Thirty minutes later, the three friends were sitting at a table in one of the most exclusive restaurants in San Francisco.
Landen ordered some champagne. Once they all had a glass, he raised his and smiled at Amelia and Nikki.
“To new beginnings,” he said before he took a sip from his glass.
“To new beginnings,” both girls echoed, as they too took a sip of their champagne, just as the waitress returned to take their dinner order.
“So now that your first week is finally finished,” Nikki said once they had ordered their meal. “What do you really think of Callum?”
“Well, I didn’t really talk to him that much,” Amelia replied with a smile. “But he seemed really nice.”
“And hot too!” Nikki quickly added with a wicked grin. “I sometimes wonder if I am working for the wrong brother.”
“Well if you want to find yourself available for my brother to employ,” Landen said as he smiled. “That can be easily arranged.”
“Relax, Boss Man,” Nikki shot back with a laugh. “I’m kidding.”
Then she looked at Amelia and winked, then gave her another grin.
As they ate dinner, they chatted about anything and everything. Nikki told Amelia some funny stories about Landen when he still worked in the district attorney’s office, and Amelia talked about when she was a little girl, working in her father’s pharmacy after school.
Amelia noticed that neither Landen nor Nikki talked about Nikki’s past, and she was curious what the story was with her. She knew better than anyone, what it was like to have to hide who you were, she just wondered why Nikki had never told her about her story, especially as she knew all about Amelia’s.
They were just starting dessert when Nikki looked up and froze.
“Nikki,” Amelia said as she watched her friend, recognising the fear that was in her eyes. It was the same look Amelia had seen in her own eyes far too many times. “Are you okay?”
Landen looked up from his dessert, the moment he heard Amelia’s question.
“Nik?” Landen said, giving her a questioning look.
“We need to go!” Nikki said in a tiny voice, the normal confident, cocky demeanour Nikki normally had, seemed to have disappeared completely. Amelia almost didn’t recognise the person that was sitting there in front of her.
Without even questioning why Landen waved at the waitress signalling that he wanted the check, it was almost like he knew exactly what had upset Nikki, without her even telling him.
But it was too late.
“Oh God!” She exclaimed as she twisted her napkin between her fingers. “He’s coming this way.”
Amelia followed Nikki’s gaze spotting an attractive older gentleman walking through the restaurant, with a smug smile on his face.
“Nicole!” The man exclaimed as he reached the table. Nikki looked almost like a rabbit caught in headlights. “How lovely to see you.”
“Hello, Charles,” Nikki replied, in a soft, timid voice.
“I have asked you repeatedly to call me dad,” Charles replied with a grin that told Amelia he was getting a great deal of pleasure from seeing his daughter squirm in sheer terror.
“And I have asked you to stay the hell away from her,” Landen said as he stood up, looking down at the man who was possibly half a foot shorter than him. “She has nothing to say to you, now go back to where you came from.”
“I am still her father!” Charles exclaimed with a smirk as he looked up into Landen’s eyes.
“On paper only,” Landen replied. “Now, you are done here, so turn and go back to your table.”
“I will be in town for three more days, Nicole,” Charles said, but his focus remained on Landen. Amelia could tell from the expression on his face, that while he tried to act unfazed, he was afraid of Landen, and he disliked him with a passion. Amelia couldn’t help but wonder what he would be like if Landen weren't there. “Maybe I will give you a call; we can have a proper catch-up.”
“I have told you already,” Landen growled without missing a beat. “If you have anything to say to Nikki, you go through me. She has made it clear she doesn’t want any contact with you. Now, move on.”
He stared at Landen for a moment, as was most of the other people that were sitting in the restaurant. There was something familiar about this man, who clearly wasn’t someone very nice, but Amelia had no idea where she had seen him before.
“Goodbye, Nicole,” he finally said as he turned, glaring at Landen. “This isn’t over yet.”
“Bring it on,” Landen replied without even blinking. Charles stared at him for a moment longer, before he turned and walked back to his table and the rest of his party.
Landen pulled his wallet from his pocket, pulling out enough cash to cover dinner, and throwing it down on the table, not waiting for his receipt. He then turned, smiling at Amelia, before he took hold of Nikki’s arm,
“Come on, Nik,” he said in a voice that was so much kinder than it had been moments before.
Nikki looked up at Landen and smiled, even though there were tears glistening in her eyes.
Landen guided Nikki from the restaurant, with one hand on her back, as he reached back to Amelia with his other hand and took hold of her hand in his.
As he stepped out the door, he released Amelia from his grasp, so he could give his ticket to the valet, and the guy turned and spoke into his walkie-talkie.
“You’re okay,” Landen said as he wrapped his arms around Nikki. “It’s done.”
“It will never be done,” she whispered before she pushed back from Landen, staring up at him. “That bastard will never let it be over.”
“You know I can make it, so he never sets foot into San Francisco again,” Landen said, staring at his friend. “You just need to give me the word Nik, and it’s done.”
“It will never be done with him, you know it, and so do I,” Nikki whispered as she gave Landen a sad look before she turned and walked towards the car, which had just pulled up.
She pulled the door open, climbing into the back before Mike was even out of the car.
“I guess we are going home,” Landen said as he gave Amelia a worried smile, before he took hold of her hand once more, leading her to the car.”
Amelia climbed into the car next to Nikki, and Mike closed the door, as Landen climbed into the front passenger seat. Moments later, they were pulling into the late evening traffic, heading across town, to Nikki and Amelia’s apartment.
When they pulled up outside, Mike opened Nikki’s door, while Landen hurried out of his door, to open Amelia’s.
Nikki didn’t even say goodbye to Landen, before she disappeared inside the glass doors of the building, leaving Amelia standing alone with Landen.
“Come home with me,” Landen growled as he quickly wrapped Amelia in his arms, drawing her closer to him. “I don’t want to sleep alone tonight.”
“I would like nothing more,” Amelia replied with a long sigh. “But I think that maybe Nikki needs me tonight a little bit more.”
“Nikki doesn’t need anyone,” Landen insisted as he brushed her face with the back of his fingers.
“Wow!” Amelia exclaimed as she smiled up at him. “Men really are clueless.”
“No, I just know Nikki,” Landen replied with a laugh. “She doesn’t do the girly thing.”
“The girly thing?” Amelia asked feeling somewhat amused by his comment.
“You know,” Landen replied, and Amelia could tell he wished he hadn’t said anything. “Talking about her feelings and stuff.”
“I see,” Amelia grinned, then added. “Well, I guess I should go in and do the girly thing.”
She leaned up, softly kissing Landen, before she stepped back, breaking their embrace.
“Thanks for dinner,” she said as she took another step back, then she turned heading towards the glass door. She had just reached the door when Landen grabbed her from behind, spinning her around, then pressed her against the glass.
Befo
re she could even speak, Landen slammed his mouth against hers, as he pressed his body against Amelia’s.
“Do you know what you do to me, Amelia,” Landen growled when he breathlessly pulled his lips from hers. “You have awoken something deep inside me. I hardly recognise who I am anymore. I have broken all the rules for you, and now you are the risk that I will always take. I need you more than I have ever needed anyone in my life.”
He crashed his mouth down against hers once more, before he pulled back from her, staring down into her eyes.
“Tomorrow night, you are mine,” he told her. Amelia just nodded her reply.
He kissed her again, then stepped back, watching her as she turned and walked into the building.
Amelia smiled as she stepped into the elevator. She could see Landen still watching her as the doors closed. She didn’t really know what to think about Landen. She liked him. She liked him a lot, but was she ready for a relationship? Could she allow herself to have feelings for someone again? Part of her wanted to, but part of her was afraid to risk having her heart broken again as it was when Danny walked away.
Still, there was something about Landen; something that she just couldn’t resist. Amelia knew he meant it when he said that he would do what it took to protect her. She wondered if maybe he was the one she could allow herself to believe in.
As she walked into the apartment, Amelia wasn’t sure where Nikki was, more importantly, she didn’t know if she would even want to talk. But Amelia knew in her heart that she had to try at least.
She walked down through the large apartment until she reached Nikki’s bedroom. She softly knocked on the door waiting for a moment before she pushed open the door, stepping inside. When Amelia stepped into the room, she found Nikki sitting on the bed, just staring into space.
“Hey,” Amelia said as she sat down on the bed next to Nikki.
“You must think I’m some kind of idiot,” she said as she wiped her eyes, releasing a long, tired breath.
“I don’t think anything,” Amelia said as she watched her new friend closely. “I mean, I don’t think I’m in any position to judge anyone.”
Nikki laughed, but it wasn’t a real laugh, and she didn’t reply, and Amelia didn’t want to push her. They sat side by side for a while, neither of them said a word.
“My dad is a walking, talking nightmare,” Nikki said finally. “My mom left him when I was six. He refused to let me see her. He controlled every part of my life, but when he got drunk, he got mean.”
“I can’t even imagine what that must have been like,” Amelia said reaching for Nikki’s hand, holding it tightly.
“He is very rich and very powerful,” Nicki continued. “He has a lot of friends in very high places, and it gives him the feeling that he could do whatever the hell he wanted. He was very well connected where we lived in New York. The night of my eighteenth birthday, I sneaked out of the house to see a boy I liked from school. My dad was away, I knew he had forgotten about my birthday. At least, I thought he had. But he came home, and when I wasn’t there, he freaked out. He tracked my phone, which ten years ago wasn’t as simple as it is now, but he did it. He turned up at the house I had gone to with the boy. He dragged me back to the car. His henchmen took care of the boy. And my dad taught me a lesson he was sure I would never forget.”
“Oh, Nikki!” Amelia exclaimed.
“He broke three ribs, also I had a hairline fracture in my jaw,” she continued with a whisper. “He told the hospital I was drunk, and I fell down some stairs, and because of who he was, no one questioned him. I knew that night that if I didn’t leave, he would kill me.”
“How did you meet Landen?” Amelia asked, curious how Landen was able to save her from the monster that was her father.
“It was about five months after my birthday,” Nikki explained with a sigh. “And two days after another lesson. My dad was at a meeting, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I got out of the apartment which wasn’t easy as he had paid the doorman to act like my prison guard, I just kept walking. I didn’t take my phone, my purse, I didn’t even have a coat, which, during November in New York, wasn’t my best idea. I don’t know how long I was walking, but I ended up on the Brooklyn Bridge. I don’t think I was planning on jumping. I was just standing there, staring out at the water, and a voice came from behind me.”
“Landen?” Amelia asked, but she knew the answer already.
“Yep,” Nikki replied with a smile. “He just started talking, about nothing really. The weather, some ball game that was on the night before, just talking. Then he took off his coat and offered it to me. I hadn’t even realised I was cold till he pointed out I was shivering.”
Amelia smiled as she imagined Landen standing there, trying his hardest to help Nikki.
“When he gave me his coat,” Nikki continued. “He wrapped his arms around me and told me that whatever it was that I was running from, he would help me; that I just needed to trust him. I don’t know why, but I did. I mean, he was all of twenty-two and looked like he hadn’t a clue what to do, but I trusted him. He got me into his car and took me back to his apartment, where he called his mom. She arrived in New York later that day, and I never went home again. Landen kept his word.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Amelia said, smiling once more.
“But it’s been ten years,” Nikki sighed, as she looked at Amelia. “Why does he still get to me the way he does?”
“Because he is the one person a girl is supposed to be able to rely on,” Amelia said as she wrapped her arms around Nikki. “He’s your dad, he knows exactly how to get to you. But you cannot let him win. Neither of us can let them win.”
“I don’t know if I’m as brave as you,” Nikki said, looking up into Amelia’s eyes.
“Yes, you are,” Amelia replied. “We both are.”
Chapter 11
Landen was just about to climb into bed when his phone beeped. He picked it up from his nightstand, smiling when he saw it was from Amelia.
He hit the button to open it.
Goodnight, Landen xx.
Landen smiled, typing in his reply
I miss you tonight.
He hit send, then waited a moment or two, before his phone beeped once again.
I miss you too xx.
Landen stared at it for a moment, smiling before he typed in his reply.
It’s not too late to change your mind!!
Landen hit send and waited. A couple of moments later his phone beeped once more.
But I’m warm and cozy in my bed.
Landen laughed as he pictured her snuggled beneath her bedclothes, but it just made him want to see her more. He tapped in another response.
I could come there??
He hit send, but regardless of her response, his mind was already made up. He threw his phone down onto the bed, hurrying to his wardrobe. When the phone beeped a few moments later, Landen hurried back out of the wardrobe, picking up his phone. He smiled when he read her response.
Hurry up!! Xx.
Landen wasted no time. He quickly dressed before he grabbed his car keys from the hall table, heading down to the garage beneath his apartment building.
He had just reached his car when he felt a blinding pain on the back of his head before he crashed to the ground. Landen felt like the world was spinning when suddenly he felt a blow to the ribs, and all the air was sucked from his body.
“Charles Greenway sends his regards,” a voice growled into his ear before he delivered another blow, Landen fell into the darkness.
“Landen!” Dylan’s voice echoed in Landen’s head, it felt like a grenade had gone off inside his brain. “Can you open your eyes?”
“I can if you stop shouting, Dylan,” Landen groaned as he slowly tried to open his eyes, but the bright lights of wherever the hell he was, was almost blinding, so he quickly closed them again.
“Landen, I need you to look at me,” Dylan repeated, and Landen could hear the concern in his
brother’s voice. “You’re in the hospital. You’ve received quite a blow to your head.”
He slowly opened his eyes, groaning before he tried to focus on his brother.
“Well, your brain is still intact,” Dylan said as he shone a bright light into Landen’s eyes. “But you are going to have an impressive black eye. You were found by security, unconscious next to your car about an hour ago. They called the emergency services. So, who did you piss off this time?”
“No one new,” Landen sighed and winced once more as his head ached when he spoke. “Christ my head hurts like hell.”
“Well, Liam is outside, and he is telling a very different story,” Dylan warned his brother. Landen knew that Liam would not back down until he knew exactly what was going on. “Mom and Dad are outside too, so is Nikki and some girl she said was her cousin.”
Landen looked up at Dylan, knowing he was talking about Amelia. Then he remembered that he was on his way over to her. God knows what she must be thinking right at that moment. Landen tried to push himself up in the bed, but the room instantly began to spin, before he crashed back down to the bed.
“You have a concussion,” Dylan explained as he wrote in his brother’s chart. “And you have a couple of bruised ribs, which are going to hurt like a bitch for a couple of days. I would suggest you don’t try to sit up or move too suddenly.”
“When can I go home?” Landen asked, giving his brother a question.
“We want to keep you here tonight,” Dylan replied, as Landen blew out a long breath. “As I said, you took quite a knock to the head, so we need to keep an eye on you.”
“I’m not spending the night in this place,” he insisted as he looked at his brother.
“I see,” Dylan replied with a smile. “And are you going to tell Mom that?”
“Why did you have to call her?” Landen grumbled, knowing that his brother was right. There was no way his mother would agree with him leaving there against medical advice. He just hated the thought of him being in there and Nikki and Amelia being alone without him after what had happened. He was afraid Charles Greenway and his goon would pay the girls a visit next. Landen knew that Charles has quite a temper.
Landen (The Murphy Boys, Book 1) Page 11
