Page 16 of Nikolai (Kansas City Reapers)

“Copper. Or iron. It was so thick in the air. Like, I couldn’t get away from it. It made my stomach turn.” I didn’t think it was possible, but somehow she drew herself up further, making herself as small as humanly possible in the oversized computer chair. She looked tiny, almost childlike.

“What did you taste?”

“Vomit. And then metal.”

I don’t think even she understood what that meant. The gunshot had gone off; they’d shot the man in the head right before her eyes.

Her mouth had been open. Probably in shock.

And blood had gone into her mouth.

Without her realizing. Even now.

“What did you feel?” I asked quietly.

She was quiet for a moment. The shaking had returned, bad enough that the chair moved. Sully had slipped around the corner of the room, situating himself behind her, one hand on the back of her chair to steady it without her notice. My eyes raised to meet his gaze, a nod of understanding shared between us.

“Fear.” Her voice was so tiny, so vulnerable. The ache within me to pull her close was nearly overwhelming. It was ridiculous to feel this strongly about some girl I’d only met yesterday. Ridiculous.

Pull yourself together, Niko.

“Don’t think about emotions. Think about sensation. What did youfeel?” I clarified.

“The hairs on the back of my neck stood up,” she whispered. “Wet. I felt wetness.”

“Where?” I urged her.

“Everywhere. Face. Arms. Body. It was… everywhere.” Her voice had grown hoarse, her jaw clenched so tightly that each word was nearly hissed out as she visibly tried to hold on to what little composure she had left.

“Now tell me what you saw.” This was it. If she was fully immersed in the memory, letting her memory guide her without the trauma and fear taking hold, this would be the moment we would get information.

“I saw…” she began, but her voice cut off as a single tear slid from the corner of her eyes, sliding down her cheek slowly.

The tension in the room rose to a fever pitch. Each of us men waited with bated breath for the evidence that may or may not be crucial to the case.

“I saw a man. A few feet off to the left of me, further inthe room. His face was…” she trailed off, her jaw hung open. I visibly watched her chest heave as emotion flooded her.

“His face was what?” I pushed.

“Gone. Just… gone.” Her eyes were still closed, tears slipping down her cheeks silently, her body trembling violently.

“Let your mind relax. Look past the man. What did you see past him?” We were so close. If she could just —

“No.” The icy tone of her voice stopped me in my tracks, my eyes lifting from her trembling form to find her eyes open, narrowed directly at one thing: me.

“Close your eyes again. Let your mind relax.” I knew I was pressuring her, but we needed this information. One glance at Sullivan standing there behind her told me I was pushing my luck, but we had to get through this.

“I. Said. No.” Low and full of icy steel, her voice held no room for argument. Still, I pressed my luck.

“If you try to relax, try to ease your thoughts, you’ll be able to see past the shock of the moment. You’d be surprised by—”

“You are the most arrogant, obtrusive man alive if you think I am going to sit here one second longer, going through this. I said no.” She all but leaped from her chair, standing over my sitting form in a blaze of fury I knew wasn’t truly directed at me.

“Maddy, we need to get your statement and help the police find the people who did this to you.” I kept my tone light, trying to ease her anger as best I could.

“I’ve had enough of this.” With her arms still wrapped around her body, she spun on her heel, intent on walkingout. About halfway there, she turned back, stomping towards me with a finger pointed directly at my face.

“Youneed to open a fucking book and learn what boundaries are.” The words hissed from her lips like a viper prepared to strike.

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