Phoenix's Revenge

26.

Nikolai's POV

I'll end his bloodline.

I keep my eyes on her the entire time. The terror cascades from her in waves and there's nothing I can fucking do.

"Just go somewhere else, baby. Let your mind go. I'll be here when you get back."

Tears streak down her face and then there's nothing. Her face is utterly blank, void of emotion.

I scream threats until my throat goes raw and then I keep screaming. When it finally, finally ends, my voice is gone and I'm dry heaving.

She's unconscious.

I stare dead ahead at the man who did it.

"Kill him." He says casually.

The men erupt in a discussion while speaking in Italian. The men keep their hold on my arms the whole time. It takes everything in me not to break someone's fucking neck.

"Kill him. I just raped his wife, you want to live the rest of your life knowing Nikolai Petrov is up your ass? I don't."

The man says again, but some still seem unsure.

"No. You better fucking kill me right here and now or I swear to god, I'll kill everyone you ever talked to." My words drip with venom and promise.

He takes his gun out and presses the barrel to my forehead.

I stare dead ahead.

"Fucking do it." I spit out.

The door bursts open and Calen and Tommy spill in. They carefully take aim and pick every man off in the room in a manner of seconds.

Fucking efficient.

True. The men that held me are on the ground bleeding.

"Stop!" I yell right as they go to kill asshat. Vince.

They both look up at me with confused looks.

"Mine." Is all I say. Tommy pistol whips him and he crumples to the ground. I bolt up and see Calen already standing by the bed, looking down on her.

Her body lays limp with her pants pulled down. Calen looks up to me as tears fall. I clear my own throat to keep the tears at bay as I start to clean her.

"Everyone out."

They file out of the room as Tommy gives me an apologetic look. Once they're gone, set to work. I shimmy her pants the rest of the way off and grab a warm, damp cloth. I carefully wipe the blood away.

The tears fall.

The bruises on her skin, the blood staining the bed, everything is too much. My chest tightens as I suck in air. Panic and bile raise in my throat and I put my head in between my legs.

Fucking breathe asshole.

I'm trying.

Try harder. She needs you.

Fuck.

I keep breathing as I pick myself up and continue. I move to the upper half where her shirt is ripped and her chest is marked.

Murder his family.

That's the plan.

I carefully cut the rest of the tatters away and check for any skin breaks.

When I don't find any, I move to my closet and grab her favorite hoody of mine and a pair of very loose sweats. I carefully put the clothes on her beaten body and climb in the bed next to her.

I wait for her to wake up.

...

Her eyes slowly flutter open as a confused look comes to her face. Then realization. Then fear.

Her whole body trembles as sobs wrack through it. I scoot myself closer to here and wrap an arm around her, only for her to flinch away.

I retract my arm and ignore the ping of pain I feel.

"Sweetheart, it's me."

I say as softly as I can. She looks at me once more and then throws her body onto mine. She squeezes so hard I have trouble breathing but I don't care. We sit in silence for a long time while I shush her and comfort her the best I can.

Once the sobbing stops, she stares blankly into space.

"Nikolai?" She croaks out.

"Yes, baby?"

"Will you look at me differently now?"

My heart splinters. How could she ever think that I'd look at her differently even for one second.

"No." I state.

"Not even if this wasn't the first time?" Her voice barely comes out.

Furious. That's the only word that comes to mind when I think about what he's done. Pure, unadulterated rage.

Don't get me wrong, I suspected they had done things, but it's one thing to suspect and another thing entirely to know. I bring her face up to look at mine. I hold hers in between both of my hands.

"I am so sorry, Phoenix. I'm so sorry this happened. Don't you ever think I look at you differently. You're mine and I will love you until the end of time."

Tears stain her cheeks as she nods.

"I love you too."

She thinks for a while and then speaks.

"Nikolai?"

"Yes, beautiful."

"Um, it hurts. My vagina hurts." She whispers.

My heart sinks yet again. I nod.

I get up and get her some ibuprofen before drawing a bath. Once it's ready, I pick her up and help her undress, averting my eyes just in case she's uncomfortable. She sinks below the surface and I turn to walk out.

"I'll be right here if you need me."

Her arm shoots out.

"Stay. Please."

"Always."

How are we feeling ?