Waking up the next morning was trying, and it was only through my loyalty to Smithy that I bothered at all. According to Frank, no humans were worth our loyalty, but if I couldn’t save Nikki, I could at least help Smithy out. Sliding from the bed, I followed my morning routine, hoping that the simple acts would return some feeling of normality. Slowly, I was accepting nothing was going to make me forget Nikki, especially not physical pain, and the idea of other women wasn’t something I could even consider now. Although, in order to keep my demon under control, eventually, I’d have to. Maybe distance would help—find another city to inhabit and make a semblance of a home, or maybe I’d drift from place to place.
Going home to Hell was no longer an option, but I hardly cared about that.
The look in her eyes when she saw me still haunted me, and it was all I saw when I closed my eyes and tried to sleep last night.
Flicking on the television to the morning news, I strode to the kitchenette and stared into the almost empty refrigerator.Nothing was appetizing.
Looking ahead at the weather, it’s going to be a humid one today, up to seventy-two percent in some areas. There may be a drizzle in the afternoon to accompany this…
Oh good, gloomy weather. If I were seeing Nikki, I’d make fun of the humidity and her hair.
Shit.
Not thinking about her was going well so far.
… and if you’re out driving today, try to avoid the intersection of Hope and Green near the cemetery. There was an accident last night involving three vehicles, where a blue Honda was crushed.
Practically tripping over my feet, I fell to my knees in front of the television. Footage of a car being hauled onto the back of a tilt-tray truck filled the screen, surrounded by darkness and the street lights dappling through the rain on the camera, filmed only hours ago.
I knew that car.
No.
More Information about the accident has not yet been released, but we’ve heard one of those involved was an off-duty police officer. The intersection is closed for cleanup and will be for at least three hours while investigators assess the cause of the accident.
Coming up—
I didn’t hear anything else.
I was already out the door.
CADE
The automatic doors at the entrance to the hospital opened too slowly, and I shouldered my way in, drawing the attention of the nurses at the front desk.
“Kline, Nikki Kline. Where is she?”
“Are you next of kin?”
My fingers flexed at my sides as I resisted the urge to slam my palm on the desk in front of the nurse. It was only the thought of being denied the opportunity to see Nikki that was keeping me under control because I could feel my demon inside me screaming for release.
For once, it wasn’t because of a desire for a fight or a fuck.
It was the protective, possessive part of me that wanted to be with my mate.
Even if she never wanted to see me again.
“I’m her… boyfriend.”
The nurse studied me from under her brow, her eyes filledwith sympathy as she took in my dark hair, plastered to my forehead with sweat. Nervously, I ran my hand through it, pushing it back, and held her eye contact.
“Please,” I pleaded, repeating the motion. “I’m scared. I need to know she’s okay.”
“Of course, sweetie. Room 402. Elevator is back there.”
“Do you know if…” The words were impossible to get out. The idea too much to consider, let alone speak aloud, as if I believed that by some cosmic power, saying it out loud would make it real.
Please, Nikki, no.
