Back In Black- Book 2

Chapter 50

Im not sure how long i sat crouched behind a dumpster. Every fiber of my being screamed in agony. My heart shattered and my body battered. I no longer had the strength nor energy to pick my self up. Going out was stupid, not just for my poor physical condition but for the chance of being spotted.

Eventually Nick found me and he was seething in rage. "Where the hell is he McKenzie? I'll kill that bastard!"

My voice was no where to be found so i shook my head silently begging him to leave it be. Things were bad enough as they were.

"Any man who hits a woman doesn't deserve to continue living." Nick crouched down to examine my extremely swollen cheek. Make up covered most of my battered face but there was no hiding the fresh blow it took. When his hand grazed my cheek i flinched in pain. As much as i wanted to act strong and pretend i was fine, I couldn't. My body longed for sleep and a good cry.

"Please take me to my house." My voice was weak and i was more vulnerable than i had ever been. No one has ever seen me so raw and exposed before. Inside i felt hollow like there's nothing left of me. Without realizing it, Cole had managed to make me feel whole and now that he's gone i feel the emptiness seeping in. Its cold and cruel like the life I've been handed.

Nick scooped me up bridal style and set me into his car. He must have read my mind because he actually took me to my house and not my apartment. Giovanni must have told him about it.

My house was fully furnished thanks to an interior designer. This will be the first time I've seen it fully decorated, but i have no desire to look at it tonight. Chances are i will never get to live her long enough to truly appreciate it anyways. Nick gently laid me on my bed and slipped my shoes off.

"I'll be right back." I didn't respond because I didn't care. I felt so void it took my breath away.  When Nick came back he had an ice pack in his hands.

"This will sting, I'm sorry." He pressed it to my cheek and this time I didn't flinch. The pain in my heart trumped my physical pain. While he held it there i stared blankly at the ceiling.

"Why did he hit you McKenzie? Other than the lies his father fed him, he must have felt he had a reason more justified." His voice was quiet and he was lost in his own puzzling thoughts.

"Because i told him i never loved him." Emotion overwhelmed me so immensely i had to blink away the tears.

"Why would you say that when that's not the truth?" His brows scrunched together in confusion.

"You can't love a dead girl." I closed my eyes struggling to hold my tears in.

"He's the one person who would fight for you more than anyone else if he knew the truth, not the lies he was fed." Nicks voice was sincere but what he doesn't know is how wrong he is. Cole hated me with the lies and I've probably only fueled the fire with the truth.

"That's just it, i told him the truth finally." My voice was a mere whisper as i turned my head away.  Nick turned my face back towards him.

"What do you mean 'finally'? You've been truthful with him all along."

"I've known him since preschool, up until last school year, he used to beat me up everyday at school. Back than i was weak and defenseless. I had no family and i was abandoned until my aunt found me. For months i trained and plotted my revenge before school started again. When i came back he didn't recognize me and i planned to break him in ways he couldn't imagine. It seems i did that and the worst part is, after spending so much time with him i never wanted to hurt him. Call me week but somewhere along my plot for revenge i fell madly in love with him."

For a long while we both stayed silent in our own thoughts. What Nick thinks doesn't matter because the past can't be changed. Cole's wrongs and my intent to do wrong can't be taken back. I need to wake up and face reality. More than anything i need to come to terms and find an escape.

"I don't know whether to hunt him down and kill him or stay here and get you back to your fighting self. All i can say is I'm genuinely sorry for the life you've been dealt. I've never met someone with such a shit hand but who's stronger than anyone I've ever met. No matter what i promise to protect you with everything i have."

Nick doesn't even know me but his words meant a lot. Tears silently slid down my cheeks and it stung all the open wounds. My eyes remained closed and Nick quietly brushed them away. Words weren't needed to showcase my pain more. He stood up and said he had to go but there would be guards around the clock monitoring me. Before he got to the door i spoke up.

"Stay. I don't think i can bare to be alone right now. I don't trust myself."

"Ok." Nick stripped down to his t-shirt and boxers and helped me get my jacket off. Crawling in bed next to me he pulled me to his chest. Him being next to me felt wrong because it wasn't the man i love but i knew it wasn't in a romantic or sexual way. It felt like he was trying to hold my shattered soul together.

Looking back i wish i had let Cole cuddle and hold me like he always wanted too. Its true, we don't truly know what we have until we lose it.

Can't believe I'm at chapter 50 already! Still liking the book? What do you think will happen with Cole? And Nick?? ;)

Happy Sunday, please vote if you liked the chapter! ♥️