Page 85 of Alik

I feel so open with him. So exposed. My demons crawl out of me in front of him without my permission, and when he’s near… For the first time in my life, I don’t feel hated for being me. For being weird. A little murderous.

And even though he may be murderous too… Every time I look at him, I can’t help but think he might be perfect for me. He might be the only person in the world who can look at me and not judge, the same way I can look at him without judging.

I can’t help but think I really like him too.

And maybe, just maybe…

One day…

We could do more than like each other. Maybe we could love each other.

Maybe I already love him.

20

ALIK

I’m jolted awake by the deafening ring of my phone, my head jerking up while my eyelids crinkle.

Olive’s warm, petite form shifts beneath my arm, and by the time I force my eyes open, she’s already grabbed my phone. She holds it out to me, a hand pressed to her mouth to cover a yawn.

It’s dark in the bedroom. Still nighttime dark, without even a sliver of sunrise peeking in through the window. Not a good sign.

If it’s about Olive…

I clear my throat and ignore the jump in my pulse as I take the cell and hit the green button. “Yeah?”

“My house. Now.”

Squinting, I pull back my phone to look at the caller ID, although Roman’s gravelly voice is easily identifiable.

“Care to fill me in on what’s wrong?”

He hangs up without a response, and I stare at the blinking contact a moment before tossing my phone on the bed. My head spins as the room shifts. Bile pushes up my esophagus like I’m getting seasick on this bed that I swear has started to sway.

“Is everything okay?” Olive asks in her sweet, naïve voice.

I nod and count myself lucky that she can’t see my face in the dark. It feels prickly and cold, like the blood has drained from it.

This is how fear feels. Nauseating fear.

Nikita knows.

“Alik?” Olive’s hand gently lays over my arm.

“Yeah.” I nod a few times more than necessary before standing from the bed. “Everything’s fine. Just have to go to work.”

“Now?” She picks up my phone. “It’s four in the morning.”

I pull on my pants while my hands sweat.

If she can run…

No. If they knew where she was, they would be here. If she runs, they could be waiting for her.

She should stay put.

Or hide better.

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