Her Edge

His rage I

He's enraged. He'll kill them.

He'll kill them all.

He shouldn't have let him go in the first place. It was all about his goddamn instincts.

How careless could he be?

He's racing through the streets while he's burning from guilt and worry on the inside. Matteo told him that the police apprehended two of them and three had been sniped by him. However, one was on the run and they're currently tailing him.

He couldn't give an honest f**k, if they're dead or alive. He just wants his son to be safe.

"And Leo?"

Mateo sighs, "he's fine. I'm sorry I-"

"There's no time to apologize. I'm on my way".

That's a relief.

The black Maserati pulls over aggressively into the staff lot. The lot is littered with worried parents_ just like him , traumatized children, ambulances, reporters and police cars.

Nickolai sprints out of the car, his gaze first meeting what was once his son's classroom. The wall is destroyed, Leo used to sit there. The school itself is in a fiery ruin.

Is he truly fine?

He runs over when he sees them reeling in a kid on a stretcher. His heart sinks.

That could have been his son.

He looks around, desperately asking officials if they've seen his son.

Someone directs him.

"Leo!"

He jogs over to where they are. They're by one of the police cars. Leo is saying something to her, she smiles, one hand holding the blanket over her shoulders tight.

"Leo!" The boy pauses. He runs up to his father when he sees him. Nickolai squeezes him in his embrace. His nose buried in his son's neck. Relief kissing his lungs.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there. I'm sorry I let you go...!" His apologies keeps pouring out as the little boy takes solace in his father's arms.

Elaine watches them in silence. She sips from her hot cup of chocolate, a small smile forming on her dry lips. The sight gives her an emotional blow, because her father never treated her like she was important.

A tear. She dabs it away.

"Miss Elaine saved us!" Leo blurts pulling away from his dad.

Their gazes meet. Their worlds once again, effortlessly collide.

She's got a bandaged head and wrist. His gaze trails down, she also has no shoes on.

He straightens up and walks over to her. Stopping with just a few inches between them. "Thank you".

She smiles, revealing something he hopes she hasn't shared with another. "It's my job".

He clamps his hands over his face, trying to hide the sudden coldness in them. He hates that they did this to her.

"No it isn't".

She exhales. "You think so?"

Nickolai's fingers reach for her bandaged wrist, his eyes tender like the low tides of the sea. He gives it a light caress. She shudders, taken aback by this sudden gesture.

Then he looks up at her. "What happened to your wrist?". He asks with a worry stricken face. It disrupts her thoughts and her brain from giving an answer. She holds his gaze.

Leo comes tugs at him. "Sh-she fought a bad guy". He mutters, staring down at his shoes. "At first, I thought she was going to let him take me. But then she tricked him and beat him up!... I think he twisted her wrist though". He adds.

Provoking Nickolai's murder instincts. His jaw tightens.

Elaine gently rakes her fingers through Leo's hair. "It's not your fault, I told you to stop feeling guilty about it". She says trying to soothe him. Pretending not to be affected by nickolai's gaze and touch.

"I'm sorry..." He whispers, leaning his head to her hip's side. Crying into the blanket.

"Oh my, if you keep crying I'll feel sad Leo". He straightens up and wipes his nose. She smiles at him.

"You look like Rudolph with that red nose of yours". She laughs, totally forgetting Nickolai is still staring at her.

He catches her perfect white row of teeth. Something inside him twitches.

He'd like to feel them again.

He notices something. His fingers trail up her arm, stopping below the bandage around it. He gives her a questioning look. She breaks into a cold sweat and goosebumps.Her cheeks are flushed light pink.

She's a wreck.

He drops his hand, instantly missing her skin. But, the dopamine rush from touching her is still there.

"You need to go to a hospital for a proper checkup. Want to call a friend?"

Elaine shakes her head. "She's pregnant, I don't want to get her worried. Besides, I lost my phone in the class. But I'm fi-"

She tries to take a step and her back goes stiff.

Her face immediately contorts.

What a perfect timing.

She pulls Nickolai closer, placing her head on his broad chest.

"Hngh!" She grunts, Her fingers digging into his long suited arms. His hands naturally slide down her waist to her back, with just the blanket between them.

"Are you okay, Miss Elaine?"

"Yeah". She grunts again. The pain is radiating from her spine, burning through her back and ribs. It's like network connection.

That slam on the table was deadly.

Nickolai sighs, pulling her into him then he lifts her. Her bare feet hanging over his arm. Her head is to his chest, the beating of his heart is rhythmical.

"So stubborn". His soft baritone echoes in her head through his chest. He carries her back to his car parked in the staff lot.

She's cringing from both the pain and embarrassment. Her ribs feel constricted and her breathing, although air easily flows into her lungs_ hurts like hell.

Leo sits in the front while Nickolai places her on the back seat.

He looks her over before shutting the door. Contempt in his gaze.

He'll make them pay.

* * *

He wanted to send Leo home, but Leo refused. Now, they're both waiting outside her ward. The doctor comes out.

He eyes Nickolai, a smirk tugging at his corners. "She's fine now, she just needs a liltle rest. She'll be ready for discharge tomorrow". He inhales"turns out it was just her skeletal muscles responding to the pressure put on her back".

He smirks at Nickolai. "She's really pretty, Nick".

Nickolai stops breathing for a second. Realization. He eye rolls "you say that about every woman".

"It's not my fault I've got an eye for pretty women. Say, are you guys_?" He winks.

Nickolai's gaze hardens. "Not a chance Cade. She's different".

What a Casanova.

Cade arches a brow at him. "Different in the sense that you like her?"

He throws his head back in frustration. He's tired of this guy. Why they are still friends is because he has helped him with a couple of jobs in the past.

He's got a talent for always getting under his skin whenever they meet.

Cade laughs. He tilts his head to the side. "Leo's asleep". He pats Nickolai on the shoulder and walks off.

He watches Leo for a while his gaze softening and a feeling of nostalgia wahes over him.

What if Elaine wasn't able to hold them off?

His fists clench tight.

He takes one last glance at her. She's sedated, so he orders someone to watch over her door.

He drops Leo off with Malysh.

He's got business to attend to.

There were six men. Two on their way to jail, three already in hell and the lucky one.

He's going to send this one to hell himself.