Nikolai's POVI hated the fact that everyone stayed out of my way today. They all did their jobs quickly and efficiently, not giving me a chance nor reason to complain or yell. All it did was irritate me. I needed some kind of outlet, some kind of release. I just needed a medium to let out all the pain I was feeling. But I couldn't find any. It was obviously because they weren't trying to be careful on this particular day.It was Elle's death anniversary. Although I had spent years trying to forget it, and hoping that I would wake up one day and not remember the date, it never went away, it just kept stinging like a fresh wound.I couldn't afford to be distracted today, I needed to secure a very important contract for the company. I had been preparing for this particular meeting for week
WARNING! TRIGGERING MATURE CONTENT!Nikolai's POVMy head swirled with thoughts of today's events as I staggered through my bedroom door. Alcohol did nothing to lighten the load on my chest nor the rage I was feeling. I buried my head in my hands as I sat at the edge of my bed. Why had I let him escape? Why did I do something so stupid?"Why did I..." I swallowed, clutching at my hair with shaky hands. I knew it could not have been helped but I couldn't help but feel so stupid about everything. My chest began to heave once more when I stared at Elle's portrait on the wall. I had failed her. I had failed once more. I let her murderer escape when he was right in front of me.I raved with anger as my thoughts went to the prisoner. I had the perfect revenge tool against Jonas right in my grasp for weeks now. And instead of taking out my revenge and making her suffer like I was supposed to, I was out here playing nice to her. I even let them convince me to
Nikolai's POVI awakened with a sore throat and a blinding headache. I looked down to see that I was still in my work clothes. No wonder I was so uncomfortable. Groaning in pain from the headache, I pulled off my trousers and undid my tie from around my neck. Sighing, I relaxed back onto the bed, placing a hand behind my head. I stretched my hand toward the dresser and popped the drawers open in search of some aspirin.My hand froze as I brought the pills to my lips. The events of last night came rushing back to me and I raked my hand through my hair. Why had I stooped so low that I had taken advantage of her when I knew she was helpless?But thinking of that only reminded me of one thing: Elle. She had been treated the exact same way. Brutally taken advance of although she was innocent.The only thing that baffled me was the fact that the girl was a virgin. From the rumors that flew around and the reports from Drew when he had spied on the Monh
Drew's POVIt felt better than I thought it would to be back home. When my trip was extended, I had been furious, but afterwards I had decided to see it as a well-deserved, long overdue vacation. And everything had gone smoothly from then onwards. Coming home was obviously cutting all of that short, but surprisingly, I was glad to be here. I only just realized how much I missed home and my family.The first person I wanted to see was Nikolai, there was a lot to brief him on. Apart from business, there was a rebellion of rogues brewing on the other side of the city. As soon as we could, we would look into it."Andrew?"I whipped around to see Annalise grinning at me, her hands on her hips."Annie?" I replied in the same tone although I knew she disliked the nickname."Asshole," She chuckled, walking closer to me. "Come here."I laughed as I stayed in her embrace for a while. Annie, Nikolai and I had been so inseparable as kids that they nicknamed us
Liyah's POV"Stay away from me!!"The sound of my own voice surprised me but I couldn't help it. Elyan regarded me with confusion written all over his face."Why are you-""Just... don't touch me! Okay? I know the way to the rooms. Just tell me where you want me to clean up."The rapid beating of my heart had already started to weaken me. I drew my shirt tighter to me. We were alone in the room. It was dangerous... anything could happen. I felt my chest start to ache as the memories I had been trying to get rid of began to flash through my head.Instead of the anger I had expected, Elyan backed away from me, muttering an apology and moving to the door. But I wanted him out. Away from me completely. If I was alone no one could hurt me. No one...Desperate to be able to breathe properly again, I limped past him and outside the door. I felt safer out in the open, but I couldn't see anyone around. If one of the could hurt me then all of them were capab
Nikolai's POVI couldn't explain exactly what was going on, it felt like I was going crazy. I still couldn't believe that I hadn't been making any progress in getting my revenge. I was shocked, confused, and for some reason, angry...It was as though the anger began to manifest as soon as I acknowledged the fact that I was angry. I refused to accept that it was my fault. It wasn't... it couldn't be. I had been alert and focused. Why did she have to be there at the festival? Why did she have to get mixed into the crowd, and worse still behind the very woman I had planned on abducting. This was her fault. Not sure where I was going, I made my way to where she was.As I swung the door of her room open and walked in, my brows furrowed in confusion. She was nowhere to be found. I moved toward the bathroom to check and that's when I saw her. She lay crumpled on the bathroom floor, her eyes half-open and her breathing shallow.As soon as her eyes met mine,
Nikolai's POVI couldn't count the number of times I had splashed cold water over my face, but it didn't take away my red rimmed eyes or the weight on my chest. Frustrated with myself for not having control over my emotions at the moment, I grabbed a face towel and wiped my face with it. My nose was runny as well and I could feel that my eyes were swollen. I couldn't remember the last time I had felt this way.As I gulped down a cup of water, my mind floated back to Liyah.Liyah.Knowing her name now only made me feel worse about everything. Why had I been so full of hate, blinded so deeply by regret that I had become this... inhumane. I wondered what Elle would think if she was here now. If I was this disappointed in myself, then I could imagine just how disappointed she would be in me. I had hurt an innocent woman for weeks, for a crime she didn't commit.I buried my head in my hands, letting the pain and regret wash all over me. She
Liyah's POVMy lids were extremely heavy as I struggled to open my eyes and I could hear the sound of my breathing, which definitely was not a good thing. The day after he had put me into this room and assigned Margaret to take care of me, I had fallen very sick. I wasn't sure what the problem was and neither did Margaret but she brought in a new concoction for me to take every single day. Over time I started to feel a little better, but I wasn't strong enough to move around yet.Sometimes my eyes would open up a little and I would catch glimpses of Margaret, Annalise and a strange man looming over my sick bed. But I never stayed awake long enough to engage in conversation or ask questions. But I wasn't even sure I felt like it. I was just exhausted. Sometimes I'd wished I would fall asleep and not awaken the next day. I would be happier when all the pain finally ended. But my wishes never came true and so here I was.Sometimes the memory and pain of