A/N: Quick update :D Thanks for your great feedback. Hope you'll like this new chap
Chapter 02 : Adalind in creepy land
Calm down Adalind, it might not be what it looks like. I peek discretely under the sheets and sure enough, I'm naked…holly cows, I'm naked with Nick Burkhardt in bed. Obviously, we didn't do the deed fully clothed…Ok, ok, maybe we didn't do a thing, I mean we were so drunk that I'm not sure we were able to even move a toe finger, let alone do some gymnastic together while naked. My theory evaporates as soon as I start to disentangle from Nick's body and a very sweet soreness hits my body.
"Owch" it's just like when you spend years lazing around, then go back to the gym…God, I'm not sure I can move my legs…or my arms…or any other part of my body
At the sound of my voice Nick moves beside me and starts stretching with his eyes still shut. I quickly scoot away from him and hide my naked body as best I can with my white linen sheets. Slowly, I get to my feet, afraid to wake him in the process. I have no idea how to deal with a one night stand. Should I shake his hand and thank him for the night?
He throws an arm over his eyes to block the sunlight invading the room, the innocent gesture though brings to full display his perfectly defined muscles. Heck, he's got a great chest and arms. The guy obviously works out more that few days a week.
My eyes travel over the upper part of his body shamelessly, the sheets hanging very low on his waist and leaving very little to the imagination. The moment my eyes settle on his neck, I gasp in horror. There's a purplish red mark near his throat…It's a hickey….I gave him a hickey…I think I want to die, right here, right now…wait, I can say it's a mosquito bite. Back in freshmen year of high school, Patrick Kendrix had this huge red mark on his neck caused by a mosquito…Oh my God, Patrick had a hickey, I just realize it now…I can say I pinched Nick when I realized what we were doing was a mistake. Yeah, it makes sense, I will just say that.
I moan agonizingly when I notice a bite mark on his arm, there is no way I can live with that, but the sound I have just made makes Nick jump to his feet. His face turns livid as soon as he sees me "Fuck…It was real!" he runs a hand in his hair nervously, his morning face really looks good, even with his hair sticking in all directions and his two days stubble, then gorgeous green eyes glare at me accusingly and all positive thoughts I had about him vanish.
"Hey, I didn't rape you, Mister…As far as I can tell, you made the first move" I cross my arms over my chest defiantly, which was the wrong thing to do as the sheets fall instantly to the floor, leaving me gloriously naked, Nick's eyes widen in shock "Turn around, crap…Ahhh, close your eyes…Err leave the room" I order as I bend to get the white sheets and run to the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.
When I leave the bathroom ten minutes later, I'm glad Nick isn't in my bedroom anymore, I grab a pair of faded blue jeans and a white shirt, then text hurriedly Harrison to let him know I'll be late to the office. My morning fix of coffee is much needed, but as soon as I step out my room, I find Nick lying nervously against the wall. The moment he notices me, he goes stiff "Listen…I didn't mean to blame last night on you…It was a mistake…" the expression on his face tells me he meant every word he said…Every single one
"Yeah, a mistake we need to put behind us" I fold my arms over my chest defensively. His reaction this morning really irritated me, I mean, yeah none of us meant for the night to end up in bed, but still, it happened and we both need to take responsibility for what happened. Anyways, it's never happening again, that I can assure him
He nods slowly "Ok"
"I don't even remember last night to be totally honest" I lie, flashes of last night kept parading in my brain as soon as I stepped under the water faucet in the shower "I guess it wasn't that memorable" I say drily as I brush past him toward the kitchen
Nick narrows his eyes on me, clearly annoyed with what I've just said "Back to being a witch, I see"
"You can see yourself out" I glance at the door "Oh, and as far as I'm concerned, last night never happened"
"Believe me, last night's intercourse is not something I'd be willing to brag about" he grabs his car keys and storms out of my house. As soon as he's out of sight, I throw a cushion pillow at the door.
"Asshole"
For Pete's sake, how could I find him attractive and fun to hang out with, yesterday?
Answer: Alcohol causes hallucinations
Conclusion: Alcohol transforms a frog into a prince
My phone's ringtone brings me back to reality, my heart sinks as I check the caller's ID. Sean. With shaking hands, I press the green button and bring the phone to my ear, scared of what he's going to tell me. This man is dangerous and I pissed him off when I ditched him and went straight to the police when I discovered who he really was.
"Hello?" I say tentatively
"Mommy" my little girl's voice echoes in the phone "Mommy, I miss you so much. Why don't you love me?" she cries over the phone
I literally drop to my knees, a striking pain running through my body. Every so often, Sean gets Diana to speak to me over the phone, only to torture me even more. He's feeding her lies, letting her think that I'm the one who abandoned her.
"Baby" I hiccup "I love you… more… than life" I can't help the sobs. Having a child taken from you is awfully painful, but knowing that said child believes you don't love her makes you wish for death.
"Why don't you come get me?"
"I will, baby, I will" I promise her, meaning every word
But Sean snatches the phone from her before I have time to finish "That's it, princess, go play with Elga, Mommy's busy" he tells her in a soft voice that he only reserves for Diana. No matter how much I hate this man, I know he loves his daughter more than anything else.
"I will kill you" I say through gritted teeth
Sean ignores my threat "Adalind, Love, we miss you, too"
His sweet voice disgusts me, how did I fall in this man's trap. I was young and he was charming and charismatic. No woman could resist Sean Renard and I was no different "Listen, Sweety, I'd love to talk to you, but I have to go"
I stare blankly at the phone, unable to move for what looks like forever, before finally getting to me feet and going to my room. I go on my computer and look for the next flight to Austria. Shit, there's a flight but it's taking off two hours from now. I grab quickly a suitcase and shove just whatever's in my closet inside. I rummage through my underwear drawers and pick some toiletry as well.
I send a quick email to Harrison, informing him I'm taking his offer to take few days off. I can deal with the administrative crap later.
Two hours later I'm on a flight to Austria, both excited at the perspective of getting to see my daughter again and stressed out over what's really waiting for me out there.
%%%
"Adalind?" Viktor, Sean's cousin and a member of BC as well looks at me in utter astonishment as Bartram, his bodyguard leaves us alone in the big family Mansion "How are you?"
I didn't waste anytime when I got here, I went straight to a hotel, left my suitcase there and came directly here. I don't need any rest, all I want is my daughter back.
I take a seat without waiting for his invitation "Spare me your pleasantries, where's my daughter?"
"And what makes you think I know that?" he lays against his chair with a smirk on his face
"Please, you're Sean's right arm" I inch closer and rest my arms on his massive wooden desk "Where. Is. Diana?" I enunciate each word separately
He mimics my posture and tone "I. Don't. Know"
Out of fury and despair, I pick the blunt knife sitting on his desk and bring it his throat in the hopes of scaring him enough to give me my daughter's location, but before I have time to reach him, he springs to his feet and grabs my hand strongly "Don't you dare, bitch"
In a nanosecond, his behemoth of a bodyguard is back. With a simple nod from victor, he grabs my arm and literally drags me to a secluded room, my protests and kicks don't faze him for a second, when we reach the room in question, he throws me inside and locks the door. I pound my fists against it "Let me go" I shout over and over again, until my throat is soar
"That will give you time to think" I hear Viktor say from the other side "Next time you threaten Black Claw, I won't show this much mercy"
I pound my fists against the door again "Please, Viktor, let me out" but my pleads are ignored
After few minutes of pleading, begging, threatening and shouting, I finally let go. I scan the room. Except for a bed and a nightstand, there's absolutely nothing inside, not even a window. I sit on the bed and bring my knees to my chest, terror cursing through me as minutes become hours, while I wait for someone to come get me out of here.
Threatening Viktor wasn't a smart move, but I was desperate and eager to get my daughter back. Guess that bastard was right, this does definitely give me time to think. Finding Diana here would have been way too easy. Sean would never be that clumsy. Then, where is she?
I put my head on the hard as rock pillow and try to ignore my hunger as I close my eyes and drift off to sleep. That night, I dream of being reunited with my daughter, but she's taken away from me again and what started as a beautiful dream, ends up being a nightmare.
The sound of locks being opened wakes me, I have no idea what time it is as I sit up abruptly "Viktor?"
"Good morning, Adalind" he smiles smugly "You're free to go. Courtesy of your ex husband" he opens the door widely for me
"Sean?" I ask incredulously
Viktor gestures to the door "Is there another ex husband I haven't heard of?"
I roll my eyes, this man can be such a pain in the neck
"He wasn't happy to know we kept you here" Viktor carries on, smiling at me like we're old buddies sharing a secret
"Where is he?" I ask eagerly, but Viktor gives me a do-you-think-I'm-telling-you look
He escorts me to the door with Bartram in tail "Bye" he waves at me as I step outside, that guy has a serious problem of bipolarity "Come visit us again" he gives me a creepy smile comparable to the one spotted by Johnny Depp when he portrayed the Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.
Austria is wonderland, my daughter is the rabbit I'm desperately looking for and I guess I'm Alice, I mean I do look like an Alice, you know, Blond hair, blue eyes, fair skin…Damn, my outfit is not blue…Geez, have I just compared my shitty situation to Alice's life?
"Oh my God, I don't want to turn into a miniature" I say as I pick my ringing phone
"Excuse me?" Kelly Burkhardt sounds perplexed
"Errr…Sorry, I…I was reading a line from a book" Suddenly, I feel uncomfortable speaking to her, images of my night with her son assault my brain, causing my cheeks to heat. Luckily, she's not here to notice my embarrassment, she'd definitely notice something highly suspicious.
"What are you doing in Austria, Adalind?" she sounds like a mother scolding her child
Damn it, how does she know?
"We always keep an eye on you, Adalind" Kelly Burkhardt is a mind reader, I mean how else could she know what I was thinking? Add that to her ninja skills "We're concerned about your safety"
"I'm fine" I sigh, as I start walking aimlessly
"Let the Bureau take care of it" she says in a stern voice
I lose what little patience I had "The Bureau has done nothing during the past couple years, I'm counting on myself from now on"
"Adalind"
"Goodbye, Kelly" I hang up immediately