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“I want you to sleep. Take a nap. I’m not going anywhere, okay? I’ll be right out in the living room. But you need to sleep.” Ryker runs a hand along my cheek, and my eyes flutter in response.
Ryker stands up, but I grab his shirt. “Please, just lay with me until I fall asleep.”
He bends down and kisses me. “Of course.” Ryker pulls down his comforter and has me slide in before he follows suit. I roll onto my side and he comes up behind me, wrapping his arm over my stomach.
Pulling me close, he whispers, “Sleep, Zo. I’ve got you.”
It doesn’t take long, but sleep takes me.
Chapter 13
Zoey
“Please, I’m sorry,”I beg on my knees.
Mitch clenches he teeth as he hovers over me. His eyes narrow as his face reddens with anger. “You shouldn’t have even left, Nicole. All of this is on you.” His hand comes up, and I feel the impact on my face. Before I can recover, his fist comes crashing into the side of my head.
“This is all your fault. You deserve all this. You fucking bitch! Now look at what you’ve done.” Mitch shows me his hand; it’s bruised and bloodied.
My face and head are screaming in pain. My eyes can’t focus beyond him. I feel like this all looks familiar, but I can’t make out my surroundings. Then, I hear a grunt.
“Zo, don’t give up. I’ve got you.” Ryker. It’s Ryker. Where am I? My head, the pain, I can’t focus.
“Ryker! Where are you?” I scream.
“Aw, isn’t this cute. Two little fucking love birds. Well, problem is, you’re supposed to be marrying me. But I’ll tell you what, let’s take care of this little problem. Shall we?” Mitch drags Ryker’s beaten body over to me. My eyes start to focus, and I realize I’m back at the house in New York.
How did I get back here? When?
“Mitch, please. I’ll marry you. Just … Just let Ryker go!” I plead.
“Yeah, no. Not going to happen, sweet cheeks. So, let’s get on with it.” Mitch pulls off Ryker’s blindfold.
His eyes. The blue in his eyes is gone. They are grey, muted, lifeless. My head shakes back and forth, and my eyes open wide while my lips tremble.
“Zo, don’t look,” Ryker begs, but I can’t obey. No matter how hard I try to turn my head, it stays looking right at him. “Turn away, Zoey.”
Mitch stalks behind Ryker. “I want to watch your face, Nicole. Make sure to watch, love.”
“No! Please! Don’t do this, Mitch! Don’t hurt him! I’ll marry you. I’ll come back home. I’ll never run again! Please, don’t hurt him!” My body is frozen in place, and my screams go unanswered.
“I’m not going to hurt him, Nicole. I’m going to end him.” Mitch holds up a gun to the back of Ryker’s head.
It fires, and I scream, the world around me turning black.
“Ryker! No! Ryker!”
My body jolts up from the bed. I’m drenched in sweat, crying and clenching my chest. Ryker comes running into the bedroom as I try to catch my breath.
“Zo! What happened?” He jumps into the bed and wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. “Sweetheart, you’re shaking. Talk to me.”
My breathing is heavy, my chest heaving as I try to take in air. “Nightmare.”
“Fuck, Zo.” He squeezes me and rubs my back. “Whatever it was, it’s just a dream. I’m right here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Ryker stands, walking into the closet. Slowly I sit up and shift myself to the edge of the bed on his side. My body shivers from the memory of the nightmare. It felt so real. The loud bang of the gun that went off, the ringing in my ears from it. I still feel the sting of Mitch’s hand on my face. Squeezing my eyes tight, I try to control my breathing. When I hear footsteps coming towards me, I look up to those ocean blue eyes.
Ryker hold out his hand and nods. “Come on. Let’s get you rinsed off and comfortable.”