I’m not sure where this tender side of me came from, but I’m ready to embrace it. My future wife deserves nothing but love, light, and good things in her life. I haven’t had much of that in my thirty-nine years, but I know without a doubt we are going to create a better future together.
I don’t even know this woman’s name, yet I feel deep in my bones and everything in me that I would die to protect her.
3
MIKA
Ijerk awake with a gasp, sitting up and frantically looking around. The motion makes my temples throb, waking me up even more. I clutch the sides of my head, trying to keep it from bursting apart. It’s more than a headache; it feels like lightning bolts of pain shooting from behind my eyes, traveling down my spine, all the way to my toes.
What happened? Where am I?
Scenes from the last twenty-four hours come back to me in waves, from waking up in the backseat of my foster brother’s car to Medolie being ripped out of my hands.Oh, God, did someone bid on me? Did I…?
I try to take a deep breath, but it gets caught in my sore, scratchy throat. I can hardly swallow because of how dry my mouth and throat are. I wheeze out a cough, the violent motion feeling like shards of glass scraping against my brain.
“Ah… Ungh,” I whimper pathetically.
“You’re safe,” someone says. I recognize that voice from my dream. It was so real. A giant man in a blue shirt whisked me away from that terrible, wretched place…
I look toward the voice, surprised to see the same man standing next to the bed. He’s in jeans and a t-shirt this time,but I still recognize his dark, shaggy hair, light blue eyes, and tattoos. A few swirls of ink run down his left arm, but I remember from last night that his chest is covered in intricate tattoos.
The man towers over me, though he immediately kneels at the side of the bed, making himself smaller. From this position, we’re eye to eye, and I study him while his gaze roams over every inch of my face. Dark, thick eyebrows furrow in concern, and he reaches out, only to draw his hand back. Is he afraid to touch me? After my harrowing experience last night, I should welcome the distance between myself and any man.
This man, however… Something tells me if he held me in his arms again, he might just fix everything wrong in my life. It’s a silly fantasy, I know. It’s unclear what I’m doing here with him, but I’m sure I’m about to be kicked out.
“Here,” he says, handing me a sealed bottle of water. “Are you thirsty?” I nod gratefully and take the water. “I also brought some Aspirin for the nasty headache I’m sure you have.”
How did he know about my headache?
“It’s a side-effect of the drugs wearing off,” he answers my unspoken question.
I’m not sure how he can read me so well already, but it’s kind of… nice. Everything is still fuzzy in my mind, so the less explaining I have to do, the better.
“You don’t have to take anything,” he continues. “But the bottle is brand new. See? The safety seal is unbroken.” I give him a questioning look, not sure why he’s pointing that out to me. “I just… I figured after everything you’ve been through, you’d be suspicious of anyone giving you anything, especially pills. I understand if you don’t trust me yet, but I hope to win you over.”
Tears prick the back of my dry, tired eyes, but I don’t let them fall. How is he the kindest, most thoughtful man I’ve ever met?
“Th-thank you,” I manage to say, my raspy voice sounding strange to my own ears. I take a drink of water and try again. “Thank you,” I tell him, my voice a little stronger this time. “I’m… I’m still trying to piece everything together from last night, but I remember you jumping on stage and saving me from… from a nightmare.” I peer down at the water bottle in my hands and rub my lips together before speaking again. “I remember you carrying me away from everything. Being in your arms is the safest I’ve ever felt in my whole life.”
The man doesn’t say anything, and I pull my eyes from the water bottle to his face. He’s staring at me with an unreadable expression. I don’t think it’s pity, and it’s not exactly anger. At least, not anger directed toward me.
I didn’t mean to tell him all of that. The words just tumbled out without my permission, and now I’m wondering if I gave too much away.
“I’m Shadow,” he finally says, introducing himself.
“I’m Mika,” I reply.
“Mika…” Shadow repeats, almost like he’s savoring the sound.
Hearing him say my name in his deep, baritone voice has a new feeling tightening in my lower stomach. It’s not dread or suspicion, it’s something else entirely. Something… exciting.
“I’m sure you have questions,” Shadow continues after a moment of silence. “You were drugged when I got to you on stage. I took you back here, to my house, but I didn’t touch you at all except to get you tucked into bed.” His blue eyes plead with me to believe him. Shadow is tripping all over himself to give me an explanation, which is kind of adorable. “I would never disrespect you like that, Mika. I’d never hurt you. I–”
Before he can get himself even more worked up, I rest a hand on his shoulder. Shadow stares at it, then covers my small handwith his much larger one. “I trust you,” I whisper. “I’ve known evil men, and you’re not one of them.”
Shadow’s muscles relax slightly at my words. We share a moment with our eyes locked, our hands touching, and our vulnerabilities on display.
The silence is broken by Shadow clearing his throat. “Can I help you up? I have some clean clothes in the bathroom if you’d like to take a shower.”
