CH 47

Nikolas sat up abruptly from his sleeping state, in a cold sweat, his heart was pounding and his breath was quick. He instinctively looked around for Gia, but sadness filled his heart. He closed his eyes to remember what had him so upset. He had seen a vision in a dream. It was Gia’s face, she was crying. “Come find me.” Her words echoed in his mind. He opened his eyes again and took a deep breath, pushing the covers back and getting up out of bed. He went downstairs; his pajama bottoms were the only thing he wore, a hand lazily running through his messy hair. He made his way to the den, and walked in to find that it had been cleaned. His uncle must have had someone come in and do it. His eyes landed on something on the desk in front of him. He picked up the picture sitting there. Someone had taken the glass completely off of the front and there was a slash across the image, but it was clearly a beautiful picture of Gia. He sucked in a breath when he looked at her smiling face. A feeling that he had been trying to push passed, suddenly arose even more. It was a sinking feeling. Like something was wrong. He touched the picture with the tip of his finger, running it along the image of her cheek as a single tear ran down his cheek. Would she really leave him like this? He slowly shook his head. Something just wasn’t right.

Gia woke up with a start, panicked that she couldn’t open her mouth. She suddenly remembered what Zander had done to her. The frantic breaths that were releasing from her nose were slowly starting to calm down. She was trying to stay calm. She heard the door open and turned her head as Zander came in the room. He crouched down next to the bed and stroked her hair lightly. Gia felt like she was about to puke, so she closed her eyes. “I’m sorry I had to gag you. Will you be nicer if I take the tape off?” Zander asked. Gia nodded her head vigorously. Her brow furrowed in discomfort as he slowly peeled the tape off of her mouth. She took a deep breath when it was removed, opening and closing her mouth, whimpering slightly as she gasped for air. She licked her dry lips and Zander’s eyes shone as he saw this. He touched the glint of moister on her lips with the tip of his finger and smiled at her. “You are so beautiful.” He said. “Thank you.” Gia whispered. She looked at him, and wondered if he was ever going to let her go. She thought of Nikolas, it was killing her to be apart from him. She glanced over at the nightstand next to Zander’s bed and looked back at him. “I dreamt about you last night.” She lied. She forced herself to smile at him and watched as he found it contagious and broke into smile as well. “What was it about?” He asked as he cocked his head to the side. “We were on campus at Colombia, on our favorite hill. I was sitting between your legs and resting my head on your shoulder. We were just talking, like we use to. It was really nice.” Gia said as she smiled at him.  She held her breath as Zander’s hand neared her face, and let her mind escape her as he touched her skin. She tried to think of Nikolas instead. “I’ve missed you Gia.” Zander whispered. When he said this, Gia again thought about Nikolas, and she imagined him saying the same thing to her. “I’ve missed you too Zander. I’m sorry I was so mean to you yesterday.” Gia said, looking into his eyes. Zander leaned in and Gia closed her eyes as his lips drew closer to hers, again she let her mind escape her as she felt his lips on hers. She forced herself to kiss him back, hearing his moans of pleasure made her nauseous but she pushed passed the feelings. She was relieved when he finally pulled back. “Will you take these handcuffs off of me please Zander? I swear I won’t try to get away. I just want to touch you.” Gia said, urging him with her eyes. Zander smiled down at her. “OK.” He said softly. He left to get the key and came back, and with an unexpected gentleness, he unlocked her handcuffs. Gia immediately rubbed her sore wrists, sighing with relief as she slowly lowered them to her sides. Zander joined her on the bed, touching her face as scooted up next to her body. Gia’s hands shook as she slowly moved them towards Zander, pushing her fingers into his hair. Zander moaned as he pressed his lips to hers, coaxing her mouth open with his tongue and plunging it in. Gia suppressed the urge to cry, and urged herself to stick to the plan that was rapidly starting to unfold. Pulling back, she clutched her stomach. “Zander, I’m so hungry.” She moaned. “Oh baby, I’m so sorry. Stay here, I’ll go get you something to eat.” He said as he pulled away and briskly walked out of the room. Gia sat up, and with her head spinning, she made her way over to Zander’s nightstand.

Showered and dressed now, Nikolas walked back downstairs to find his uncle. He hadn’t eaten since Gia left and it was starting to get to him. But something was lingering deep in the pit of his stomach, and he just couldn’t shake it. He opened the door to his uncle’s office and walked over to the chair across from his desk and sat down. Stefan’s attention was immediately aroused the moment Nikolas walked in. He took in his nephew’s appearance. Although Nikolas looked handsome and cleaned up, there was still a look in his eyes that made Stefan feel as though he was begging for help. “Nikolas I wanted to talk to you, about Gia.” He said. Nikolas blinked a few times. “What about her?” He choked out. “I called her parents and she has not contacted them. They’re concerned Nikolas.” Stefan said. Nik’s heart began to speed a little. “Well did you tell them that she’s with Zander?” Nik asked. “I’m not so sure that she is. I have my men looking for her Nikolas. I’m afraid that she might be hurt, I just have a feeling that she is.” Stefan said. Nikolas’s hands started to shake. “Uncle I’ve had this feeling ever since she left. Like something was wrong. She wouldn’t just leave like that would she? She would come and talk to me at least one more time, don’t you think?” Nik asked, desperation evident in his voice. Nikolas was distracted by a noise that he couldn’t quite place. It was muffled, and very faint but it was there. “Do you hear that?” He asked his uncle. Stefan nodded his head lightly. Nikolas stool up and walked around the room a bit, finally his eyes landed on something. His coat was draped over the arm of the couch, it was the one he was wearing the night he came home from the club. He rushed over to it and dug for what he now knew to be the ringing cell phone in his pocket, surprised that the battery had not run out. He pushed the talk button and with a confused look on his face, brought the phone to his ear. “Hello?” he said into the phone. “Nikolas.” Gia’s soft voice entered his ear. His heart slammed against his chest, and he immediately knew that something was wrong with her. It almost didn’t sound like her, but he knew it was her. “Gia what’s wrong baby?” He asked quickly. He could hear her muffled frantic breathing on the other end of the line. “Nikolas please, I need..” Nikolas’s eyes widened. “Gia? You need what baby? Gia?!” He yelled into the phone. He could hear her struggling with someone, and the brief sound of her scream before the line went dead. His hands were shaking and his heart was pounding, the phone slipped through his fingers and fell to the floor. “Nikolas, what’s going on?” Stefan asked, watching the scene play out from his spot behind his desk. “I need to get to Gia, something’s wrong.” Nik said as he moved to the door. “Where are you going?” Stefan asked. “To get help.” Nik said plainly before he walked out the door.

With her hands shaking like mad, Gia picked up the phone on Zander’s nightstand. She wondered what number would be the best to call. She decided on his cell phone, and when the ringing continued for quite some time with no answer, she closed her eyes and prayed that he would pick it up. Her heart sunk when still there was no answer, and she let out a whimper as she looked around the room to check for Zander, realizing that he could return at any moment. Her finger slowly moved to the receiver and just as it was about to reach it, she heard the line be picked up. “Hello?” Nik’s voice entered her ear and it caused her heart to start pounding. “Nikolas.” His name pushed out of her lips in a faint gasp. “Gia what’s wrong baby?” Nik asked into the phone. Gia was overwhelmed with relief; the sound of his voice was like heaven to her ears. She began to struggle for what to say next, her breathing quickened as she started to panic. She grasped to gain composure over herself. Finally she found voice to speak, to tell him that she needed help. “Nikolas please, I need..” she was grabbed from behind. Zander’s eyes scanned over her as he turned her around and took in what she was doing. He grabbed her arm roughly, causing a short scream to escape from her lips. He grabbed the phone out of her hand and slammed it down on the receiver. “I knew I couldn’t trust you.” He said angrily as he grabbed her and began to drag her back to the bed. “Zander please, let me go. I’m scared and I’m starving, I need to be with Nikolas.” Gia pleaded with him. Zander shook his head angrily. He pushed her down on the bed and grabbed her hand. Gia struggled, her arms squirming frantically, screams exiting her mouth as she tried to gain control over her hands, dreading being back in the uncomfortable position she had been stuck in for so long. Zander once again won the battle, and Gia once again found herself handcuffed to the headboard of his bed. “You are mine Gia, when are you going to get that through your head? I’m never going to let you go. In fact, I’m about to go pack right now because we’re on our way to Brooklyn today.” He said as he stood up. Gia started to scream but he swiftly moved towards her, clamping his hand over her mouth. “You don’t want to be gagged again do you Gia?” He asked. She shook her head against his hand. “Then shut up.” He said, enunciating every word. Gia nodded her head and Zander released his hold on her mouth, Gia closed her eyes as he pressed his lips to hers. “I love you Gia.” Zander breathed before he stood up and walked out. Gia let her tears pour down her cheeks, she prayed that Nikolas would find her but secretly feared he wouldn’t and that she would never see him again. “I love you Nikolas.” She sobbed aloud.