Chapter Eighteen––––––––
Nicki rubbed her cheek for a moment, remembering Rowley’s brutality. She followed along behind him. At the door, he stopped and leaned over. She saw his chest heaving.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing. I get a little short of breath sometimes. Just from all the workouts. It’s nothing.”
But it took him a full minute to straighten up and breathe normally. He opened the door for her, but Nicki hung back.
“No. You go first.” She stepped back and away.
Once they got outside, he went to the right and stopped. He fisted his hand and swung his arm around, causing Nicki’s heart rate to double.
“Cramp,” he wheezed out, flexing his arm, opening and closing his fingers.
“You okay?” Nicki stood a safe distance.
“Yeah, yeah. It’s nothing. I get a little stiff, you kn
