Mika pulled up to a hotel and jumped out of the car to go pay for a room. She returned a little later, reminding Nick of the first time they had checked into a hotel. Thinking it wouldn't be the last time. Again she parked in a parking space nearest the room but when she opened the door to their room, Nick saw that there was only one bed. She sat down on it and held her head in her hands.
"Uh..honey, were they out of rooms with two beds?"
Mika looked up quickly then looked around the room. "What? Oh..I'm sorry, my mind was wandering. Force of habit. I'm sorry."
"Its okay." Nick brought in his Cross and turned on the light, which she hadn't bothered to do. After setting down his Cross and closing the door, Nick picked up the phone and ordered some food. Then he sat next to Mika and wrapped an arm around her waist. "I'm tired, you're tired and food is on the way, but I want you to tell me now."
She sighed and kept her hands on her forehead as she spoke. "Bronze and I grew up next door to each other. My family was rich but not nearly as rich as his. Anyways, we played together every now and then, went to school together. But when I was old enough to be on my own, I left to travel the world and study abroad. I learned a lot of self defense and took a few lessons about using a gun. Just the basics because I didn't think I would need it. My parents owned a couple of businesses which is why we had money and when they died, I was left all the money and the businesses because I was the only child.
"When I went home to take care of the funeral and selling the house and other stuff like that, I saw Bronze again. He still lived in the same house and had already taken over his family's business. His parents had died a few years before mine. We got together a few times while I was taking care of things, I felt he was trying to comfort me because he knew my parents. But soon I learned that he had a thing for me and he had become a man who always got what he wanted and got it through whatever means it took. I heard from a few friends that he was upset that I left and intended to keep me from leaving so we could be together." She took a deep breath at the knock at the door and rose when Nick went to get the food. She sat at the table, staring at it as he placed food in front of her.
"You need to eat."
She nodded and ate while she talked. "I was of course apalled at the thought. I would never be forced into something that I didn't want. Bronze is attractive, I must admit, but I never felt that way about him. He called me a lot after I found out, trying to convince me to stay and be with him. He sent me things and much more that are designed to win a womans heart. I told him over and over again that I was sorry that I didn't return his feelings. It seemed as if the more I told him no, the harder he tried. I kept myself busy trying to decide what to do with the business. Then one day after a buyer came to look at the house Bronze came to visit me. He was angry because he had found out that I was sending all his gifts back to him.
"He yelled, screamed and acted way to much like a man who was too used to getting his way. He cursed me as he fought to take me up to my room. I paniced and screamed for help. He told me it was useless because his men were gaurding the door and they would tell anyone who came by that nothing was going on. About halfway up the stairs I kicked him in his crotch and stumbled down the steps, trying to get to out. He caught me though and trapped me against a wall, then he told me that if I didn't promise to marry him he would rape me. Even if I had said yes I knew he would rape me anyways. He said that if I said no he would just lock me in his house.
"I was afraid by then and was about to have a breakdown when I remembered I could fight back. And I did. It took me a while break free from his hold but when I had, I kicked his ass. I made sex noises so his gaurds wouldn't come in. After I knocked him unconcious I grabbed the rest of my things and went to a friends house. She told me that I wouldn't be safe because Bronze was a dangerous man. He did whatever he could to get money. He was sometimes hired as an assassin, sold drugs and many other illegal items, but mostly he ran the family business even though no one really knows what they do. She said Bronze would just send his men after me because he always got what he wanted.
"I left immediately that night and contacted a friend that I met during my traveling. I turned the business to her because I didn't want Bronze to find me through it. I still have real ownership but it appears as if it belongs to her. Meaning, I get a paycheck to let them use my family's things to run the business. Thats where I got the money. I've only robbed people to distract Bronze's men. The deaths, well those were an unfortunate event that just sort of happened, like at the bar. Anyways, the first time I encountered some of his men, I forced them to give me half the money in his bank account. I regret that because it made him even more mad. He's been chasing after me for two and a half years and I have no clue when it will end."
She rose and took off her shirt, wearing only a small tank top under it. She took off her shoes and sat on the bed, holding her head down with her hands on her forehead. "I keep running but I know it will only be a matter of time before Bronze comes with everyone and everything. There will be many deaths, I will kill him before I let him take me and if I can't, I will kill me before I let him take me."
Nick balled his fist up under the table. Neither one of them had ate, he himself had lost his appetite. He suddenly had a great need to hunt this Bronze down and shoot his balls off then shove the remains down his throat. Nick had never been known for such violence. Her body had begun to shake despite her attempts to control it and she had gotten paler. He rose and took off his jacket and shoes, then he crawled in the bed next to Mika. He pulled her in his lap even though she fought him.
"Mika, you're so strong. I admire you so much for that. But let it go honey." He brushed some hair from her face and placed a small kiss on her lips. "Bronze won't hurt you as long as I am here." She began to cry and still she tried to hold them back. "You'll still be strong when you're done crying, if not stronger." Then she brokedown and he held her closer, rocking her slowly until she cried herself to sleep.
When Mika woke the next morning she was lying across Nick's chest and his arm was wrapped posessively around her. He was already awake, enjoying a cigarette. She stayed where she was and listened to his heart beat. She was beginning to care to much about him and she would never forgive herself if something happened to him because of her. He wouldn't back down now, that was clear. She would probably have a chance now. She would survive so she could run off some where with Nick...maybe start a family.
Woah, she thought. Where did that come from? She hardly knew him. He was a kind man even though he sometimes appeared dangerous. He regularly supported an orphanage and there were hardly any men who would do that. She liked that about him. She liked him, a lot. She sighed and shifted a little.
"Did you send that money to the orphanage?" Nick ran a hand through her hair, realizing that she had awaken.
"You know about that? Yeah I did, hope you don't mind." She sat up and frowned down at him.
"At first I did because I thought maybe you robbed someone or something." He sat up a little to put his cigarette then pulled Mika down to wrap his arms around her. "Go back to sleep, I know you're tired because I am."
"But - " She stopped when he placed a hand under her chin and brought her face close to his. He kissed her once, then again, this time deepening it. She forgot what she was about to say, forgot everything. Her heart began to beat faster as she lost herself in the kiss. She was about to pull him closer when he broke the kiss, leaving her mind sizzling.
He rubbed his thumb over her lips gently, staring into her eyes. "Now sleep."
"I don't know how you expect me to sleep now." She stared at him as he laughed.
"Sorry honey, guess I over did it." He flashed a grin at her and laid down. He closed his eyes and she cuddled up to him. She fell asleep more easily than she thought she would.
When she woke again, Nick was gone. Her stomach growled loudly and she hoped that he went to get food. She rose and went into the bathroom to shower. She hummed a little once she got in, suprisingly in a good mood despite her situation. She ducked under the showerhead, letting the water soak her head when two arms came around her waist. She screamed and turned around to find Nick standing behind her, dressed for the ocassion.
"Nick what are you doing!?"
"Joining you in the shower honey. You don't mind you do?" He grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist, placing a kiss on her lips. Then he pushed her back a little to take a look of her.
She blushed brightly as he looked at her and as she looked at him. "You could have waited."
"I could have but then I would have missed this opportunity at seeing you all wet and sexy." He grinned again.
She stared at him, a little confused. "Why are you doing this now Nick?"
"You think I'm doing this because you're vulnerable? Maybe..but I just realized how much I want you. You'll just have to deal with it!" He aimed the showerhead at her. When she squealed he laughed and picked her up to give her a kiss. Then he tickled her sides to hear her giggle. She tickled him back, laughing. Then grinned playfully at him when he bent down to kiss her.
