Page 29 of Dreaming

Frowning, he asked, “Who are you?”

“Call me Red. I need to remove the footage.” She stared into his eyes and didn’t blink. “It’s imperative the footage from this incident be destroyed. Do you understand?”

He murmured, “Nia?” She nodded once. “It’s on my private server. I keep it offline. You can have it but…I want to see her first.”

“Mr. Hancock...”

“Look, don’t talk to me like I’m three. This is my bar. It was almost my life and the lives of these people. Where is she?”

Sighing, she answered, “At her house…”

“Then that’s where I’m going. Once I know she’s safe, I’ll give you whatever the fuck you want.” He moved to go around her and paused, removing the key ring to his office. “Never mind. I’m sure you can get it yourself. Lock everything up when you’re done.”

Tossing her the keys, he left the bar and got into the Mercedes he no longer felt the need to hide. A black SUV pulled out and stayed right behind him all the way to Nia’s street.

They parked at the curb in front of the house as Dennis pulled into her driveway.

It looked like a S.W.A.T. team was invading the street. The men and women standing outside their blacked-out vehicles were armed and wearing tactical gear.

His head pounded, he was freezing, and he didn’t understand what the fuck was happening.

What he did know is that the woman who’d saved his life and the lives of dozens of others was safe, beautiful, and waiting for him.

Nothing else mattered.

* * *

Watching Nia drive away, not knowing for sure when or if she’d be back, threw Dennis’ entire body into chaos.

Two armed men kept him from going after her and he wasn’t sure he would have made it anyway. He felt limp, weak.

“Mr. Hancock. You’re in shock and have a concussion. You’re in no condition to drive. All the way here, you were swerving all over the road. We’ll get you home, sir. You’ll feel better after some sleep.”

He stared at the ground as they led him to an SUV and put him in the front. He handed them his keys and they closed him inside. He stared at nothing the entire way across town. His mind was numb.

He wasn’t even surprised when they drove to his gated community without direction from him. At the security gate, he smiled tiredly at the night guard.

“Mr. Hancock! Are you alright, sir?”

“Sure, Chris. Some trouble at the bar tonight. One of the guys is driving my car behind us.”

“Yes, sir. Feel better.”

Dennis didn’t know how he got from the garage to his bathroom or how he got from his shower to his bed after the dizziness made him vomit.

Tears fell silently, steadily. He wasn’t sure if they fell from fear, delayed trauma, or losing the love of his life.

Likely a combination of all three.

He wanted his home to be Nia’s home. He wanted to marry her and wake up beside her every day. He hadn’t gotten the chance to tell her everything in his head but that was still his plan.

No one was going to stand in his way. His last thought was that he could still smell her perfume.

He needed her, needed her, needed her.

His dreams were terrifying and woke him several times throughout the night. Each time, he’d pull the pillow she always slept on close and bury his face in it.

It muffled his painful sobs.

---