Please God. He flings my body onto the bed and I scurry backwards trying to distance myself from him. "I'm going to show Mr. Volkov what is mine. When I am done, I am going to put a bullet in his head."

"NO! NO! GET OFF ME!" I scream as loud as I can attempting to thrash my body out of his grip. He's shaking my shoulders as I try to break free. "No! No!" Is all I can shout, tears streaming down my face.

"MITCH!" My name breaks me free; It wasn't Jason's voice though. I pry my eye lids open terrified of who is on top of me. Once they are narrowly open, I see him. Nikolai. His blue eyes wide and scared. Quickly looking around the room for Jason, relief hits me like a brick wall as I lie back against the headboard. It takes me a second to catch my breath and I wipe away the sweat that is beading on my forehead.

I can't believe you let him see you like this!

You are weak!

Pathetic!

Nikolai doesn't say anything, he just gets up and walks to the bathroom. He comes back with a glass of water and silently passes it to me. I quickly down the glass in a few gulps and place it on the nightstand. I glance at the clock its 5:30 AM and the sun is just starting to peep through the windows.

"I need to train. Do you have a gym?"

His eyes dart around my face, studying every expression. The confusion is apparent, but he knows I'm not exactly forthcoming with my emotions. He shakes his head clearly upset that I don't want to talk about it. "Downstairs, second door on the right." I hop out of bed and hastily throw on the first set of workout clothes I can find. Leaving the room without a word, I can feel his eyes watching me as I exit.

Making my way through the house I regret not explaining my nightmares. I wish I could talk to him about this but I just can't. I have never spoken with anyone about my marriage. I'm not about to start now.

Opening the door, I realize he must train as much as I do. State of the art equipment covers the large space with a boxing ring as the center piece of the room. Grabbing a water bottle from a small fridge and a towel I head for the treadmills.

I need to run, run as fast as I can for as long as I can. If I don't burn the anger off somehow, I will take it out on Nikolai. The last thing I want to do is hurt him, but I know deep down that I already have. Hopping on the first treadmill I see and turning the speed up as I high as it'll go. The fan blows into my face and I try to imagine running through the forest that surrounds his estate. The leaves crunching beneath my feet, the crisp air against my skin, the smell of pinesap filling my nostrils with each breath.

Gazing out in front of me I try to visualize it with each step propelling me further. Further from my problems, further from my demon, further from Jason.

I can feel someone's presence behind me but I don't look. I know it is Nikolai checking in on me. It is odd to have someone actually care and I am not sure how to handle it. He just wants me to let him in but the more he does, the more I push him away.

Reaching out to the control panel I shut off the treadmill and slow my pace until it comes to a stop. Wiping the sweat from my face and chugging some water I turn to face him. He's leaning against a machine a few feet from me looking absolutely mouthwatering. His eyebrows are furrowed above his beautiful eyes and his jawline is tense. His broad shoulders fill out his black Armani suit in a way that I just want to rip it off of him. He seems to own this suit for every day of the week and I am perfectly okay with that. "Hey." Is all I manage to choke out.

Clearing his throat, straightening his suit before speaking. "You've been running for the last two hours. You need to eat. Meet me in the kitchen once you are cleaned up." I'm not used to taking orders, I am the one who gives them. There is something about him though, I want to listen. I want to do what he says; I guess that is the difference when the orders you are being given are for your own good. Before I can argue he turns away and is halfway across the room.

"Wait." I call out. He stops but doesn't turn to face me. "How did you know I have been running this whole time?" I ask. He turns to look at me and points up at a small camera on the other side of the gym. I hadn't noticed it when I walked in but I should have known he'd have cameras everywhere. Before he is fully out the door, he turns back to look at me one last time.

"I needed to know you were alright."