Chapter Seven
Skylar
After Melanie drove us off, I managed to convince her that we needed to check into a hotel. I no longer had a place to live, and Nico had found me at her home once before. It didn’t feel safe there. I didn’t feel safe anywhere anymore… except for Max’s home. I made sure I shoved those thoughts in the back of my mind. He had done so much for me already; I couldn’t take more from him. No matter how much I wanted or needed to.
It had very little to do with him being able to protect me. I was more interested in finding out how soft his lips were, how he would taste, how hard his muscles were, and how he used them. I also ignored the fact that despite my life going down in flames, my only thoughts were of Max. I completely forgot I was moments away from pledging my troth to another man. I didn’t love Nico, and I knew that. Even my abilities in ignoring what was staring me right in the face weren't enough to mask that sad fact. No, our relationship was more of what could come of it, maybe in a distant future. The bonus was, by marrying him, I got Valeria right away, and I would get acquaintances that I would be able to claim as my own.
Sweet Marry, how pathetic I was.
We checked into a hotel, rode the elevator, and entered the suite. I was so out of it that I didn’t notice the kick-ass view the room had on downtown Denver. The moment the door softly clicked behind us, I felt like a caged animal. I went through the suite, checked both bedrooms and bathrooms, and looked into every corner and hiding spot I could think of. All that time, Melanie stood in the center of the suite, her eyes tracking my every move.
“Sky, are you okay?” she asked.
“Not even in the slightest,” was my honest reply.
“You want us to go back to Max’s?”
“More than anything I ever wanted,” I kept up with honesty. “But I can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“Because I let it get so bad, and I'm the one that needs to get it right again.”
“And you think that going away is the right way to do it?” her disbelief was hard to miss.
“I’m not going away. I won’t let Nico run me out of my town, out of the only resemblance of a home I have,” I declared full of false bravado.
“Oh?” Melanie couldn’t hide her surprise.
She knew me. She knew the very heart of me. She also knew when things got tough, I ran. It used to be I hid in my head. But no more. I couldn’t let anyone rule me or my life again. I had to take a stand.
“Yes,” I nodded, more to myself than to her. “I’m going to call Kiki first thing in the morning to let her know where I am and to ease her mind. She’s probably sick with worry,” at that last sentence, Melanie made a face but didn’t say anything. “Then I’m going to the office, call all my clients and ask for an extension on the projects. If they don’t agree, I’m going to find them a replacement.”
“They’re gonna agree, babe. You’re the shit.”
I ignored the compliment and carried on.
“After, I’m going to check up on Valeria. And after all of that, I’m going to the warehouse to see for myself what the hell is going on there,” I paused.
“And then what?” Melanie inquired.
“Then, I’m going to call the police and tell them everything I know. I’ll be here as they do what they have to do to put Nico away for a very long time. After all of that, I’m going to look for a house. And then, I’m going to make that house my home that no one will ever be able to take it away from me.”
“I have only one question?”
“Yes?”
“What about Max?”
My mouth went dry at the mere mention of his name. How could that be? I didn’t get it.
How could I have such a strong reaction to a man I didn’t even know?
“Max,” I breathed. “Max is for later.”
“Will there be a later?” Melanie pushed.
“Yes,” I simply said.
“Good,” Melanie whispered. She understood the magnitude of that one word. “Now, I only have one request.”
After I brought my hand, palm up, and indeed, she continued.
“I’m with you every second of that plan. I’ll never leave your side.”
I could feel my face go soft, and my eyes watered.
“Thank you.”
All night I tossed and turned, counting down the minutes to the sunrise. I kept questioning everything. I recited the things Nico did to me over the years. I remembered the fear he instilled. I remembered the countless attempts trying to please him, to make him love me. I remembered the pure desperation in trying to love him. All night I was assuring myself that I was strong. I could do anything I wanted. I could lead a life I desired. I could fight for myself. And all night, I wished that I believed all that. So, it was with a tired groan that I climbed out of bed when the sky was still pink with dawn breaking. I rushed to the bathroom for my morning routine, my hands shaking the whole time with adrenaline and utter uncertainty.
After a silent coffee shared with an equally buzzing Melanie, I walked out of that hotel room with my head held high. It was only because of a promise I made to myself in the dark of the night. I would have everything, and in the end, I would do anything to have Max.
On my way out of the hotel, I called Kiki. She didn’t answer so I left her a message saying where I’d be and to tell her parents I was fine. By mid-morning, I was beyond exhaustion, but most of my clients were notified that I wouldn’t be able to get the job done in time.
And most of them decided to stick with me. The few that didn’t, I understood their reasoning. They were on a schedule that couldn’t be broken. I gave them referrals and got promises that they would reach out when they had a new project. We were working in silence for hours. Melanie left to get something for lunch, and I tried calling Kiki again.
And again, no answer.
I wondered if there was any chance that Nico took her but quickly tossed that idea to the side. Those two couldn’t stand each other. They couldn't be in the same room for five minutes before they were at each other’s throats. Their hostility went so far that Nico even tried to forbid me from inviting Kiki to the wedding. Until his mother stepped in. That was the first and only time she took my side. No, there was no chance Nico took her to get back at me. It was more than likely she was bored and decided to go partying. Still, I felt a tiny bit scared for my cousin. It wasn’t unheard of for her to disappear. Given the situation, I didn’t like it.
After a quick break for lunch, and me failing to get Kiki on the line again, we went back to work. I knew Melanie didn’t like Kiki, in fact for the last year or so, she couldn’t stand the sight of her, but she didn’t say anything whenever I tried to call her or mentioned her name, wondering where she was. It was getting late, I was bone-tired, and there was a huge thing left to do. That being, going to the warehouse and face what was going on there. I was stalling, and moseyed around the office with nothing left to do.