Page 23 of Caged

He’s going to be my scapegoat. Kirill told me there was bad blood between Knox and Nikolai.

Nikolai’s jaw tightens.

“I know he’s going to look for me.” Hot droplets fall from my chin onto my thigh. “Please don’t let him find me.”

I hide my face against the beige pillow and ramp up the crying.

This better work, it’s embarrassing.

The cushions shift before I hear the freezer door open.

“Here.” His deep voice comes from just a short distance away.

My eyes are itchy as I look up at him.

Ice cream?

“Um. Thank you.” I take the pint and spoon. “Why?”

He shrugs before sitting back down. “I’ve been told it’s hard to be upset eating chocolate.” He gets a far away stare at some point on the wall behind me before he shakes his head. “I just thought it would help to distract you while I ask you more questions.”

Nikolai’s dark brows furrow and his lips thin. “I know this is hard. I’m sorry. I do know Knox, he’s an asshole.”

His large fist clenches before he glances down and flattens his palm over his leg.

Well, I got a reaction. That’s a start.

I let another sob loose. “He’s a monster!”

More tears. This seems to be working.

Nikolai reaches out and puts his hand on my shoulder.

There it is.

I take the chance and turn, burying my face against his chest. “I was so scared! He told me all the things he was going to do to me. If you hadn’t shown up…I don’t know how I would have gotten away.” Another long wail and I thread my arms around his waist, clinging to him while I soak through his shirt.

To his credit, he holds me until I can’t cry anymore and the condensation from the ice cream has made a wet circle on his knee.

“I’m sorry,” I whimper and wipe my cheeks.

His arm doesn’t move, but he doesn’t take it away either.

“I’ll make sure you’re safe. I have access to other places where you can stay that?—”

“Do you trust them?” I cut him off.

“Who?”

“The people watching those places?” I watch him closely. I want to see if there’s a flicker of doubt.

Fuck, he’s a statue.

“Most of them.” He finally relents with a long exhale.

“Well, I know I can trust you. But, I don’t know them.” I hug the pillow to my belly and pry open the half melted container of chocolate crunch.

He’s right. This is nicer. And, delicious.

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