'TIL DEATH DO US PART (Silent Demons Book 2)

by C. Luca

  Instead of focusing on all the ways our relationship could go wrong, I need to ensure that it doesn’t. I’m good at predicting and fixing things that could make a contract more dangerous than necessary. I can certainly use that to my advantage with Blakely.

  I pull my phone from my jacket and begin to text Jonah. Secure another phone for Blakely, I send to him.

  Her old phone is part of a crime scene and has been compromised. The sooner Blakely has a new one, the better.

  I don’t like not being able to contact her.

  After a moment, I send him a second text. Find out Ava’s last name, and dig up everything you can about her and this ex of hers.

  I hadn’t wanted to ask Blakely too many questions since she was so emotional. I’ll let Jonah figure it all out.

  I’m going to find out who went after Blakely, and I’m going to make certain he wishes he’d never stepped foot inside that apartment.

  SEVENTEEN

  Blakely

  The next day, I do a lot of sleeping thanks to the pain medication.

  It’s actually a relief to slip in and out of consciousness. Those few times that I am awake and alert, I am overcome with memories of the attack and grief over Ava’s death. Sleeping is an escape of sorts, one that I know won’t last.

  A few times, I’ve caught myself wondering when Nikolai will drop by, but then I warn myself not to get too caught up in him, especially while I grieve. It’s okay to lean on him a little, but leaning on him too much might become a problem. I still need my independence, or Nikolai will either grow irritated with my clinginess, or he’ll use it to his advantage to gain control of every aspect of my life. It all depends on how interested he is in me, and I can’t even begin to guess at this point.

  I hear movement in the room, and I pry open my eyes to see one of the nurses looking in on me. She gives me a warm smile and checks my vitals before moving off to the next patient down the hall.

  My eyes flutter closed as I wait to drift back to sleep. The pain isn’t as bad since they’d increased my medication yesterday after Nikolai had left. Most of the time, I feel like I’m pleasantly floating. Reality is sure to be a bitch once I leave the hospital and no longer have the stronger drugs to rely on.

  I don’t want to think about that at this point.

  I just want to sleep the day away…

  Something causes me to stir, and when I open my eyes, I expect to see a nurse leaning over me. Instead, I find Nikolai sitting in the chair next to my hospital bed. Judging by the setting sun outside, I’d fallen asleep quite a while ago. I also find myself wondering how long he’d been patiently waiting for me to wake up. His coat is resting on the back of his chair, and he looks comfortable in a long-sleeved, gray sweater and dark jeans.

  He’s a lovely sight, and I give him a loopy smile. “Hi.”

  He quirks an eyebrow.

  “Mmmm. The pain stuff they’re giving me is amazing,” I mumble.

  Amusement flashes in his gaze as he begins typing on his phone. He holds the screen up so I can read it. You look much more relaxed than you were yesterday. They must have increased your dosage.

  “Yep, after you left yesterday.”

  He holds up a second phone and sets it on the table near the bed, motioning that it’s mine.

  “Thanks.” It’ll be nice being able to contact him again. I should probably ask if it’s a new one or if he was able to get to my belongings at the apartment, but frankly, I don’t want to know.

  Nikolai types on his phone and shows me. How are you feeling today? Then, he regards me with keen interest, waiting to hear my reply.

  “I’ve slept a lot,” I tell him as I try to hold back a yawn.

  Affection briefly flickers in his gaze before he drops his eyes to his phone and types another question. Police stop by?

  My lips tilt downwards. “No,” I say softly. “I haven’t heard anything from them.”

  Nikolai nods and his fingers fly across the keyboard. Are you still being released tomorrow?

  I scan the question and nod. “I think so,” I say tentatively. “They’re going to begin cutting back on the pain medication tomorrow morning and see how it goes. So far, there haven’t been any complications.” I make a face. “I’ll be so glad when I can eat solid food again,” I say with a hint of longing.

  Nikolai’s eyes return to his phone, and his fingers move across the screen. He holds the phone up to me, eyes watchful as he waits for my reaction. I’ll make certain you have a burger and fries the moment you get the clearance. I’ll also be here when you’re released. Blakely, I’d like you to stay with me as you recuperate.

  I reread his message twice to make certain that I’d read the last part correctly before shaking my head adamantly as some of the drowsiness from my nap fades. “No,” I say flatly.

  Tension seeps into his expression as he types once more. You can’t go back to the apartment. I would think you’d want to avoid it.

  “I do want to avoid it. Just like I want to avoid your place,” I mutter.

  His lips flatten, and I wait for him to show me his reply. You can’t be alone. Not until Ava’s ex is apprehended.

  He has a point, but it’s not like I’m going to admit that to him. “I’ll be perfectly safe at a hotel,” I begin and have to pause as a yawn overtakes me. Then, I add, “There’ll be plenty of people around.”

  He now looks annoyed and quickly types his reply. Someone should be with you as you heal from the surgery.

  I can’t deny that spending more time with Nikolai sounds incredibly appealing. Especially now that I know he’s interested enough to want me around twenty-four/seven for a while.

  He’s also right.

  The nurse already warned me that the first few days out of the hospital won’t be easy.

  “You can come stay with me the first few days if you want,” I offer.

  After that, I’ll have to be firm about having my own space. As much as I want things to become serious between us, I don’t want to dive right into anything. Because of our past, it’d be best to build our relationship slowly. I’m also beginning to see signs that Nikolai could truly care about me, and as happy as that makes me, Ava’s death casts a shadow on pretty much everything right now.

  Nikolai nods in agreement that he’s willing to stay with me rather than vice versa.

  Well, that was easy.

  “I’ll let you know where I book a room. I want to wait until I’m certain I’m being released before making any phone calls.” I can’t help but yawn once more. My body is ready to go back to sleep, but my mind isn’t—not while Nikolai is here.

  He shows me his phone and what he’d typed while I was speaking. I can send Jonah to retrieve your belongings as soon as the police are finished with the apartment.

  I look at him gratefully.

  There’s no way I could ever step one foot back inside that place. “That would be great. I want all of Ava’s belongings too,” I add softly.

  His eyes meet mine, and he nods that it’ll be taken care of.

  * * *

  I stare at the detective the following day, unable to believe what he’s telling me. “You’re certain?” I ask with disbelief.

  He nods stoically, his brown eyes assuring me that he’s quite certain. “Mr. Sletzer has a solid alibi back in Seattle. He never left.”

  I don’t know what to say. I’d been pleased that he’d come by to update me on the case, but now my hopefulness that Rob had been apprehended deflates.

  He notes the dismay and confusion on my face, and he shifts on the chair beside the hospital bed to make himself more comfortable. “We have surveillance footage from a bar in Seattle that places him there at the time of the crime,” he adds, taking pity on me.

  “You’re certain that it’s him?” I can’t help but ask again, my voice thick with disappointment.

  “We’re very sure.”

  I lick my dry lips and frown as I try to process what he’s telling me. “But it d
oesn’t make sense,” I say with confusion. “No one has any reason to want Ava dead except for Rob. He could have hired someone,” I feel the need to point out.

  The detective nods, his expression revealing no surprise over my comment. “We’re looking into that. In the meantime, can you tell me more about the man that Miss Jennings brought home with her the night you saw her with him?”

  For a brief moment, I close my eyes and try to compose myself. The doctor is weening me off the pain medication, so I’m feeling more pain than I was yesterday. Between that and now this bad news, I’m feeling thoroughly crushed.

  “Miss Reeves?”

  My eyes open, and I meet his questioning gaze. “Didn’t you find him at the club?” I’d naturally assumed he was a coworker of Ava’s.

  “No one fits that description there.”

  Frustration sweeps over me. “Then she could have met him anywhere.”

  “Are you certain Miss Jennings hadn’t mentioned him during any past conversations?”

  “I’m certain,” I say tiredly. He keeps asking me the same questions over and over. I know he has to, but it’s incredibly draining physically and emotionally.

  “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to walk me through the attack once more. Perhaps there’s a detail we’ve missed.”

  That’s the very last thing I want to do, but if it helps catch Ava’s killer, I’ll gladly go over it once more. We spend the next half hour going through every detail, and I feel useless.

  No, I didn’t recognize his grunt since he never said anything.

  No, I don’t recall any distinct scent on him.

  No, I didn’t recognize the build of his body.

  During the questioning, the detective made certain to keep his expression neutral, but I know that he’s probably just as frustrated with me as I am with myself.

  He gives me a kind look and eventually pockets his notebook. “The coroner will be releasing Miss Jennings tomorrow after the autopsy is officially done, but because this was a homicide, we won’t be releasing Miss Jennings remains until the following day. We’ll contact you when you can make arrangements.”

  I nod and swallow past the lump in my throat. “I have a new contact number,” I tell him and recite the new phone’s number that Nikolai had bought me.

  By the time the detective leaves, I’m near tears but manage to hold them back. I’ve cried so much, and it doesn’t accomplish a damned thing.

  My eyes fall on the phone on the table that Nikolai had left me. I haven’t reached out to contact him since his visit yesterday. I’d been too out of it last night, and today, I hadn’t wanted to text him because I knew once I started, I wouldn’t be able to stop.

  I just feel so incredibly lonely.

  I had grown accustomed to Ava being in my life. Having a friend had been…amazing. She’d been so easy to talk to. But now she’s gone, and the only person I know is Nikolai.

  God, Ava’s gone.

  My heart aches and yet, at the same time, feels hollow.

  I’m not sure how to go about dealing with her loss. Then, there’s the fact that her body will be released in a matter of a few days, and I have to sort out where she’s going.

  There’s just so much to be done, and I’m immensely overwhelmed.

  EIGHTEEN

  Nikolai

  Blakely’s being released this evening.

  I had planned on arriving earlier this afternoon to simply be there and help with anything she might need before her release, but a work-related emergency came up at the corporate office.

  Now, I wish I’d made it a point to arrive early regardless of the emergency. Blakely looks downright ragged today, and I can see in her eyes that she’s barely holding everything together.

  We’re currently waiting for the nurse to arrive with the paperwork, and Blakely’s filling me in on the detective’s visit. She’s still lying in the hospital bed, pale-faced and bewildered.

  “I don’t understand it, Nikolai. I can’t think of anyone that would want to hurt, Ava. She was so kind to everyone,” she says bleakly while pinching the bridge of her nose, as if trying to ease a headache.

  Ava’s ex having a solid alibi is bad news.

  Things seemed cut and dry when we’d naturally assumed it was her ex, but now that we know it wasn’t him…

  The killer could fucking be anyone.

  If the ex hired a professional, Blakely could still be in danger, because loose ends are never good.

  Unfortunately, Blakely seems to be oblivious of her predicament. She believes Ava was the target, and that no one is coming to finish her off.

  Instinct tells me that this is far from finished, but I can’t seem to get Blakely to understand that. Not that I’ve tried too hard. She’s still reeling from Ava’s death and the attack; it probably wouldn’t be wise to be insisting she has a very real reason to fear for her life.

  The thing that bothers me the most is that there’s always the possibility the ex didn’t hire someone. If he hadn’t, who went after Ava? And why?

  Blakely rubs her tired eyes and looks at me moodily. “I really hope they find something in his phone records or computer.”

  I nod in agreement.

  If Rob is a complete novice, there’s always the chance that he hadn’t covered his tracks well enough. Rob’s type is exactly why I work with already established individuals in the crime world; they wouldn’t make the mistakes I’m hoping Rob did.

  “Ava’s body will be released in the next few days,” Blakely says quietly, interrupting my thoughts. “I really need to start sorting out what comes next.”

  I hadn’t realized how close Blakely had been with her roommate until witnessing her agonize over Ava’s death. I’m beginning to see an entirely different side to Blakely, and I like what I see. When she cares about someone, she’s clearly all in. It’s just difficult seeing that inner fire gone from her eyes.

  I miss it.

  Blakely’s eyes shift over my shoulder, and I turn my head to see the nurse entering the room with a sheath of papers.

  The next few hours, Blakely signs plenty of discharge papers, and the nurse goes over all the aftercare measures that should be taken. I listen closely to those.

  When it’s time for Blakely to change, the nurse pulls the curtain for privacy, and I sit across the room, waiting. I’d brought Blakely a loose tee shirt and sweatpants with a draw string. I figured loose clothing would be best until she has her own clothing and can decide what to wear.

  Behind the curtain, I can hear Blakely sometimes draw in a sharp breath or release a soft hiss. She’s going to be in a lot of pain for the next few days, and I am determined to make certain she heals comfortably and smoothly.

  By the time Blakely is in a wheelchair, comfortably bundled in a women’s puffer jacket that I’d had Jonah buy for her, she’s making a face. She clearly doesn’t like being in the wheelchair, but it’s already been noted that walking isn’t all that fun for her.

  As I follow the nurse throughout the hospital as she wheels Blakely towards the exit, I begin to brace myself for what will happen next. If Blakely thinks being in a wheelchair is bad, wait until she realizes what else I have in store for her.

  It’s bitterly cold outside, and as I motion the nurse towards the waiting limo idling at the curb, the nurse’s eyebrows lift.

  Blakely, on the other hand, swings accusing eyes my way. “Really?” she asks with a scowl.

  I ignore her disgruntled attitude and stride to the side door and open it. Then, the nurse and I help Blakely ease herself inside and into a seat.

  “Thank you,” Blakely politely tells the nurse.

  The nurse smiles kindly. “Get well, hon.” Then she backs out of the limo, and I quickly slide in, closing the door.

  Meanwhile, Blakely’s noticed Reed sitting in the farthest seat from where she’d entered the vehicle, and she’s frowning at him with confusion. “What’s going on?”

  I quickly rap my knuckles on the
partition separating the driver from the back of the limo, signaling that we’re to leave immediately.

  Reed casually moves out of his seat and sits down beside Blakely so that we’re both on either side of her. “Nikolai thought it was best if I make certain the transition from the hospital to hotel goes smoothly.”

  “Why wouldn’t it?” she asks with narrowed eyes. I can practically see the wheels turning in that sharp mind of hers.

  Before she can accurately guess our intentions, Reed has a syringe out and is quickly emptying it into Blakely’s thigh since there’s no way to inject her through her jacket.

  “Ow!!” she exclaims as she tries to shift away from him. “What the hell was that?” she demands.

  I quickly move closer to her, knowing she’s about to lose consciousness.

  Her head turns as she meets my gaze. Her eyes are already beginning to glaze over, but they’re still full of accusation before her eyelids lower, and her body slumps.

  I wrap my arms gently around her, making certain that she’s comfortable. I’m not thrilled with the situation or having to sedate her, especially this soon after her surgery, but it couldn’t be helped.

  There was no way I was going to allow her to stay in a hotel while her life’s in danger. She’s better off with me, and the only way to get her back onto the estate is if she’s unconscious and unaware.

  Reed is going to stick around to monitor her until she wakes from the sedation.

  She’s going to be furious, but I can handle it.

  Until I know what really happened in that apartment, I’m making certain she remains safe.

  NINETEEN

  Blakely

  Gradually, I begin to stir. At first, I naturally assume I’m still in the hospital, except the bed I’m in feels much softer.

  The sheets aren’t scratchy, either.

  Feeling confused, I open my eyes and look around with utter bewilderment. The walls are painted a dark coffee brown, and the bed I’m lying on appears to be king size with luxurious gray sheets. On each side of the bed are night stands situated with tall rectangular lamps on top. The room is quite large with an armoire across the room, and a door leading to what must be an attached bathroom. The wood furnishings and minimal décor all lean towards simple masculinity.