26.

                                    

                                              
(Two hours later, on the same day)
She shiver slightly from the breeze that came inside the room, through the small open window. 
Her head making her feel dizzy and it was hurting like hell. The man had hit her head with a rod and then tried to suffocate her in a tank full of water, several times. Because she tried to escape. 
She gulps as one more blood drop falls from her head and got on her already blood stained jeans. She's feeling exhausted and her wrists hurts because of the wire they used to tie her from this wooden chair. 
It's very uncomfortable. And the smell, it's the worst part. It's like a dead body has been kept in the room for God knows how much time. 
And she don't know... But why she wants Niccolai to just come and save her.
She gulps as the fresh tears falls from her eyes, she thought that she escaped from this type of life, but no. She's trapped again. And she doesn't even know her kidnapper, just his first name. 
The door of the room burst open as she look up, weakly. Carl Blackwood. 
He enters in the room with a scrowl on his face, telling that he is clearly angry on something and seeing Aarna made him more angry then he was already.
Blackwood's hands starts to shake violently before approaching Aarna, her eyes were bloodshot. 
He untied her, letting her wrist free as they were in the darkest shade of purple. He grabbed her hairs as she gasps, before dragging her all the way out of the room and downstairs.
She cries out in pain because of how much it hurts as he continues to push her through her hairs. Her scalp was in extreme pain. 
He dragged her in the living room, the floor has blood all around with dead bodies of guards. Some guards were blackwood's and some were of... Niccolai's. 
Her gaze went ahead, making her breath hitched. There Niccolai stands, his white shirt was drenched in blood, his hairs were on his forehead with sweat rolling down. He stood straight. 
Trying everything in him to not just let out any emotion for Aarna infront of his rival. But it was difficult.
There was no one in the living room. 
Just Aarna, Carl and Niccolai with the dead bodies laying on the floor. 
Carl took out his gun, loading it as he points it on her head. Niccolai visibly froze, his eyes giving a hint of worry, he was scared. Vulnerable. 
Carl dragged her infront of Niccolai, just stopping infront of him, his eyes checking Aarna for injuries. There were so many. There eyes met as he see the several emotions swirling in her pretty eyes.
Her eyes were bloodshot, Because of crying. Her face tear stained with chapped lips. Niccolai clenched his fists, trying to control the emotions which are about to burst out. 
"Take whatever you want. Just leave her." 
He says, his voice was strong but carrying a hint of desperation, which Aarna can tell. 
"Someone is in love." 
"What do you want from me?" 
"Everything you have to offer." 
"I will give you whatever you want. Just let her go." 
"Let me think. It does sounds a good offer." 
"Fine. Name your company over me. Your position in the Mafia. Everything." 
Carl says again, smiling like a sadist. His grip was still tight on Aarna's hair, making her whimper in pain. 
"Fine." 
Niccolai says silently within a second. Not even blinking at his decision. Aarna's eyes widened in shock, as he says that. She never expected him do that. For her... 
And for some reason she felt unworthy... 
Unworthy of being loved by a guy like Niccolai Roosevelt. 
"Great. But one more thing you have to do and then, you can take her with you." 
Carl says, smirking.
"What?" 
"Get on your knees." 
Niccolai went silent, for him, it was not easy. Getting on the knees for his women, is what he can do. But getting on his knees for the rapist of his own mother... 
That's something which triggers him the most. 
He gulps, before starting to lean on his knees. On the bloodied floor. His head was slightly down, cursing himself. 
And before, anything could happen. A loud gunshot echo through the living room.... 
Niccolai heart clenched on the sound as he looks up, Carl freed Aarna from his grip as he falls onto the floor. His stomach bleeding profusely. 
Kuba and the other guards enters inside the living room, approaching Carl and his boss.
Aarna approached Niccolai in an instant as he stood up. She put her arms around him, crying, and buried her face in his chest. Sobbing. 
He put his arms on her waist, pulling her close and hugging her tightly. As if he didn't want to let go of her ever again.
"Are you okay?"
He asks, his voice soft, carrying a gentleness and affectionate tone towards her. 
Aarna looks up at him, and nods while he wipes the tears off her face gently. She got on the tip of her toes, and touched her lips to his. 
Kissing him. 
He was shocked but responded immediately as they both kissed each other. It was not rough. It was a soft kiss. Filled with love. Affection. And care, they both have for each other. 
Aarna doesn't thought she deserves his love. The way he got ready to give up everything in an instant just to save her... 
It's not something she ever felt. Her heart beats fasten up when a small thought passes through her mind while kissing him. 
'Living with him for forever doesn't sound that bad...'
She thought, before breaking the as they both smiled. 
Aarna turns around, to look at his men and what they are doing to Carl's body. But she froze when she saw that he was still alive. Niccolai's men kept carrying him, unaware of him taking breaths. But before she could tell anyone. 
A loud sound of gunshot heard. 
Niccolai's breath hitched, when he 'thought' that the bullet hit him. But... It was Aarna, who came infront of him. 
Her wound starts to bleed immediately as Niccolai catches her before she falls onto the ground. 
Her breath comes out shaky when she looks at him. His eyes, for the first time filled with tears, his heart clenched seeing her like this as he hugs her. Close to his chest. 
"I love you..." 
She says, her voice almost sounding breathless. 
"Please don't leave me... I love you too..." 
His voice broke by the end. Tears fall from her eyes because of the pain she was feeling. 
From the inside and the outside. 
He begs. Continue to beg her to not leave him alone. 
He won't be able to survive as she starts to loose her breath. 
Barely breathing. 
He carried her out of his rivals mansion, ordering his guards to 'seize the asshole'.
~