Page 4 of Sinners’ Appetite

I’m so fucking tired.

This morning, I texted Jeff to let him know that I’ll be taking tonight off and he texted right back to tell me that he’s not letting me come back to work for at least three weeks, so I can recover.

Still, rent is due in a week and I’m not making Jeremy wait for the payment.

I have to get back to work as soon as possible so my finances don’t go to shit.

“Have you eaten anything today?” Sammi asks as she eyeballs the food tray I set aside this morning. I specifically told them not to give me eggs and that’s exactly what they brought.

“Not a thing. Take a look under the tray and you’ll find out why,” I reply, rolling my eyes.

“You’re eating something when we get home. I’ll make it for you.”

“Sammi, I’m fine. I can make my own food.”

“It wasn’t a question, love. I’m making you food, whether you like it or not.” she grins.

I let out a huff and take a sip of the lukewarm coffee they served this morning. It tastes like absolutely garbage, but it’s caffeine, nonetheless.

“I wish the doctor would just let me go already. I fucking hate the smell of this hospital,” I complain.

“He just wants to make sure you’re okay. You took a pretty big blow to the head, Nikki.”

Tears start to form in the corner of my eyes as I think about the look on Justin’s face when he was about to hit me with the pipe again. Everything happened so damn fast.

“Do you remember anything past the point of him hitting you with the pipe?”

“Nothing. I remember seeing someone else there too and thinking they were there to hurt me alongside Justin.”

“That was Malachi. The guy we introduced you to last night,” she quietly reveals.

“Seriously? He—saved me?”

“He did.”

“Holy fuck.”

“Yeah, it was quite the eventful night. I’m just glad you’re okay.” A single tear rolls down her cheek.

“Don’t cry! You’ll make me cry!” I whine, my throat tightening as I try to hold back the sobs.

“We almost lost you! I’m still shocked by the whole thing. If Malachi hadn’t been there—”

I stop her before she can say anything else. “But, he was. I need to thank him.”

“He texted Jeremy early this morning to ask how you were doing. We didn’t tell him about Justin, but we thanked him for helping you.”

“Good. I don’t want anyone to know. Did they find him?” I whisper.

“I haven’t heard anything. Did Jeff mention anything? The cops were there this morning.”

“No,” I reply.

“I don’t like that he’s roaming around somewhere.”

“I think I need to install security cameras. I’ll hire Jeremy to put them up for me.” I sigh. I’m terrible for leaving my windows and doors unlocked all the time. I should know better.

Just as I’m about to slide off the bed and go use the washroom, the doctor walks in.

“Miss Saxe, how are you feeling?” he asks with a wide smile on his face.

I pep up a little, hoping it’ll help in making the decision to let me go home. “I feel great, surprisingly.”

“Glad to hear. If I send you home, you have to rest for a few days, at the very least. No heavy lifting, jogging or driving and avoid the direct sunlight,” he says.

“So—lay in bed all day then?” I chuckle.

“Pretty much.” He grins. “You have an excuse to eat junk food and be lazy for a while.”

“Wonderful., I remark, with only a hint of sarcasm.

“I also need you to get lots of sleep. The pain medication I’m prescribing might make you a little nauseous, so I would suggest grabbing an anti-nauseant for that. Be sure to take it with food.”

“Will do.” I take the paperwork from his hands, and grab the bag of clothes that Sammi brought for me, heading off to the bathroom to get changed. They took the clothing I had on to use as evidence in their investigation.

I didn’t tell them that it was Justin. I’m not ready to go into detail about how my ex’s brother has been obsessed with me for years and no matter how hard I try, I can’t escape him. I made the mistake of sleeping with him not long after Matthew and I broke up and ever since, he’s been stalking me.

He leaves me alone for a few weeks at a time, and then next thing I know, I’m getting another text from an unknown number, or see him lurking near my house.

He’s never gone as far as he did last night though.

He’s never actually tried to hurt me. It was almost like he was high or something, the way his eyes looked when he was hovering over top of me.

He wanted me dead.

“Welcome home, babe,” Sammi says as she helps me into my house. When we get inside, she points to the bench in my entryway, demanding that I sit down.

“What are you doing?” I ask, watching her as she bends down in front of me and lifts my leg.

“Taking your shoes off,” she smiles.

“Well—thank you, kind lady.” I giggle, bending my foot to make it easier for her to slip my shoe off.

Once she’s done, she holds her hand out to me and helps me to my feet. I am a bit dizzy, but not enough to really bother me. She leads me into the kitchen and heads straight to the fridge as soon as she has me seated at the table.

“How’s chicken caesar salad sound?”

My stomach growls at just the thought of scarfing that back. “Yes, please…”

“After you eat, you should get some rest.”

“Yes, mother.” I smirk.

She gets everything prepared, grilling the chicken to crisp perfection and serving everything to me with the dressing on the side, just how I like it. She knows me all too well. We’ve gone to lunch together and she’s been able to order what I want before I even get there.

“Hey, watch that tone of yours,” she laughs back as she sits down to eat her own salad.

Once we’re done, she walks me into my bedroom and places my phone and the remote within an arms length away. “Is there anything else you need?” she asks.

“Not that I can think of,” I reply, pulling my comforter up over me. “I’ll be okay, Sammi. You’ve already done for me enough already.”

“I’m not leaving. I have some writing to catch up on, so while you rest, I’ll be writing a story about demon slayers.”

“You’re working on that one again?” I ask, thinking back to when she first came up with the idea, and how excited she was to finish writing it.

Sammi has been an author for several years now, but life’s complications got in the way a few times, so she had to step back for a while. She’s been in tune with her writing lately though, which I’m so proud of her for.

Her and Jeremy were trying to conceive, but after a year or more, they stopped trying and went in a different direction with their lives. They vacation quite often, and I think that Sammi is content with the way things turned out.

“Yup! I have six more chapters written so far. I’m really enjoying the protagonist. I can’t wait for you to read it.”

I love everything she’s ever written. She has a way with words, that’s for damn sure.

Once she leaves the room, I roll over on my side and grab my phone. After a few minutes of scrolling through my socials, I can’t seem to keep my eyes open, so I finally give in and let myself drift off to sleep.