Taken

Chapter 51

I woke with a start. My body felt incredibly warm. I was laying on my back with my left arm cuffed to the bed, both my feet and my right arm had been released. With my free hand I rubbed my forehead. Groaning slightly.

"Morning sleepy head." Kevin said beside me. I looked to my left at Kevin who was sitting next to me. I spun my head to the right to see Nico under the covers beside me. He was laying on his side facing me, with his eyes still closed.

"Kevin I need to pee." I said desperately, spinning my head back to him. Kevin watched me briefly, before standing up and stretching. Kevin walked back up and stood beside me, resting his fists on the bed next to me.
"If I let you out, don't fuck around, okay?" He said sternly.
I nodded quickly, the desperation to use the bathroom was very real.
Kevin reached forward and unlocked the cuffs. My hand dropped to the bed and I immediately started to get up. Kevin quickly stepped back off the bed and grabbed my hand, helping me off.

I walked quickly to the bathroom but before I could shut the door Kevin's hand stopped it.
"Either I'm in the room with you or the door stays open."
"You're fucking kidding me right?" I whispered, annoyed. Kevin simply raised his eyebrows.
"Uggh whatever." I said, turning back to the bathroom and walking to the toilet. Kevin stood leaning against the door, his arms crossed in front of his chest as he looked down to the ground.

"Can you at least make some noise so it's not so awkward?" I asked, pulling my shorts and panties down and sitting on the toilet.
"While you were sleeping we made a fair distance. I think we are about 2 hours away from the marina." Kevin said pausing and looking up to me.

"Look away." I grit, staring at Kevin, who smiled and looked back down to the ground, his long fringe falling in front of his face.
"I can't believe I have to have a baby sitter to pee." I said, burying my head in my hands. Wondering where life had all gone wrong.
"Look Anna. If you're calm, follow instructions and are just compliant I won't let them sedate you again." Kevin said walking into the room a bit more.
I nodded and sniffled. Quickly wiping and flushing before moving to the sink.

The warm water flooded over my hands, sending a feeling of bliss over me.
"I really don't want to be sedated again Kevin. Thats what the Murdock's would do to me. You have no idea how hard it is to feel 'safe' when you have absolutely no control or memory of what happens." I said staring at my reflection in the mirror.
"I'm sorry Anna." Kevin said beside me.

"I know it hurt Nico to have it done to you." Kevin said watching me closely.
"Then why'd he let it happen?" I said, looking to Kevin slightly.
"I think he panicked. I think he wants to keep you safe more than anything in this world and when he heard that you'd jumped off the yacht he was scared." Kevin said gently passing me the hand towel and watching me.

"I can try and protect you from everything else, no matter what threat comes, I'll do my best to protect you and keep you safe. But when that threat is yourself?" Nico replied walking into the room.
I spun and looked at him.
"When that threat comes from yourself, I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry for having you sedated Anna." He looked vulnerable, his posture was somewhat fallen and he looked tired.
"I'm sorry." He repeated.

Without thinking I pulled forward and ran into Nico's arms. Pulling him in close to me and burying my face in his chest. Nico hesitated for a second before closing his arms around me, holding me tightly against him and resting his cheek on my head.
We stayed like that for a minute before I pulled away.

"I don't want to go to a house. I'd rather stay on the Yacht." I said walking into the bedroom. Kevin and Nico followed me. I sat on the bed and looked to them.
"I get that Anna, but it's already been arranged." Nico said walking over and sitting next to me.
"Maybe we can arrange that we are there for a short period of time before moving to somewhere else?" Kevin proposed.

"Los Angeles is where I have the biggest home that will accommodate the Murdock's as well." Nico said looking from Kevin back to me.
I scoffed and flopped back on the bed.
"They also have a metric fuck tonne of money and can probably buy a house. Let's be honest, it wouldn't be the first time a member of a 'family' has spent grossly over the retail value to get what they want."

"The yacht needs to go in for some maintenance. So it's not a viable option at the moment." Nico said looking down at me, then to Kevin.
"How about New York?" Nico asked, looking back down to me. I turned and looked at him.
"As part of my property portfolio, I just bought a penthouse."
"How many rooms?" I asked rolling on my side to look at him more.
"6 bedrooms. Not enough, but we can figure that out." Nico said sitting forward slightly. I looked up to Nico, watching him closely. He watched me then sighed.

"Kev. Call Dan, see if he wants to go to New York, if not, that's fine and he can maintain the house. Sebastian flew in on the chopper last night. Can you also send up the guys? Just have them wait in the living area. I'll call the builder and then go talk with the Murdock's." Nico said looking at the bed as if thinking how the conversation would go.
I reached out and held his hand. Nico looked to my hand on his.

"Let me speak with them." I said quietly. His eyes immediately found me, and I could tell by the look on his face that he wasn't keen on the idea of me speaking with them.
"It'll be better coming from me." I said, looking to Kevin who put the phone to his ear and began leaving the room.

"Are you comfortable with this?" He asked, reaching forward and moving some hair from my face. I nodded at him.

"Well then, if you insist. Whenever you're ready. I'd also like for someone to be with you at all times." He said, I inhaled deeply to begin protesting.
"I don't care if it's one of my guys or one of the Murdock's. I just need to know that you're safe Anna." I closed my mouth and watched him. Nico looked vulnerable.
"Okay." I whispered. Nico smiled and lent forward, kissing my forehead.

I watched as Nico sighed and pulled away, removing his phone from his pocket and answering it. I crawled off the bed and walked to the dressing room. I grabbed a short black sundress and quickly removed the pjs and pulled the dress on.

Nico walked in the room and stood watching me, leaning on the doorframe.
"Stalker." I said quietly as I sat on the chair and watched him back. Nico smiled and walked forward, offering me his hand.
He gently pulled me up and pulled me into him.
"How's your stomach?" He asked, his eyes flicking over my face.
"I honestly can't even feel it. I think I had so much adrenaline that it was just not on my mind. You look like you're healing well." I replied, gently reaching up and touching the healing cut on his brow. Nico smiled at me, then turned his head and kissed my palm.
"I thought about what I did to you, putting you on my shoulder. And I thought of it and I was worried I'd hurt you." He said gently. I shook my head and kissed his cheek.

"I'm gonna go talk to the Murdock's. I'll let them know about the change in plans." I said slowly moving. Nico looked slightly uncomfortable.

"I have to make some calls. Can you wait a bit?" He asked stepping back, allowing me my own space.
I shook my head.
"They're going to know something is up. It'll be better if they know sooner rather than later." Nico nodded slightly. Then walked to the door and out into the hallway then the living space. I followed him quickly, slightly confused at where he was going or what he was doing.

All the men except Kevin were sitting on the sofa. They looked to us as we walked in.
"So there's a change of plans. We will be moving on to New York in a few days. I have some calls to make in preparation. You can all go pack your stuff. Anna will let the Murdock's know." Nico said standing in front of them. Then looking to me.
"David, Alexander, I want you to be with her." I shook my head and stepped back. Nico looked back at me, slightly confused.
"I'm not going anywhere with him." I grit, motioning to Alexander.
Nico sighed heavily.
"Pascal, swap with Alexander." Nico said shaking his head slightly and looking to the floor.

I nodded at Nico and began moving off towards the lift. He quickly and gently grabbed my hand, pulling me into him. I looked up at him.
"Be good." He whispered, leaning down and kissing my lips. I felt like I melted into his arms as I moulded into the kiss. I pulled away and looked at Nico. He smiled slightly then nodded towards the lift.