Nicolette felt shivers run down her spine. It felt so good to say that out loud. It felt liberating to acknowledge that feeling.
She turned to Alaric, noting the shocked look on his face, and chuckled. "What?"
"It's… how you say it," he replied, adjusting his sleeves. "It's surprising."
"I know, but that's how I feel," she said, returning to the couch. Bagel ran up to her and she rubbed his head.
She couldn't believe what she had survived, and thinking about Lucian, about her father, filled her with anger.
Yet she was grateful that Alaric had shown up when he did. It had been unexpected but worth it.
She couldn't imagine what would have happened if that had been Lucian's men—or worse, her father's men.
The time she had spent in Alaric's bathroom had given her clarity, it had given her the zeal to want to fight.
Ifyoucan'tbeatthem, jointhem.
And she was definitely going to beat them and win, of course.
"Is there a way you can help with others?" Alaric asked, the joy in his voice evident.
"Others?" she asked, turning to him. "Are there more? How many?"
"Two, before Alejandro," Alaric responded. "I don't know if you know them."
"Well, if we have worked together, then I'll know them," she said, pride filling her voice.
"I didn't know you were an artist."
His statement surprised her, but she quickly recovered. "Yes, I am."
He looked at her, his eyes twinkling with a smile. "That's good. That was what your gallery was about?"
Nicolette's heart squeezed with unexpected pain, and she gasped.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to indulge," Alaric said quickly, looking away.
"It's fine, it's just that I wasn't expecting the question," she said sheepishly.
Nicolette leaned against the couch, her heart pounding as memories she had suppressed came crashing down.
The fire.
Suddenly she was back there, listening as everything burnt.
She could smell the smoke.
She could see the fire; its large hand taking over everything.
She could—
"Hey, hey," Alaric said softly. He was kneeling in front of her, his eyes soft. "You're okay now."
"What happened?"
"You just started breathing weird," he said softly.
She nodded, controlling the pain in her heart. That was all she had left of her mother, that was all of it and her father took it away because of his selfish reasons.
She clenched her fists, owning the pain. She let it flow through her until it lost its power.
"I'm okay," she said softly.
Alaric stood up, clearing his throat. "Alrighty then."
Nicolette was moved by his kind gesture but she didn't tell him that, instead she crossed her legs and scratched Bagel who came to lay on her laps.
"Do… want to look around? You know…" Alaric said without looking at her.
"Sure," she said and stood up.
She let him lead the way as she followed him out of the study. She had to say, his house was more beautiful than she had expected.
Neat, Big, Cozy.
Just the way she liked it.
Alaric opened the door and walked down the hallway. "I just got this place when I got back."
"Got back?" she asked. "I didn't know that. Where were you before?"
She watched as he stiffened. There was no other way to describe his body language as he slowly turned to her.
"Australia," he said it like it hurt his tongue to say.
Nicolette nodded, looking away.
She was curious and she wanted to intrude so badly but she thought against it.
Let himbe.
Alaric didn't speak for a while and she allowed it. She followed him, equally lost in her thoughts.
She was going to live here.
At least for a year.
It wasn't that she didn't like the place, or even had a choice but it still felt strange, surreal.
YetbetterthanlivingwithLucian.
Her blood ran cold as her mind drifted to Lucian. Anger surged through her at his audacity—and her father's—but beneath the anger was fear.
Fear of what they would do when they find her.
The fear traveled from her chest before settling in her stomach. If she was caught again, she was certain she would never be able to escape again.
That would be it.
Her stomach twisted as the realization set in. She needed Alaric's protection.
He was rich and powerful and was probably the only man who could stand up against her father.
And now that she had taken Alejandro back to the Allens House, Ronald would definitely seek blood.
She ran up to Alaric, her heart pounding as she caught up with him.
"Huh? Did you say anything?" Alaric asked as he turned to her.
"No," she said softly. "Uhmm, do—"
"Can we go check your mother's gallery?" Alaric said interrupting.
"What?"
He shook his head, closing his eyes briefly. "I'm sorry, what were you about to say?"
"It's not important." Her voice dropped into a whisper. "What… were you saying about the gallery?"
Alaric stopped in his tracks, his eyes soft again. God, she couldn't believe those blue eyes could actually melt.
"The deal was to restart your gallery. You already signed the contract, so let's start," he said with a smile to mask the emotions in his voice.
This was great news! This was the best news she had heard all day and it filled her with delight.
But of course, she wouldn't tell him that.
"Well, it seems like you do have a heart," she said, tilting her head so he couldn't tell anything from her face.
"Just keeping my side of the contract, Cole," he said, rolling his eyes.
"Fine." She shrugged, laughing
"Let's leave now, except you can't go like this."
The smile died in her throat at the look in his eyes, the way his eyes roamed over her body like she was completely standing in nothing and not his shirt.
Nicolette's cheeks burnt and even her active brain couldn't come up with anything.
She just froze, allowing his eyes to linger on her body. Alaric stepped closer and her breath hitched. No way he was coming closer.
And all at once, memories of his kiss flooded her mind.
She had been in so much pain that she hadn't been able to fantasize about his lips… his length as it pressed against her stomach…
"Let's just go another day," she said sharply, snapping herself out of the thoughts.
Alaric's eyes darkened but he nodded. "Okay."
She stepped back quickly, putting a healthy distance between them. She couldn't let him do that again, especially when she knew it was fake.
She stepped back again. "I'll just go back to Suzie's house."
He lifted his brow. "What about the gallery?"
She shut her eyes as the remainder jolted emotions inside her again. Still, she would pick going to Suzie's place over going to the gallery as long as she wasn't anywhere close to Alaric.
"Another time," she said, turning in the other direction.
Bagel panted beside her, wagging his tail as he followed her out of the hallway. As she turned the corner, she bumped into someone.
"Oh I'm sorry," she said and lifted her head. "Oh you."
It was the young man she had seen in Alaric's office that day.
"Yes me, Richard," he said with a smile and then extended his hand. "Nice to meet you again, Mrs Allens."
Heat crept up her cheeks as she received his hand. "Thank you…"
"Richard," he said again. "I'm Alaric's cousin."
"Nice to meet you again, Richard."
"Sure," Richard said and then looked behind her.
She didn't have to turn before she knew Alaric was behind her.
"Richard," he said in a single note.
"I hope I wasn't interrupting anything," Richard said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Nicolette knew what he was implying and grimaced. "Oh God, no. He saved me from…" she trailed off, realizing she would rather let Richard think whatever than actually telling them about everything that went down with Lucian and Ronald.
"I'm… just going… to.." she stuttered, walking away from them.
Alaric turned to her, the annoying look already back in his eyes. "Are you still going to Suzie's? I could drive—"
"No," she interrupted him. "You can just have your driver take me there."
"Alright then," Alaric replied.
With Alaric's oversized shirt and slippers, Nicolette trudged to the entrance. She struggled with the front door before Alaric came to her.
"Let me," he said, his hand touching hers for a split second.
She quickly removed her hand, touching it like it burned.
Well it did burn, but not that kind of fire.
He opened the door and she followed him outside. "I'll have Trainer take you there, just wait."
She nodded and obeyed, waiting in the premises. It was when she turned that she realized Bagel was still by her side.
She bent down and scratched the dog. "Hey B, I'll be back soon."
Bagel licked her face, causing her to laugh.
"Ready now." Alaric returned just as the car parked in front of them.
Nicolette got to her feet and nodded at Alaric. "Thank you."
He nodded back without saying anything.
Nicolette got into the car and waved at Bagel just as Trainer drove away.
Throughout the journey, she tried not to think of anything. She distracted herself by mentally listing everything she was going to tell Suzie.
"We're here, ma'am."
"Oh, thanks," Nicolette said, stepping out of the car. "Bye."
Once the car zoomed off, Nicolette immediately became alert. She looked around her, her senses sharpened.
This was how Lucina's men had kidnapped her. And she wouldn't let it happen again. She quickly made her way into Suzie's house, but as she entered, she gasped.
Everything had been turned over; the couch, the table.
"Suzie!" she called, hearing the shock in her voice.
She ran inside, checking all the rooms.
But Suzie wasn't around and even her son, Walter too!
Panic surged through Nicolette as she paced round the room. "Suzie! Su—"
Her eyes fell on the red writings on the wall, and her panic intensified.
"You know what to do if you want to save your friend, Nic."
Nicolette froze, her heart sinking.
Ronald had Suzie and Walter!