Page 35 of Wine & Whiskey: Everything for You
Shae squeezes her eyes tighter, trying to shut out the harsh light burning behind them. The pounding in her head overpowers her attempt to turn away. Or figure out why everything hurts.
A blurry face looms over her, blocking the brightness. Sharp pain explodes in her chest as she coughs from the bitterness filling her nose. Musky cologne assaults her before he does, his rough hands clenching her chin. “You disappoint me, Miss Armstrong. Between you and Carter, I was certain you’d be the one to keep your promise. Now, I’m going to take care of Nick myself, and you’re going to—”
The pressure on her jaw releases as a familiar voice calls her name from far away.
“Over there!” Fear intertwines with fury as the man screams over her head. “Fucking stop him!”
A sharp gasp wheezes above her before he collapses against her stomach, stealing her breath. She pushes against his motionless body, her fingertips sliding over the warm, sticky ooze covering the smooth fabric of his coat.
Her body shakes from the roar rumbling beneath her. Heat scorches her arms and legs. With burning lungs, she gasps for air after the weight suffocating her is pushed away.
Fruity breath tickles her ear. “Oh, sweetness. I was so mad at you for ruining my plans, but this is even better. I guess it was your turn to surprise me.”
His fingers dig into her shoulder and thigh, and she flinches before gliding through the air. Tense voices ebb and flow around them. Her head jerks backward from something yanking her hair. A door slams. The zipper on his jacket scratches her arm until everything is quiet, and her skin touches something soft.
The throbbing of her head can’t keep pace with the racing of her pulse. Not her home. Not her bed. Her scream doesn’t make it past her lips before everything goes black.
She floats in darkness, a hazy cloud free of pain and noise. Yet, a hint of dread creeps up her spine. Memories hover in the fuzziness, just out of reach. There’s something she needs to know. Something she must remember. But she’s too tired to figure out what it is.
Muffled voices interrupt her peace. Why are they underwater? She shivers from the coldness, her damp dress clinging to her body. The dull ache in her chest and head grows stronger the louder the voices talk. Please stop yelling. Please go back to the blackness. There’s no fear there.
“…where’s my father…?”
“… hurt in the explosion…”
“…who is she…?”
Snippets of conversation spin around her. She can’t make out all of the words, yet the hesitation and fear in the woman’s tone reflects her own growing panic. If only she could force her eyes open and push through the fog.
“Look and see.”
Her stomach aches from his throaty laugh. A joyless sound she knows doesn’t inspire happiness, but she can’t remember why. Lavender wafts over her as soft, silky fingers brush against her cheek before sweeping the hair off her face.
“Shit! Shit! Shit! Fucking Nick DeMarco’s girlfriend…”
Nick! He’s the one she’s been searching for. She needs to find him. Tell him she wants to be with him. Tell him not to let revenge steal him away from her. Why isn’t he here?
“…is covered in blood and lying in Juan’s bed.”
“Calm down. It’s Juan’s blood. Nick shot him.”
Juan’s finally gone. Not in jail or out of the country. Dead. Nick killed him to save her. Everything always for her. Why isn’t he here?
“What the hell happened to her? Why is she unconscious?”
“She tried to run away, but I stopped her.”
“You’re a fucking dead man when he gets a hold of you.”
Nick will be upset, but she can talk to him. Calm him down once she finds him. Why isn’t he here?
“I’m not worried.”
“Then, you’re even stupider than I thought.”
A loud clap explodes near her feet. Heavy breathing and angry voices swirl around her.
“You’re going to regret that when my father finds out.”
