bound by chaos

1.Brandon

I have a lot on my mind.

Running from Landon's predator like gaze is not easy. And trying to sneak out and then back into the mansion is getting difficult each passing day.

The moment I step out of my bedroom door to get to the penthouse, my entire body just tenses up. Every sound and every step like a noose around my neck.

It is only once I'm in the safety of the penthouse walls that hides the secrets of my and Nikolai's....... relationship, if I can even call it that, am I able to fill my lungs with air.

But all of it becomes worth it when I see the smile on Nikolai's face, hear him call me baby and lotus flower in that husky voice of his. All my worries and all my struggles become nothing when faced with that sweet toothed monster, all my pains losing meaning when his arm wraps around my waist and pulls me closer. And then Nikolai's warm breath tingling my skin before he devours my lips—

"Really? Stop this madness, Brandon" I whisper to myself, shaking my head to get that image out of my head. I'm in the middle of a street for god's sake.

My class had ended early and without even thinking, I had picked up my phone and messaged Nikolai.

ME

Will you be at the penthouse today?

NIKOLAI

If you will be there, I will be there too, baby.

That text had made a smile bloom on his face, almost shocking me. Since when did I start to feel giddy reading Nikolai's texts? And then my phone had dinged again.

NIKOLAI

Will you be there today, baby?

And a teasing smile had taken over me as I had typed those words and clicked on send.

BRANDON

If you want me there, I will be there.

I had watched as the message had went from sent to read but no reply had come up for a good five minutes. Nikolai had always been the one in control, the one dictating the terms of whatever this thing between us is. But at that moment, for the first time, it had felt like I was the one with the upper hand, even if it was just a playful text. That tiny shift in power dynamics had both excited and terrified me.

Just as I was about to put my phone away, it had vibrated in my hand and my breath had caught itself in my throat as I had unlocked it.

NIKOLAI

Always playing hard to get, aren't you? I like that.

I will eat you up today, baby. You can blame this on yourself today.

And here I'm now, walking to the penthouse. Each step I take heavy with anticipation, bringing me closer to the man who has become both my sanctuary and my torment.

So lost in my thoughts, I do not hear the light steps behind me. I'm too late in sensing the presence of a person behind him. Too late to react when a hand clamps down on my mouth, yanking me back with a force that nearly topples me over.

My heart leaps into my throat, adrenaline rushing through my body as I push back the assailant with all my force. I'm a well-built athlete, not to Nikolai's standards but built with enough strength to fight back. My assailant groans behind me and I use that opportunity to run away. But before I can fully regain my balance, a cold, sharp object presses against my side, freezing me in place.

"Not a word now, if you don't want your neck sliced" a low, menacing voice whispers in my ear. My blood runs cold at those words.

"What?" My mouth says without thinking, holding my body still, "Who are yo—"

"Did you not hear me? SHUT UP!" His grip tightens on my arm, and the knife he's holding against my ribs digs a little deeper, just enough to make his threat clear.

I try to remain calm, but my mind is racing. Who is this? How long has he been following me? Why me? I'm not involved in any of the stuff my brother and cousins do. I prefer to stay far away from it all. But then why—

My entire body freezes again at the realisation. This is not an attack on me. This is— No. No. No. NO!

I refuse the very notion of being used against Landon or Nikolai.

I start to struggle as much as I can, even when the knife at my neck digs painfully into my skin. A warm trickle of blood slides down my neck, and I can feel the sting of the blade. Panic surges through me, but I fight to keep my breathing steady. I cannot afford to lose control now.

"Calm down, you little shit," the man hisses, his breath hot against my ear as he tightens his hold on me. "I was told you would be easy, not my lucky day" He says just as he begins to drag me to a nearby alleyway.

My mind races, searching for any possible escape, any chance to alert someone. But we are in a quiet part of the city, and I can feel the weight of his threat pressing down on me like a heavy cloak as he keeps dragging me while I struggle with all my might. There is no one around. No one to help.

A rush of a bike engine, brings me out of the panic. This is sound is familiar. This sound could only be—

Nikolai.

Hope fills my chest like a blooming flower as my eyes take in Nikolai's bike stopping before the nearby convenience store. He cannot see me but I can. I can see the way he is smiling as he takes his helmet off his head, I can see when he takes his phone out his pocket and types something. Tears gather in my eyes when my own phone vibrates against my thigh in my pocket.

My heart pounds in my chest as I feel my phone vibrate, knowing it is Nikolai. The thought of him being so close yet so unaware of the danger I'm in drives me to the brink of despair. I want to scream, to shout his name, but the cold steel pressed against my side silences me.

"Shit. Keep moving," the man growls, his voice low and threatening. His grip on me tightens as he forces me towards the alley, each step dragging me further away from safety, further away from Nikolai.

But I cannot let it end like this. Not without trying. Not without doing everything I can to survive. I glance towards the convenience store, praying Nikolai will look up, that he will sense something is wrong, that he will see me.

As we reach the mouth of the alley, the man pauses, glancing around to make sure no one is watching. His distraction gives me a split second, a chance to act. I do not hesitate. I twist my body sharply, elbowing him in the ribs with all the force I can muster. The sudden movement catches him off guard, and I feel his grip loosen just enough for me to break free.

I stumble forward, desperate to put distance between us, but he is fast. Too fast. His hand snatches at my shirt, pulling me back with a force that nearly knocks the wind out of me. I can feel the panic rising in my throat again, but I push it down, focusing on one thing—getting to Nikolai, to my safety.

"Niko!" I scream, my voice hoarse with fear, putting all my life into those words. "Nikolai!"

He must have heard me. He must have. Please, please.

The moment the words leave my mouth, the man's eyes widen with rage. He yanks me back towards him, his knife slicing through the fabric of my shirt and grazing my skin. I run with all my might, my skin burning, nausea running through me as I reach the entry of the alley way, knowing Nikolai will be there. He will be there and he will take care of him and take him into his arms and—

The bike is not there.