Torn

Chapter 23

The sweet sound of bluebirds woke me up a few hours later. The sun was just rising in the horizon, warming up the room and shining a bright yellow hue into my eyes. I yawned as I sat up in bed and stretched out my arms. It didn't take me long to realize we were back in Texas once I got up and walked to the window. Like Taker's last house, there was a lot of land around this one.

I raked my hand through my hair and then my gaze was averted to Taker, who was pushing one of his motorcycles out in front of the house. My eyes were transfixed on his long red hair which was flowing from under a bright red bandana. He was wearing a grey beater, some black form fitting jeans, black boots and wore that same determined look on his face.

I watched him park the large black Harley before he walked back to the garage and got a towel, a bucket of water, and a bottle that I assumed was polish. My eyes were then drawn to something else that was different…his physique. The last time I saw him, he had the nice body, but it looked as though he had been working out quite a lot. His skin was evenly tanned and his tattoos seemed darker than before. I was so lost in his looks that I hadn't realized that I was biting my bottom lip. I could hear my heart beating loudly in my chest while blood started rushing through my body. What was this feeling?

"Kat?"

I quickly turned around and saw Nikki standing in my doorway. I could tell she had just woke up because her hair was thrown up in a messy bun and she was wearing a t-shirt with some cotton shorts. I averted my eyes from her and kept looking out of the window.

"What do you want?" I nearly snapped.

She sighed, "To apologize even though I know I don't deserve your forgiveness right now."

"How about ever?" I asked sarcastically. "I've already had my uncle taken from me once…and now he's gone forever this time."

She folded her arms and began walking towards me. "I understand you're frustrated with how your life is going Katrina…but you're forgetting who's on your side here. Don't forget that I'm the reason you've been safe this entire time."

"Actually Taker is the reason I've been safe. You've helped but as far as I'm concerned you're playing both sides of the fence."

She looked at me blankly for a moment but then her bottom lip began to tremble. I looked at her, feeling terrible for lashing out at her. After all it was all part of their plan and here I was being selfish.

"Katrina…I love John…do you realize how hard it was for me to do what I did?" she cried. "I shot the only man I have ever trusted besides my brother and Mark…a man who made me feel like the most precious thing in the world…and the father of my unborn child."

I gasped and glanced at her in shock. "You're pregnant, to John?"

She nodded and wiped her eyes making me feel even more terrible than I did before. "Oh my gosh…Nikki I had no idea."

"I know." She said as she walked over to me. "I'm so sorry Kat."

"It's ok…I'm happy for you."

I hugged her tightly for a moment and then together we glanced out of the window at Taker who had just taken off his grey beater. I swallowed the saliva that pooled in my mouth and dropped my gaze, catching Nikki's attention. She sniffled and then gently picked up some of my hair and twirled it.