The one where he returns

~ Bella ~

"What happened, Nikolai? Whose blood is this? Is that-- Is that Parker's--"

"His blood? Yes," he answered staunchly.

He walked around me to the chair he slept in the last time we were here and sat.

"D-did you... Did you hurt him?" I asked.

"If you're asking if I killed him, the answer is no. But I introduced him to the same wall you were introduced to," he said without an iota of guilt.

"Is he okay?" I asked fearfully, wondering what state Nikolai must have left him in.

Suddenly, he was on his feet a few inches from me, snarling in my face.

"Stop showing concern for that man in front of me!" He yelled.

I gasped and cowered back. He whirled around and began to storm out of the room.

I ran after him without a second thought. I grabbed him and held on.

"Nik! Nik, I'm sorry. I'm sorry," I muttered.

He calmed down slowly and turned to face me. "He is fine," he said emphatically.

I nodded. "I believe you. But you have bruised," I pointed out. I raised his knuckles up. "Let me t