Taken

Chapter 47

I stared at Nico and smiled before looking down.
"Fair enough." I whispered leaning forward and cutting the cheese with a knife and putting it on a cracker with a pickle.
"Good girl." Nico whispered, leaning forward slightly but hiding his mouth with his hand by pretending that he was just shifting in his seat.
I looked around the table as the men began to eat.

Henry looked at me briefly then looked to Nico.
"I just want to say that I appreciate you accommodating us here. I'd like to apologise again for my actions."
Nico nodded at his words.
"I appreciate the apology. I look forward to our alliance and putting aside our differences." Nico said raising his beer slightly. Henry nodded and looked down briefly before looking back up.
"Anna, please know what we will do everything we can to protect you and keep you safe."
I pursed my lips and nodded at Henry's words. I could feel Nico and Kevin watching me.

"Just know, if you do anything like what you did before again, I'll never forgive you." Henry nodded at my words.
"That's fair." He locked eyes with me, and his face said it all. He was trying to promise to me that he meant his words.

I bit my lip and looked away, the Yacht seemed to be moving quickly but the darkness prevented me from seeing where we were. The clouds in the sky were thick, signalling there may be rain coming.

I stood up and grabbed my plate and my wine before walking to the sun lounges. I could feel people watching me. I sat down with a slight thud and placed the plate in front of me. I really wasn't hungry, but I appreciated Nico's gesture. I lay back and watched as the clouds overtook the moon, cutting out what little light there was. I shivered slightly as it felt like all the warmth had been sucked from the area.

The men at the table laughed at something, and I could hear some chairs move and someone approach.
I looked to the side as Ford walked up and sat on the sun lounge next to me. He had his legs in a V and his forearms on his knees, holding his beer between his legs.

"Hey Ford." I said turning my head slightly to look at him more. He smiled at me and looked down.
"Hey."
"What brings you here?" I asked turning my head back and looking out to the darkness.
"Everyone is about to head inside and down a level to the big sitting room. I offered to get you." I nodded at his words and sipped my wine.
"You know Ford. You never told me your first name."
I heard Ford exhale slightly as a stifled laugh.
"Yeah, I guess I never did."
I turned to him again, rolling on my side so I was facing him.
He smiled and then looked down again.
"It's Wyatt." He said quietly.

"Hey, we're heading in now!" Kevin called from somewhere on the deck.
"Yeah be right there!" Ford called back.
"Come on Anna. Let's go, I can see that you're getting cold." He said motioning to the goosebumps that were raised on my arms.
I quickly sat up and watched as Ford stood in front of me. He gently took my hand and pulled me up before grabbing the cheese plate and gesturing me to head inside.
My actions were quickened by the feeling of fat rain drops plummeting from the sky and splattering around us. I ran in the door and turned to watch Ford run in closely after me.

I felt a hand touch my waist and I spun to look at the person. Nico stood looking down at me, his face was gentle and he looked calm.
"It's raining?" He questioned, slowly raising his other hand and using his thumb to wipe my cheek of the rain. I nodded at him.
"It looked like it would but I wasn't sure." I replied, stepping slightly closer to Nico as a shiver passed through my body.
Without saying anything Nico pulled me into his arms and hugged me close, his body warmth seemingly melting my cold bones.
"I love sleeping here when it's raining." He whispered absently. I nodded against his chest, a feeling of bliss seemingly sweeping over me.

I could hear the men below gathered in the seating area, laughter and the clinking of glasses signalled to me they were settling in for some drinking.
"Do you guys want any drinks?" Ford asked beside us.
"Another beer thanks." Nico said still holding me tightly in his arms.
"Anna?" Ford asked.
"Another wine please" I said, my words muffled by Nico's chest.
"I'll just get the bottle." Ford said before walking into the other room, leaving Nico and I alone.

I took a deep breath, breathing in the smell of Nico's cologne and him in general.
"I'm glad you're here Anna." He whispered, bowing his head so his lips were against my ear.
"Me too." I whispered back. He squeezed me tighter then stepped back to look at me.

My eyes scanned his face, the cuts were healing well, and had small strip bandaids on them to help heal them. I gently reached up and cupped his jaw in my hand. Nico stared down at me intensely and watched my every move.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you." I whispered, feeling tears welling in my eyes. Nico's right hand came up and cupped my hand on his jaw, his other gently grabbed my waist and pulled me into him.
"I would go through so much worse just to be with you." He whispered, his eyes searching my face. My heart was racing and I felt overcome by emotions. I didn't quite understand the feelings I had towards Nico. I'd only been with them for a week or so and yet it felt as if it had been years.
Nico turned his face and kissed the palm of my hand. I smiled up at him, small pangs of something forming in my chest.

"You guys coming?" Someone called out, breaking the moment. I stepped back from Nico and shook my head, trying to dispel the feeling of tranquility that had come over me.

I nodded and quickly walked forward into the lift to go to the sitting area. The room was big, but with the amount of people in there it had started to get somewhat crowded.

I walked in and paused. My eyes scanned the room and I looked over to Kevin who was seated on the sofa who gestured to me to join him. I walked over and flopped down next to him. He smiled at me and put his arm over the back of the chair. Nico walked into the room and headed straight for us.
"Scooch over." He said laughing slightly. I moved so that I was closer to Kevin, our thighs and hips touching, and my shoulder wedged up under his armpit. Nico sat next to me closely so that he too was plastered against my side.

My eyes flicked to Henry standing at the bar with Alexander, Matt and the bartender. He was watching us, and he threw back another shot before turning back to the bar. My stomach was in knots and I was worried about another repeat of him attacking Nico.

I sipped my wine and watched as everyone drank and laughed, everyone was getting quite intoxicated and their actions were becoming sloppy. Erik passed around shots, telling everyone the bartender had made different shots for each person.

"Anna. Here you go! Fresh from the bartender!" Erik said passing a shot glass to me. I took the glass and sniffed it, recoiling slightly at the horrible smell.
"I'm all good." I said, leaning forward and putting it on the table.
"Nope! It's yours! You've gotta drink it! She's gotta drink it right fellas?" Erik said, a chorus of 'yeahs' erupted, and Nico and Kevin niggled me from either side.
"I'd rather keep a cool head." I said sitting back and watching the room.
"What. You're not pregnant are you?!" He said jokingly, I gasped and recoiled slightly at his accusation. My eyes flicked to Henry who was seated on the other sofa, he was watching me intently.
"Wouldn't be mine if she was." He said quietly, but I'd heard him. I frowned at his comment.

"It really pisses me off when that's the go to for a woman not wanting a drink. I've been drinking wine asshat." I said sitting back and crossing my arms looking at Erik. He mockingly raised his eyebrows a few times in response.
"Ugh, fine." I said leaning forward and grabbing the shot glass. I put the glass to my lips and hesitated for a second, before tossing my head back and downing the shot. I hissed as the liquid burnt my throat. Everyone cheered.

***

I stumbled out of the toilet, my head spinning, and I gripped the wall for support.
"You okay?" Alexander asked me, passing me in the hallway.
"I don't feel so good." I whispered, sliding down the wall so I was sitting on the ground.
"You've probably had too much to drink." He said squatting down and gently moving some hair out my face and feeling my forehead for the temperature.
"I've had two glasses of wine and the shot since dinner." I said rocking my head side to side.
"Whys the boat moving so much?" I asked closing my eyes, anything to try and stabilise myself.

"Anna, the yachts not moving." Alexander said gently grabbing my cheeks in his hands and sitting my head straight. He gently lifted my eyelid and looked at my eye.

"Fuck. Pascal. David. Anyone!" He yelled looking down the hallway. I closed my eyes and let my head flop to the side slightly.
I could hear hurried footsteps that stopped as they reached us.
"What the fuck? What's happened?" David asked panting slightly.
"Anna's been drugged. Raise the alarm. Someone's on board that shouldn't be." Alexander said gently moving me to the side and sliding his arm under my knees and behind my back. David grabbed my arm and moved it over Alexander's neck and moved my head so it was against his chest.