NYX
Dinner at Grant’s was amazing as usual. The energy from the game spilled over into the pub and we continued the celebration. On our way home, Demitri drops Kyra back at her place before we head to my apartment. I have an early shift, so I decided it will be better to stay home tonight. We pull up outside the building, and I climb out of the lifted truck. I swear, one of these days I will hurt myself getting out of this thing. Both guys pop out like it’s no big deal and give me passionate goodbye kisses.
Both take turns pinning me against the truck, and kiss me like they would never see me again. If they had their way, I would move in with them. While I am not opposed to living with them, I don’t know that I am ready to give up my freedom yet. When I left Nick, I had nothing, nowhere to live. He had everything in his name. I refuse to fall into that again. Not that I would ever think my man would do that to me, but convincing anxiety is another story.
I head up the stairs and I find my apartment door cracked open.Not again.I think to myself before I kick the door with my toe. My side arm at the ready. I am not ready for the chaosthat is my house. There is red paint all over everything. Making a disaster of my apartment is no longer acceptable and now it’s just destroyed.
My walls drip with the still wet, blood-red paint. Thank God for the overpowering smell of paint, otherwise I would have worried it was actual blood. Nothing has been spared. My entire bookshelf is drenched, my cupboards are emptied onto the floor with puddles of the paint everywhere.I am so not getting my deposit back.
Where the fuck is Midnight? The door was open, and he could have escaped. I hope he is in one of his usual hiding spots.
I rush down the small hallway back to my bedroom. Not a single spot of my mattress or bed frame was spared in the angry assault. I open my closet, and yup, no surprise there, not a damn thing has been spared. It is like they dipped each individual piece of clothing in a huge tub of paint before dropping them in a pile, and then emptying that tub onto the pile.
This is the one place I figured I would find Midnight. He is known for hiding in here the moment a stranger enters my apartment. When I search the corner where the old pile of sweaters is usually I find the corner empty. My breathing starts to pick up, and I feel the telltale signs of a panic attack trying to dig its claws into me. Kneeling in the puddle of paint ,I fall to my knees, letting out a choked sob.
Composing myself quickly, the first thing I can think of to do to try, and calm down is call the guys. “Umm, you probably should turn around.” That is all I say. The silence is overwhelming while I wait for them to respond.
“What the fuck do you mean, Nyx?” Demitri’s growl makes my heart race.
“My stalker broke in again, and everything, I mean everything is covered in paint. I have no clothes that aren’t destroyed outside of what you have at your place. My bookshelfis a lost cause.” I try to keep an even tone to my voice when the panic tries to set in again. I can feel the tears sliding down my face unwillingly, and my body starts to shake. “I can’t find Midnight, either.”
“Go wait at your neighbor's apartment, the one you are friendly with. Do not let your guard down. I am sure she is not the one who is doing this, but we cannot be too safe at this point..” Dee tells me.
As the guys go to hang up, I hear a squeal of tires. They will get to me no matter what. I walk over to the door to leave, and that’s when I see it…in dripping black paint on the back of the door is a note.
I will cut their touch from your skin and replace it with only mine.
Stuck to the tacky paint is a photo, the group of us at the game today. I rip the photo down, snap a photo of the message and run out. Going down the hallway to Olivia’s apartment. I stop in front of her door and start manically banging on her door. The door swings open, and there stands Olivia. “Holy fuck, Nyx. What the fuck is going on?” She takes in my tattered appearance, my clothes smudged with the dark red paint, the tear-stained trails down my face and the utter look of fear on my face.
“Long story, but can I hang out here until the guys get here?” I spit out between deep breaths trying to calm myself down.
“Ya, of course.” She ushers me into her apartment, and I take a seat on the couch while she grabs a washcloth for me to try, and clean up with. After just a moment, Midnight, paint splattered and terrified, hops up on my lap. He starts rubbing up againstme instantly.My boy missed his momma.His purr helps to calm my breathing just enough to gather my thoughts.
“Oh, my sweet boy. Did you see who broke into momma’s house? Did they hurt you?” I scratch him between the ears and lean down to give him kisses.
“I found him in the hallway, shaking. He had a lot more paint on him when I found him. I cleaned him the best he would allow me to.” Olivia comes out of her kitchen with a glass of water and a soft smile on her face. “Do you wanna talk about it? You looked terrified when I looked through the peephole?”
“No.” I say abruptly.
“Ok, then.” She just sits down in the chair across from the couch. I have Midnight curled up in my lap. His purr helps to settle something in my chest further.
Blue: Little Witch, where are you?
“My guys are here, thank you for giving me a place to sit for a moment and for catching Midnight.” I stand up to head out to them.
“Hey, baby.” Graham’s soft eyes look down at me as soon as I close the door.
“Hi.” Is all I manage to say.
“We will put in a delivery order for things for Midnight. Y’all are moving in.” He says with such conviction that I can’t argue with him. I don’t even have the energy to fight him right now. It’s apparent that no amount of security will keep this creeper out.
Graham switches seats with Callum, who is still in the backseat of the truck from the game. As soon as he climbs in the back, he is pulling me into his lap. I straddle his lap with my head resting on his shoulder. I can feel my whole body still shaking, and I am sure I am getting paint all over everything. I never took a moment to see if my shoes were covered in paint.
“Fuck, I probably tracked paint into Olivia’s apartment, and it’s probably getting all over the truck. I am so sorry, Dee. I will clean everythin-.”
“Little Witch, I need you to take some breaths with me. You are shaking, and rambling. No one cares about a little paint on some stuff. If you tracked paint down to Olivia’s place, I will get in touch with her tomorrow to have her send us the bill for cleaning.” Graham’s hand rubs gentle, calming circles on my back.
“Did you take any photos of the damage?” Demitri asks.
