Have you ever reconsidered every choice you made when faced with something that appeared as a manifestation of your worst nightmare?

I didn't ever think I would, until those red droplets decorating the floor beckoned me forward to take a step forward if I truly dared. With my parents already on a flight to Denton, back to Northridge where they planned to reside for the rest of their days their eldest daughter was left in the city that never sleeps feeling scared.

Pushing the door to the bedroom open, the creaking sound frazzled me spiking my nerves to the point I wouldn't be surprised if my heart leapt out of my chest to land on the floor. The clothes covered in more blood on the floor had me bolting to the bathroom where the sound of the shower running ended. And when I opened the door so caught up in getting to him, I ran into a solid chest with an arm shooting out to wrap a firm hand around mine when I nearly fell due to the impact.

Although the first thing I always noticed were his eyes my immediate concern led me to inspect his profile that was clad in nothing but a towel. Gaining my balance as well as a tight grasp on reality I ran my hands all over his chest as if the feel of his skin against the palms of my hands would sate the worry inside me.

Looking for any visible signs of wounds or visible injuries I faltered when I heard the man chuckle deeply. Looking up at him in disbelief at the fact he had the audacity to laugh when I nearly stressed myself to death, I reached out and slapped him without hesitation. The impact of the smack led his head to whip to the side tainting the tanned skin of his cheek to a light pink tint. He clenched his jaw turning his head slowly to look at me but I did not wilt under the dark look, "I can't believe you're laughing when I've been so worried about you. It nearly kille –"

The feel of lips crashing upon mine left the rant unfinished as his lips moved coaxing me past my anger to prove once more that I couldn't be mad at him for long. Biting my bottom lip he took full advantage of my shock to dip his tongue into my cavern seeking out my very soul. I had been restless only to be immediately placed within a more relaxed state.

Pulling back slowly his forehead rested against mine, "I'm so glad you're safe," he cooed wrapping his arms around me. "I should be saying that to you. I can't believe you went to do something so dangerous," I replied reciprocating the warm affection.

He pulled back walking past me whilst cursing lowly under his breath at what I said, "I told mom not to tell you," he huffed taking a seat on the bed. I followed close behind slightly hurt at what I was hearing, "I thought we were in agreement we wouldn't keep things from each other. And I'm glad she told me," I replied standing directly in front of him. He leaned forward running a hand through his hair where a few strands fell in front of his forehead, "I didn't want you to worry and besides I'm fine."

"How can you even say that? Baby, look at all this blood," I stressed gesturing to the floor and clothes that stood as a testament to the fact that he wasn't fine. "A bullet grazed my side, it's just a flesh wound," he countered leaning forward to grab my hips pulling me in despite my disinclination to just accept his words at face value.

Leaning forward I moved my fingertips past his flesh to find the wound. When I landed on his waistline where the towel began he grabbed my hand and kissed it. "You can't afford to act reckless anymore," I chastised only to have him stop laying gentle kisses to glower at me. "You expect me to hide away? I've dealt with issues like this before."

"And in all those times was your option to go shoot up the place like some 1920's gangster?" I asked incredulously only to have the man stand up from his seat to tower over me. It reminded me that in his size and height he could overpower me and snap me in half if he wanted to. But I could never be scared of Nicky, especially not in the way he wanted me to with me learning recently how much more of our lives were at stake. "I think I've allowed you to get too comfortable with questioning me and its caused you to forget your place," he growled reaching up to wrap his hand around my throat.

Narrowing my eyes on him at what he was implying I stood my ground keeping my tone firm. Any sign of weakness at that point and he would only use it to his advantage. "My place is by your side."

"No," he stated in a matter of fact tone, "its beneath me," he concluded tightening his hold on my neck. "I don't know what kind of woman you take me for but I'm not some subservient, spineless bitch," I retorted keeping my head high unwilling to submit to the Alpha.

"I know you're not weak, Liyah. But sometimes I just need you to trust that I can and will handle the situation," he replied looking deep in my eyes.

Though I knew I should believe that he can handle himself there was no denying that curveballs are bound to be thrown at us. "I want to but I can't help but bear in mind that at the end of the day some things aren't in your control."

"Bullshit," he rebutted lowering his hand. "How many of your guys got hurt?" I asked watching the light in his eyes dim momentarily at the lack of control he had on death. "A few... Daniel and Leo got hit but they're okay. Leo is probably off drinking the pain away as we speak," he replied. I waited patiently for him to say more but when he didn't I decided to drop it and went on to say, "You should probably go see your mom or at le –"

"I already called her," he replied and I nodded my head about to turn around to pick up the clothes. "Well you should probably get some rest," I muttered only to have my hand grabbed once again stopping me from making any move. "I don't need rest," was his short reply. He smiled gently refusing to let go of my hand and when I pulled it back he tightened his hold making me grow exasperated quickly, "Let me go, you nee –"

"I need you," and once the admission was uttered did I grow to understand that what this man was in need of was warmth he couldn't get from his mother. But a warmth and comfort only I could provide. "I'm still mad at you and there's something I need to tel –"

"Shh..." he mumbled leaning forward to pepper my face with kisses that trailed down to my neck making it hard to focus on what I had to say. "We can talk later so be mad at me all you want, it won't stop me from having you, baby," the hot words fanning my neck had the rest of me turning to mush. Reflecting on those times I admit whenever we were hit with a difficult predicament that often scared us Nicky's reaction to it often lay in touching me.

For a man who struggled to be verbally expressive in telling me how he felt he was more fluent I admit in his actions which I suppose led me to allow the man to strip me.

By the time he placed me gently on the bed I held no protests. There was only an ache that was fuelled knowing the lengths he would go to protect even if I didn't like how he went about it. The towel around his waist landed on the floor unveiling more of himself to me. When he sank into what had quickly become his home I became nothing moaning mess at the way the swivel of his hips bewitched me. Only that time he was rougher than usual exuding a level of force so intense I couldn't produce any coherent thoughts.

He flipped me onto my stomach, placing more kisses on my back leaving a mark to settle the possessive side of him. When I got onto my hands and knees and felt his girth stretch my walls deliciously I held no rebuttal at the word that slipped past his lips, "Mine." For it was true, I was his and he was mine from the second we met on those stairs.

***

The day was nearly coming to an end when we finally felt more at ease being back in each other's arms. The television was on in the living room but I wasn't paying much attention to it. I was distracted trying to tell him that I held inside me something that would change our lives forever. And I admit what kept me silent was that I was fearful of how he would react with everything else that's happened. Feeling the soft fabric of his shirt against my cheek I knew I would hate myself for not telling him all I needed to as I asked, "So what happens now?"

He sat up reaching up to rub his chin contemplating a question he may not have been ready to answer, but he gave a response, "Hopefully they get the message to back off but we just have to tread lightly for now. In case they try anything more Joseph is willing to help should this war really get worse."

I tensed, knowing that a war was something that often didn't end overnight. The word 'war' already had me trying to control the dark places my thoughts wanted to go but I had to honour his request and trust him. "Not what I wanted to hear."

"I know," he sighed rubbing gentle circles into my side. The shirt I wore had scrunched up exposing my stomach such that when he placed his hand and allowed his fingers to run in a circular motion the action was surprisingly soothing, "but the last thing we want is to seem weak. All I'm asking is that you keep fighting no matter how bad it gets, can you do that?" he inquired and that question would be part of a moment that resonated with me with what was to come.

Before I could answer the knock on the door interrupted us on not only what was meant to be a quiet day spent together but even attempted to interrupt our very lives. He stood up going to answer it and I would have never expected to see the police.

It all happened so fast, in the blink of an eye his hands once painted in blood had cuffs slapped onto his wrists. Moving towards his side I was pushed back roughly by one of the officers, furthering the distance between us as the words sunk in at what he was being accused of. The word 'murder' settling in the atmosphere had me gasping for air the more I tried to call his name and rebut the accusation being thrown every which way.

There was no way Nicky would have the audacity to kill an innocent person what more a cop. He was the type to implement rage upon those who did harm. But as the door shut in my face and they took him away I was left questioning all that I knew as the sky darkened opening up to allow the dense droplets to fall.