5

Chapter 5: Threat

"I told him a story of two people. Two people who shouldn't have met, and who didn't like each other much when they did, but who found they were the only two people in the world who could possibly have understood each other."  -Me Before You By Jojo Moyes 

***************

|Verena|

"Are you sure you're okay?" Nate asked me seriously.

I let out a shaky breath. "Yes I am. I'm alive thanks to you."

His eyes scanned my body once more for any sign of injury.

"Do you have any idea what he wanted?" He asked after a while.

I gulped nervously. There was no way I was telling him that the man had known about Trevor.

"No, but I think he was the same man who killed Allison."

Nate gave me a brief nod before speaking again. "You need to go to the police station and file a report for attempted murder. I'll take you there in my truck."

"There's no need for that, I'm fine." I tried to brush him off.

He looked at me as if I had suddenly grown two heads. "Are you insane? Someone just tried to kill you and you're saying you don't want to go to the police!"

I shrugged lightly trying to look nonchalant. "He tried to kill me. I've already told you that I'm okay now. Thanks for helping me out and all but I'm not going to the police."

He gave me an annoyed look.

"For God sake stop arguing and get in the truck!" He snapped as he motioned impatiently towards the sleek black pickup truck parked a few feet away.

"Haven't you been listening? I'm not going to the police station or anywhere with you!" I snapped back.

He  raised a perfect dark eyebrow derisively.

The next thing I knew he had grabbed me by the arm and was dragging me towards his truck.

"Oh my God! Let go of me you psycho!" I screamed while trying to pry his fingers off me.

He held the door open for me to get in, his face daring me to do otherwise.

I let out an agitated groan before I begrudgingly got inside, seeing that I had no other choice. 

He got into the driver's seat beside me and reached across me to secure my seat-belt. I felt my breath hitch when his fingers brushed lightly against my waist.

"We don't want you getting hurt, now do we, sweetheart?" He said mockingly, his lips pulled up into a slight smirk.

I felt my anger flare up.

"You-you... moron!" I finally spat out.

I mentally cursed myself for coming up with such a weak insult.

Nate's face stayed impassive but I could see the amusement in his eyes.

"A moron who just happened to save your life." He said coolly as he started the ignition.

"I thanked you, didn't I? Why can't you just leave me alone?" I seethed.

"I don't know about you, but a normal girl would go to the police if someone tries to kill her."

I snorted, "I've already told you that I'm not one of those normal girls." My voice dripped with sarcasm.

The corners of Nate's mouth twitched slightly at my words but he stayed silent.

Neither of us spoke anything during the rest of the ride to the police station.

**************

I bit my lower lip nervously as I eyed the daunting building of the police station. I was still seated in Nate's pick-up truck. I could practically feel his gaze burning holes into me.

"Are you going to get out now?" He asked me finally, his voice was laced with impatience.

I gave him a weary look.

"You forced me to come here. I'm not going in there alone." I stated stubbornly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you're coming with me. I'm not going to face all those police officers on my own."

He gave me a glare as if  he wasn't sure if I was being serious right now.

Finally he let out an exasperated sigh.

"Fine. I'll go with you." He grit out as he got out of the truck.

I smiled in triumph.

Together we made our way inside the station.

**************

"And you didn't see his face, at all?" The detective asked me seriously.

"No. I've already told you everything I know." I was getting impatient.

I was starting to feel light headed in the cramped up interrogation room, we'd been here for over an hour. I was sick of all the cross questioning.

I turned to look at Nate who was leaning against the door casually, my eyes met with his dark ones and I could feel some of her tension ebb away. I didn't like to admit it but secretly I was glad that he was there with me, for some reason it made me feel more secure.

"And let me get this straight." Detective Miller spoke up again, "Mr. Cohen over here saved you." His eyes trained at Nate's intimidating form.

"Yes, that's right." I answered smoothly.

The detective's eyes narrowed a little, suspiciously.

"I think it's awfully convenient that Mr. Cohen just happened to be at the scene of the crime once again." He observed.

Nate stiffened as he caught on to what the detective was implying.

"You still think I'm responsible for the murder." He growled.

The detective eyed him thoughtfully.

"I think that you should wait outside while I talk to Ms. Dawson over here." He cut in.

I could see his jaw clenched tightly. He looked really pissed off.

Nate's eyes locked with mine  once more,I knew he could see the nervousness and worry etched across my face. His face softened a little when he looked at me. He gave the detective a cool glare before finally walking out of the room.

I was now left alone with Detective Miller, I could feel my throat tighten with anxiety.

"I think you should be careful around him" He finally spoke up.

"He's not the murderer!" I snapped.

For some unknown reason I felt really angry that they were still accusing Nate of the murder.

"Funny, that's not what you told us four days ago when you found Allison's body."

I sighed. "I made a mistake, okay? I shouldn't have been so quick to accuse him. He's not the killer, I know that now."

He studied me for a while.

"You know Verena this wouldn't the first time he's hurt someone. Did you know that he actually put someone in a coma a while ago?"

I nodded slowly. I clearly remembered my conversation with Skylar earlier.

"Look I'm not saying that he's a model citizen. Just that I don't think he goes around shooting innocent people."

The detective spoke up again. "He just happened to be at the complex when Allison got murdered and now when someone tried to kill you, there he was again. Don't you find it the least bit suspicious?"

You're forgetting the part where he saved my life!" I snapped giving him a scowl. He was starting to get on my nerves.

"That could've been for show. Maybe he just wanted to throw everyone off track."

"Maybe he's not the murderer. Maybe you should start focusing on finding the real murderer, who's still out there somewhere instead of trying to pin this on Nate." I shouted angrily, I couldn't stand this nonsense anymore.

"I'm leaving." I declared as I stood up abruptly.

To my immense relief the detective didn't argue when I did so.

As soon as I stepped out of the small room I felt myself run into a hard chest. 

My eyes widened when I saw who it was.

"Nate? You're still here?" I asked in disbelief.

He looked a little embarrassed. "You didn't have your own car and I was the one who forced you to come here. It didn't feel right to leave without you." He murmured as he ran a hand through his hair.

Oh God. Why is my heart suddenly beating like I just ran a marathon?

"You heard everything, didn't you? You were listening to everything from outside the door right?" I asked him pointedly.

He didn't answer me but I already knew that it was true.

"Thanks for defending me." He said after a while.

I gave him a small smile.

"I'm sorry I accused you of murdering Allison before. I didn't think it through, I just panicked."

Nate gave me a nod of acknowledgement.

"I'll drop you off." He said quietly as he started walking towards the exit.

I only hesitated for a moment before I started following him towards his truck.

"I like your truck." I murmured as I eyed the sleek black beauty admiringly.

I turned to look at him and found him looking at me intently. 

"The Mercedes-Benz-g500, Pickup-truck." Nate responded after a while. "It's the 2002 model."

I nodded, still in awe.

"It's beautiful." I told him truthfully.

 Maybe it was my imagination but he actually looked pleased when I said that. He held the door open for me, his eyes following me as I got in.

"I have something of yours." Nate said quietly as he got into the passenger seat beside me.

He reached into the dashboard drawer and took out a key.

My apartment key.

He handed it to me somewhat shamefully.

"Yesterday when I broke into your apartment I used this." He admitted.

I just gave him a stiff nod as I took it from him. "Is there anything else?" I asked him, my voice tense.

Nate gave me a hard look. 

"Should there be?" He asked monotonously. When I didn't respond he started the ignition and started to pull out of the parking lot.

I eyed that man sitting beside me, for the first time I really looked at him.

His hair was a dark shade of brown. I didn't miss the small streaks of lighter brown which seemed to be scattered attractively among his dark locks. His eyes which were now trained on the road where so dark they almost seemed black but I could tell that they weren't black, they were a dark shade of amber. With his straight nose and strong jaw I was almost mesmerized by how good-looking he was. Everything about him was perfect. Sitting next to him, I couldn't help but feel self-conscious.

As if sensing my eyes on him Nate turned his head to look at me taking me off guard. Our eyes locked and I could feel my breath catch in my throat. I knew I should have been embarrassed for being caught staring but I wasn't.

He turned to look at the road again but this time his posture was rigid. I noticed the clench of his jaw and his tight clutch on the steering wheel.

Had I affected him in that way?

"I know you have it." I said softly after a while.

Nate's eyebrows furrowed in confusion at first but he quickly caught on to what I was saying.

"I don't quite understand you." He answered montonously.

"Yesterday when you were going through my cupboard you found it, didn't you? I know because I can't find it anywhere."

Nate's eyes were flashing when he looked at me.

"Why don't you just cut to the chase Verena? Tell me exactly what you want."

I narrowed her eyes at him angrily.

"The bullet. I know you took it. Just give it back!" I  hissed.

"What if I deny having it?" Nate challenged.

"Then you're lying. Just please give it back." I whispered.

Maybe it was the way my voice wavered when I spoke or the look of desperation on my face, but the next thing I knew he was reaching into his pocket and holding out the bullet for me to take.

I could feel the relief washing over my features when he did so. I quickly took the small object from his hand and clutched it in my hand tightly.

I would've gone insane if I ever lost it.

I saw his eyebrows draw together in confusion.

"Why is it so important to you? Why would you keep a stupid bullet with you? The only gun you own happens to be a taser gun." He demanded.

"That's none of your business." I snapped as I folded my arms in front of my chest stubbornly.

He gave me an annoyed scowl and then turned his attention back on the road. He'd been so preoccupied with me that he hadn't noticed the red light ahead. He cursed under his breath as his foot forcefully pressed down on the brake causing the truck to come to a sharp halt.

The movement caused us to lurch forward in our seats. I let out a yelp as the seat belt dug into my stomach, exactly where the man had brutally kicked me a while ago. My face contorted in pain, I knew my stomach was probably going to be covered in ugly bruises for a while.

I tried to regain my composure as soon as possible, but Nate didn't miss anything. 

"You're hurt. I'm taking you to the hospital." He declared.

I gave him a glare. "Like hell you are!"

"Stop being difficult." He gritted out through clenched teeth.

"I'm being difficult?" I asked in disbelief. "You're the one who dragged me to the police station when I told you not to! You're not taking me to the hospital. Stop bossing me around, I can take care of myself! My apartment complex is just a few blocks away from here, either take me there or I get out and walk there myself." I snapped.

Nate looked like he wanted to say something but he chose not to he just gave me a hard look before heading in the direction of my apartment complex.

Soon he was maneuvering the truck inside the gates of the lavish complex. He parked the truck on the side, neither of us moved, we just kept sitting there enveloped in an awkward silence.

I sighed, my eyes wandered towards Nate once again. His face was still drawn into a scowl, I knew he was pissed at me.

"Look I'm sorry I snapped at you. It's just that I really hate hospitals and I'm not even hurt badly or anything. Thank you for saving my life, I am grateful." I told him softly.

His posture relaxed a little but he didn't say anything.

"Why don't you come to my place for a bit? I'll order some food, it's the least I can do." I said as I gave him a smile.

He turned his head to look at me, he seemed to be studying me. I felt myself blush under his intense gaze.

"Okay." He said finally.

I let out my breath in a rush, I hadn't realized that I'd been holding it in.

I got out of the truck and made my way inside the lobby, Nate followed close behind. I led him to the elevator and pressed the button for the eighteenth floor. We both stood side by side as the elevator ascended. I let out an involuntary gasp when I felt his fingers brush against my arm gently.

"Your arm." He spoke up, startling me a bit.

"What?" I asked absentmindedly.

"It's bruising." He responded, his eyes trained on my right arm.

"Oh." I frowned when I noticed the large bruise on my arm. "Probably happened when the man tackled me to the ground earlier. I'll get an ice-pack as soon as we get there it doesn't even hurt." I reassured.

I saw him gulp. Suddenly, he looked nervous and guilty.

"Look, I'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have broken into your apartment and I didn't mean to be that rough when I disarmed you. I'm sorry if I hurt you in anyway."

I hadn't seen that coming.

He looks so guilty, it's kind of cute.

He looked completely baffled when I started laughing. "So, you're suddenly a gentleman now?" My voice was teasing.

Nate's face stayed impassive at my words. He looked at me somewhat warily.

"Don't worry, you didn't hurt me. You're not that strong big boy." I said cheekily as I patted his chest.

He raised his eyebrows and gave me a pointed look.

The elevator doors opened and before he could come up with a suitable comeback to my jab I was already walking out and heading towards my apartment. We walked through the hallway and I could feel his eyes on my back.

When we reached my apartment I saw his gaze wander towards the door labelled '187' right across from mine. It had been Allison's. He probably remembered dropping her off here all too well. I could see the  frown etch across his face as he eyed the door, like he couldn't believe that a girl had actually been murdered there.

"Hard to believe that she's gone right?" I murmured.

"One moment she's right there, so young, so full of life and the next morning you find her lifeless bloodied body on the floor." I closed my eyes, the thought making me shudder involuntarily.

He eyed the yellow police tape across the door before turning to look at me. His expression was troubled.

"I don't think it's safe for you to be here." He said softly.

I wasn't even  surprised. I'd been expecting him to say that.

"I already checked with the college all the dorms are booked and besides I paid quite a lot of money for this apartment."

Nate gave me a hard look. "Someone murdered a girl in the apartment across from yours and they tried to kill you a while ago too! You're telling me that you still want to stay here? Are you out of your mind?" He demanded.

It was my turn to look pissed now.

"Stop telling me what to do! I can take care of myself!" I snapped as I unlocked the door and stepped inside.

I was about to say something else but whatever it was seemed to die down in my throat as my eyes took in the scene in front of me. An involuntary gasp left my lips. In a second Nate was beside me. I could hear him cursing loudly.

A sob ripped out of my chest and soon Nate had his steady arms around my waist, they seemed to be the only things supporting me.

My whole apartment was a complete wreck. The furniture was strewn awkwardly all over the place. Someone had broken the LCD television. Clothes and shards of glass littered the ground.

Four words were written in big, blood red letters on the wall in front;

"I'm coming for you."