Looks That Kill (Nikki Sixx FanFic)

The Big, Dumb Idiot

Rain made pattering sounds against the windows of the house, echoing throughout the empty mansion. Precipitation was a rare occurrence during the California summer. Normally, the entire state would suffer through droughts and wild fires until the rains came in the winter. This only confirmed, in my eyes, that the universe was getting some sick satisfaction out of watching me suffer.

Bret was still in the hospital. It had been a solid week since I had returned from Paris, and still no sign of Bret waking up any time soon. I had remained at his bedside the entire time, playing all of his favorite songs and telling him how much I missed him. I refused to be away from him unless I was eating or using the restroom. The only reason I finally left was because CC begged me to go home and get some rest.

Like him, I had developed bags under my eyes and my skin had become even paler than usual. My voice was hoarse from constantly talking to Bret, and my hair had gotten oily and matted. It was obvious that I needed a break. But it still took CC damn near dragging me out of the hospital and stuffing me into a taxi for me to finally go home and take care of myself.

"Bret will never forgive me if I don't make you go home and get some rest," CC had said, forcing a smile as he shut the taxi door.

But how would I ever forgive myself if Bret died while I wasn't there beside him? How could I ever forgive myself if CC had to go through the loss of a friend alone? How could I forgive myself for silently hoping that Nikki would pop up in Bret's hospital room again?

I bit my lip and focused my eyes on the mug of tea sitting on the table in front of me. It had been piping hot when I had sat down, but now it was no longer steaming. I doubted if it was even lukewarm. I had been sitting here for hours. Just...staring.

I didn't even flinch when the phone rang.

Silently, I stood from my chair and padded over to where the phone hung on the kitchen wall. I reached out a hand, my finger tips gliding along the cool plastic, wrapping around the slim body of the phone and pulling it from its cradle. I held it to my ear and took a breath.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Rinaldi?" It was Sarah.

"Yes?"

"Are you...uh, expecting someone?"

I knew it. In the back of my mind, I knew that he would come for me. I wasn't even surprised when I glanced out the window and saw his black Porsche at my front gate. I spotted Sarah in the little shack by the gate, watching his car with a wary gaze.

"Yes. Let him in," I said softly.

"Ms. Rinaldi, I don't think it is who you think it is," Sarah said carefully. It was obvious that she feared losing her job for questioning me, but I knew that her heart was in the right place. She had been trying so hard to keep me busy, away from my thoughts of him. I knew she didn't want me to go through it all over again.

Still, I had questions and he owed me answers. And besides, it would drive me nuts to shoo him away now. When it came to him, I was like a moth to a flame.

"I know who it is. Let him in."

I set the phone back down, cutting Sarah off before she could continue to argue with me. I didn't care what she had to say about what had happened between him and I. I only cared what he had to say about all of the lost time between us.

I strolled down the hallway, stopping only when I reached the foyer. Within seconds, the front door opened, and little by little, Nikki Sixx materialized on my front porch. Drenched in rain, his chest heaving, he stared up at me through the hair that hung in his eyes. The sound of the rain grew louder.