Nicky's POV
I'd like to say that since we kissed there's been some kind of unsaid understanding between the two of us. That we've developed a kind of affection toward each other and are now getting along better.
If the fact that I was handcuffed to the car door and Ryder had moved his gun from his holster to his lap was any indication, that was not the case.
We'd said our goodbyes to Sarah and started down the road. We had maybe gone a total of ten feet before the arguing started.
Nicky's POV "You know," I start as I turn away from the window to look at him. "you still haven't told me where we're going."Ryder just nods. "I know.""We've practically been driving nonstop for three days. Are you planning on telling me where we're going?""What's this we? I've been driving, and we've had several breaks."
Nicky's POV"Your turn to do the dishes," Ryder says as he stands from the table.I glare at him. "How did you come to that conclusion? I've done them for the past three nights. I'm supposed to be the guest.""You're not a guest. You're like the stray dog I'm stuck with taking care of." My glare turns deadlier as he talks. "And I came to that conclusion because I have a few calls I need to make."
Nicky's POV"You didn't arrest Sarah just because she had a tattoo," I say before he can leave.He turns to glare at me. At least, I'm assuming he's glaring at me, hard to tell with his sunglasses on."I should have," He states. "As a matter of fact, I should go and arrest her right now seeing as I'm no longer stuck on babysitting duty."My anger starts to flare up. "I didn't ask you to protect m
Nicky's POVIt was on the news the next morning. Police and FBI looking for a suspect in the murder of a Jane Doe. Burned and tortured beyond recognition.Ryder had sent FBI teams out looking for Volkov and Sarah immediately after hanging up the phone. No one had found her. Until early this morning. She was found in an abandoned building. No identification.That wasn't surprising. The world never knew who Sarah Smith was. She was invisible and she had liked it that way.
Nicky's POV"What exactly is all this?" Ryder asks as he stands in the storage locker with me, staring at boxes and tables of stuff."Things I either never finished or just never tested," I reply as I look for a specific box."You made all this?" Ryder questions as he picks up another taser that was sitting on one of the tables."Yeah," I reply as I dig through the stacks of boxes.
Nicky's POV"Nicky, Nicky, Nicky," He tsks. He sticks a hand under my chin and lifts my head up until my gaze is level with his. He lets out another over exaggerated sigh. "Why must you make this so difficult?"I spit in his face for good measure.He lets out another sigh as if this whole exchange is boring him and wipes his face with the sleeve of his jacket.
Nicky's POVI'm woken up by a jacket being thrown in my face. I all but startle myself awake. I grab my glasses from my lap quickly and look up at John from my place on the couch.He's got a cup of coffee in his hand and he's glaring down at me.Worst wake-up call ever."Get up," He says simply.
Nicky's POV John had left my backpack by the front door. My anger with him dissipated, but only a little bit. I hadn't stayed in that house a second longer than I had to when I had finally found a way to get myself out of that hole.And my statement about the house being held together by a nail wasn't entirely accurate. It was being held together by one wooden beam and a nail.I keep my head down as I walk through the small town in front of me. I'd managed to hitchhike a ride with a friendly older coupl
Nicky's POV2 Months Later . . . Gunshots.I bolt upright in bed as I listen to the deafening bangs of the gunshots that are coming from the front of the house I've been calling home for the past few days.The gang. My mind tells me. But how did they find me? True I cut off the head of the snake, but that didn't mean I never considered the possibility of anyone else from the ga
Nicky's POVI step off the elevator and walk down the hall in the direction of Ryder's room.After he had woken up-and after much argument from him-I had gone and rented a room and the hotel across the street and taken the time to actually shower, eat, and sleep in something other than a hospital chair.Mind you, this was only after Ryder had threatened to get my visiting privileges revoked until I took care of myself.
Nicky's POVLillianna Marshal. Ryder's little sister.I knew her before I ever met him. We'd been very good friends, but I hadn't seen her in years. Why? Because until very recently I had believed her to be dead . . . and that's kind of a long story.I continue to stare at her.She smiles mischievously back at me. "You look like you're seeing a ghost."
Nicky's POVThe seat is horribly uncomfortable, but I don't make any move to get up. Never mind the fact that I haven't had any decent sleep in the past five days or meals for that matter. There were only two things that would get me to the leave this horrible chair; restroom breaks and then when the doctors asked me to leave the room. Otherwise, my stubborn self was sitting in this chair and not leaving.Damien had been in here with me for a while, cursing Ryder out and talking about what a complete idiot he is. He was also making mention to putting in a request for a new partner because Ryder was, and I quote, "going to give hi
Nicky's POVI watch in shock as she steps out of the shadows enough for me to see her. Enough for me to make out the blonde hair and brown eyes.Sarah.I almost feel like shouting in relief as I see her, and then backing away in a corner. Because the girl standing in front of Volkov may be my friend, but she doesn't look it right now.She moves like a tiger waiting to pounce. Like a predator. Like the ki
Nicky's POVRyder falls, his head slamming into the base of a chair as he does.Volkov stands at the top of the stairs behind him.I ignore him. Ignore the gun pointed my way. Ignore the threats he spews at me if I make a move. Ignore him completely as I run straight toward Ryder's collapsed form.I fall to my knees next to him, my hands shaking as they hover over him. I'm unsure what to do. Wher
Nicky's POVI now wish, more than anything, that I had just stayed in the hotel with Ryder.Yes, maybe I would have still ended up running for the rest of my life, but at least it would have been with him. And now, I'll never get the chance to tell him the truth. To tell him exactly what he means to me.I slowly creep out of my hiding place after I watch him pass by. No way I intend to be caught by him again. No. I intend to catch him off guard. I intend to end this.
Nicky's POVI blow out a long sigh as I stare up at the crumbling building in front of me. I tighten my hands on the straps of my backpack and slowly walk up the stone steps.Structurally, the building is sturdy and strong. Underneath the crumbling exterior and broken windows. It had once been a very nice three-story building. Whether it had been for businesses or just a huge mansion at one time, I didn't know. Nor did I particularly care. What mattered was that the building would be perfect for my purposes.I pu
Nicky's POV"Alright," Ryder says as he tosses his jacket onto the couch of the hotel room. "We'll hole up here for a while. I used the hotel phone in the lobby, Damien's supposed to be meeting us here in about . . ." He looks down at his watch. "three hours. So, as soon as he gets here we'll figure what we do next in this . . . mess."He stops and takes a second to look around the room. He looks back at Quinn since she's the one who booked the room.