Her Ravaged Life

Ch. -12-

 “We need some ground rules,” I say to him when we are in the hallway again walking back the way we came. 

 “Okay, give me some of yours,” he answers and slows his pace so I can keep up with him not run on his heels.

 “I-I I don’t know. Like what about side relationships? Like we’re not going to be having… ahem… we’re not like normal couple. And we need to, well, relieve stress and stuff,” I sputter nervously. I haven’t felt that uncomfortable about a subject for so long. I feel like I’m asking my mum about birth control, instead I have to ask crime lord of the world if he is going to j******f or if he is planning on banging some pieces on the side. What have I gotten myself into?

 He starts to laugh and gives me an amused look. 

 “Well, why can’t we ‘relieve stress’ with each other?” he asks playfully. 

 “It’s a pretend relationship, we are not in love, hell we don’t even like one another. Anyway, I just want know how many people can know the truth about this arrangement?” I want to change the subject or I might actually relieve some stress with this asshole because I am already getting hot flashes when bits and pieces of earlier encounter come back to me. I shake it off and try to keep my head above water for little longer.

 “Right now, Callie, Jeremiah and Levi are the only ones who know and I intent to keep it that way.” He says in a serious no bullshit way. That means only three people know and in front of everyone else we have to be this happy-go-lucky couple. That is not going to be easy. I suck at lying and all of this is a big lie I might mess up royally and get myself into even bigger s**t. 

 “We need to figure out what to tell people. Like how we met, when we met and other stuff like that. People are going to ask questions.” I am starting to feel that this so-called relationship is not going to be as easy as it seemed when I agreed to that. I know nothing about his affairs with other people or anything to be honest, how involved will I be? Am I supposed be his arm candy or partner in crime? 

 There are too many details to work through and too much at stake. I can feel my head get lighter and the thoughts start to scramble up, I reach out to him because my feet are failing me, but everything goes dark before I can reach him.

NIKO

 I know she is making good points, but I really don’t care about other people or their questions. I can make them and their questions disappear with a wave of my hand. But I cannot deny I find it pleasing that she is taking this very seriously. If she keeps this up, we might both survive this arrangement without losing our minds.

 I feel her grazing my hand and before I manage to turn and look at her, she is already lying on the floor unconsciously. s**t.

 I kneel next to her and lift her into my arms. She weighs close to nothing. Her limp body on my arms I shout out to Jeremiah who gets paid to stay out of sight but always close enough to take a bullet for me. 

 “Sir?”

 “Call Dr.Irwine. NOW!” I command as her limp body hangs from my arms. I should’ve known this might be to much for her to handle, but her ballsy attitude makes her look tougher than she is. My mistake and I have to make this better. Make her better.

 I hear Jeremiah talk on his phone few steps behind me as I make my way toward my bedroom to lay her down on the bed. She looks so calm and beautiful, I feel like I made the right decision when I changed my plans and chose to keep her instead of ruining her forever. 

 I get chills when I think about last night. She laid naked on that bed, ready for me to take every bit of self-worth she ever had. I had planned to make her suffer like her parents made me suffer all these years ago. The pain, the agony that still creeps into my heart was supposed to be carried over to her. But I couldn’t. This was the first time after they murdered Lilian I spared someone’s life when I already had decided to end them. 

 But something about her stopped me. It wasn’t mercy or pity that much I know. I have had my share of gorgeous women so her beauty didn’t knock me out of my mind. It was something deeper, something I can’t explain. 

 “Doc’s here!” Jeremiah stops my thoughts and I wave them inside.

 “She just collapsed on me,” I inform the doctor. It is better if we keep him out of the arrangement loop. I trust him with my life, but it is better for him, if he knows nothing.

 “Did she eat and drink as usual? Is she taking medications?” he asks while checking her pupils.

 “No. She didn’t eat today yet, and I’m not sure she did yesterday either.”  I am sure actually. She just dumped two bottles of champagne down her throat and that was about it. “No medications.” At least her medical records didn’t indicate any.

 “She needs lots of fluids and something to eat when she comes to. She should be as good as new in few hours,” the old man gives me reassuring smile and sways a small bottle under her nose.

 When her eyes fly open they can’t really focus. She gasps and looks little frightened when her eyes focus on Dr.Irwine and she backs away with the little strength she has. 

 All of a sudden I feel protective of her and I sit next to her, wrapping my hand around her shoulders. “Are you feeling better my love?”

 Her hesitant hazel eyes look into mine and I can feel her body start to relax a little against mine. I see her working things out in her head as she comes back to reality with each passing second.

 “Yes, thank you,” she says and looks at the doctor. “Thank you doctor.”

 “No need to thank me. You need to eat properly in the future.”

 “I will. I am Gianna by the way.” 

 “Nice to meet you Gianna, I am Dr.Irwine.” He gives her a big smile and starts to pack up his bag. “Remember, lots of fluids as well and take it easy today, okay?” He adds and leaves the room with Jeremiah.

 Her tight smile fades when she looks at me. 

 “I can’t do this!”