Her sweet nightmare

Carlos and I needed to talk.

I waited for thirty minutes, hoping that cold son of a bitch would come downstairs and explain what puzzled me, but he left me to stew over our unfinished conversation. I was furious.

“Take this medicine. It should alleviate the pain.” Rosetta extended a small white container from the first aid box.

I opened the container. “How many pills?” I didn’t wait for an answer before taking out two pills and shoving them into my mouth. I crushed each pill with rage and swallowed hard.

“Stop, Sia. One pill is enough—” She shouted, her voice tinged with concern.

I didn’t care to respond. She ground her teeth, disappointment clear on her face, before rising to her feet.

“I’m in so much pain. I need something to get rid of this awful sensation.”

Rosetta, probably in her late forties, was like a mother to every man here. She always showed concern whenever anyone got hurt.

“You’ll be fine.”

Guilt washed over me like cold water as I thought about Pedro again. “Pedro died because of me. I shouldn't have forced him to give me those names. I shouldn’t have gone to his Red House. I should have listened to Carlos. I should have just died.”

“Now is not the time for regret. He died trying to protect you. Don’t give up on the life he fought so hard for. Carlos loves you, and I understand why he can be hard on you.”

“No, I don’t think he cares about me. Keeping the truth from me is unforgivable. I feel like a fool—” My fury intensified in an instant.

“Is she really going to be okay?” Lenox interrupted from behind.

“That’s all. You can help her clean the wound and change the bandage if it gets soaked.”

He nodded. “Time to return home, queen.”

“Not yet. I need to see Carlos before we leave.” I insisted, determined.

“He doesn't want to see you. It’s two o'clock AM. We need to head to your apartment—it's at least a thirty-minute drive.”

“But we have something to discuss. I need to see him before we leave.”

“I can’t let you see him now, you might get hurt. Didn’t he fire off a shot in the air earlier? Next time, he may not aim for the air but for your heart. Stay away from him right now, he’s too agitated. Please, let's go.” His concern was evident in his cold, calculating gaze.

His deep voice sent chills down my spine. I’d never seen him mad before. Lenox was usually carefree and gentle.

Without further argument, I nodded. He crouched down a little and scooped me into his strong arms, and we exited the house.

Lenox and Emily accompanied me back to my apartment as he instructed. I wasn’t thrilled about it, but I couldn’t object. We arrived at my place in twenty-five minutes.

I had been cradled in Lenox’s arms during the elevator ride to my floor. When we reached my front door, Emily entered the passcode and let us in. He set me down on my feet.

“I need to make sure Becca doesn't find out about this. Looks like I’ll be skipping class tomorrow.”

Emily returned from the kitchen with a glass of water. When she handed me the cup, I realized just how thirsty I was. I gulped it down and returned the empty cup.

“You should get some rest.”

I nodded. “I’ll head to my room.”

“Need some help?” He offered, but I gestured for him to stop—I wasn’t helpless. I could walk on my own, even if I had to limp a little.

“It doesn’t hurt much.” I shuffled to my room, yet Lenox followed, ever the chivalrous man.

Of all the men in the house, he was the most gentlemanly. As I lay on the bed, he drew the duvet over me and adjusted the cushions. “I’ll be right here watching over you, so don’t think about anything. Just sleep, okay?”

“I usually have nightmares around this time. I don't want to close my eyes. I’m afraid.” I groaned softly.

He sat beside me on the bed, taking my hand under the duvet and giving it a gentle squeeze that surprisingly calmed me. “I’m here. You’ll be fine.”

“Can I ask you something?” He nodded. “How long have you been with the family?”

“Twenty years.” He laughed quietly.

“Really?”

He nodded. “I was six when I was found on the street. I ran away from an orphanage, hopeless and without food or shelter for months. That’s when Carlos found me on the corner. He brought me into the family, and I’ve been part of it ever since.”

“Do you like the life you're living now?”

“Yes, I do. I love my family, and I’ll do anything to protect it, even if it means staining my hands with blood.”

I chuckled softly, fully aware of the answer. “That’s a ridiculous question, don’t you think? Do you also know who killed my father?”

“We’re not supposed to reveal the real name. Just knowing it could put you in great danger. Let Carlos handle it.” he replied with a serious tone.

“He’s been silent for too long. He’s not doing anything. All I get from him are appointments for primal therapy.”

“He’s protecting you. Trust that he’ll find him. None of us have seen this guy, we only know his name. The only person who has ever laid eyes on him ended up in a car crash and lost her memory.”

Confusion crossed my face as I tried to sit up, but he pressed my shoulder back to the bed. “What are you talking about?”

“You saw him that day, didn’t you? I know you don’t remember everything. Before the crash, you texted Carlos saying that he was coming for you.”

“Please, tell me everything.” The puzzlement only deepened my curiosity.

He rose, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. “I’m sharing this so you can let go of your fantasies. The man you’re looking for wants you dead, and he’ll stop at nothing to drag you into his hell. Listen to Carlos, don’t take any risks. The more you dig into the past, the darker it becomes, and you’ll only get everyone killed. Sleep well, queen.” He leaned in, pressing a firm kiss to my forehead before leaving the lights on as he exited the room.

The revelations from tonight didn’t add up, and my curiosity was ignited. I needed to uncover the truth about what happened before the car crash—why was I running away?

‘What am I running from?’ Questions buzzed in my mind, but I was determined to find answers.

“I don’t care who you are. I will find you, and I will end you.” The vow escaped my lips, tinged with conviction as I closed my eyes.

As darkness enveloped me, I felt the sensation of drowning, a force pushing me down into frigid depths, suppressing my escape. Voices echoed my name, growing louder. ‘Happy birthday, Sia.’ my father’s voice called from the surface. I fought against the weight, striving to reach him, but the grip around my ankle was relentless. ‘Dad!’ I choked, bubbles escaping my mouth as water rushed in. Desperately, I struggled against the invisible hold, but it only tightened. The familiar voice faded, replaced by a gunshot that jolted me with fear. I tried to scream, but my voice was stifled, submerged beneath the surface. Suddenly, the water turned red, and I gasped for air, teetering on the brink of losing my very essence.

I snapped my eyes open, feeling a chill wash over me. The lights in my room were off, casting everything in shadow. My body felt heavy and unresponsive, yet I blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the numbness. Sweat drenched my skin, and a dull ache throbbed in my head. The nightmare again!

‘Have you been waiting for me? I received your message, and I can sense your longing. Believe me, I’ve been waiting for you too. Waiting for this moment rips my heart into shreds. But now I’m here. What will you do with me?’ The voice, cold yet melodious, hung in the darkness for a moment.

Those words felt eerily familiar, resonating in my mind. No! I had read them before in the book Becca lent me. Was this another dream?

I turned my head slightly, tracking the voice in the pitch-black room. Fear slithered through me, intense and consuming. I had always been afraid of the darkness. “Le…Lenox,” I managed to say.

“They can’t hear you, even if you scream. It’s good to see you again, Sia. Did I keep you waiting?”

Panic surged at the thought of what might have happened to Lenox and Emily.

“Who are you?”

“Aren’t you looking for me? Here I am, Little vermin.”

“Who the hell are you?” I tried to scream, but my voice was trapped in my throat. My body felt like it was in a vice, unable to move.

He chuckled softly, and I could almost picture a sly smirk lingering on his face. “I'm your sweet nightmare, Little vermin. I give both sweet and lethal nightmares you experience every night.”