Chapter 48: Caught red-handed

KAITLYN

“Nikolai,” I whisper.

His darkened eyes flicker towards me, and his head tilts to the side.

“How dare you cheat on me, Kaitlyn?” he whispers in a voice full of mockery.

I stagger back and turn to look at Jesse.

“With this fool," he mutters, and my head jerks up.

I feel anger flood through my body, and my fists clench, but I am unable to say anything.

He fucking caught me kissing his brother. I have no excuse for that.

“Put your anger on me, leave Kaitlyn out of this,” Jesse snaps and steps in front of me.

“Jesse let it go,” I whisper in fear.

“No!” Jesse snaps and faces him again.

“If you have a problem, deal with me then.”

Nikolai grins and shuffles closer, his head swinging from one side to another.

“I never said I was going to deal with her anyway. If there's anyone who is wishing for death here, it's definitely you, Jesse,” Nicolai mutters.

He pauses and huffs with raised brows.

“How much more desperate will you be?” Nikolai adds.

"I should be the one asking you that," Jesse snaps.

"You killed his boss, didn't you?" Jesse growls.

My heart clenches, and I grab Jesse's wrist.

“He's not going to tell you, stop it!” I warn.

"I won't," Jesse snaps his hand out of my grip and faces Nikolai.

You did this, didn't you?” He growls again. Nikolai licks his bottom lip and casts a glance at me before turning to stare at Jesse again.

“Yes, I did. What are you going to do about it?” Nikolai mutters.

“It's not like you have any evidence to prove that I did it, and even if you do, it's not going to turn the tables around for you and your dumb father,” Nikolai mutters.

Jesse grows angry, and before I can stop him, he dashes towards Nikolai and punches him right in the face. Nikolai doesn't even flinch from the punch. Instead, he wipes the blood from the cut on his lips and turns around to face him again.

“You really have some guts, don't you, Jesse? You made out with my wife and dare to punch me,” Nikolai muttered.

“You killed someone!” Jesse growls.

“I just removed this ugly ass from getting to where he doesn't belong,” he replies with no remorse at all. I can't believe this man has a heart.

“Bastard!” Jesse growls in rage.

Nikolai chuckles, swinging his head back.

“Bastard?” The smile on his face fades, and he takes a step back.

Why do I feel like he is about to do something crazy?

Before I can get towards them, Nikolai raises his clenched fist and slams it hard against Jesse's face.

“Jesse!” I scream in horror as he staggers back and drops to the ground, spitting out blood.

“An inch closer and he's dead,” Nikolai mutters, and I freeze at the spot.

“Nikolai, take out your anger on me, but leave him alone. Let him live, you murderer,” I growl.

Nikolai chuckles and begins to stroll towards me. My heartbeat increases, and I step back, praying he won't do something funny.

Why? You're scared I'll kill him for touching what doesn't belong to him?”

“I don't belong to you either,” I snap.

“The ring on your finger proves you wrong, though,” he whispers.

I feel my heart clench as my eyes dart over the wedding band on my ring finger.

“I still don't belong to you…”

“Legally, you do,” he mutters, cutting me off.

My lips slam shut as I continue to draw back from his approaching steps.

“Don't you dare lay a finger on her,” Jesse screams as he wipes out the blood trailing down his chin and staggers up.

I want to go to him right now, but I'm unable to. The devil will never let me.

Nikolai pauses his walk towards me and turns to face him again.

“You can't even save yourself, what makes you think you can save her, you dummy?” He mutters, laughing hard.

“Stay away from her. You can do anything and everything to me, but let Kaitlyn go,” Jesse pleads, and my heart clenches.

“Cut the crap, Jesse. Fucking cut it!” Nikolai snouts.

Jesse sighs and drops his head in helplessness. My breath ceases for a minute when he darts his tired eyes towards me. My body is as pale as that of a ghost, and I can't even breathe properly anymore. Why does this have to happen to me? Why does it have to happen to me and Jesse?

“I'll make sure I find evidence against you, Nikolai. I'll destroy you. I'll prove that you killed the director, and I'll bring you down and take Kaitlyn from you,” Jesse threatens.

“I'd like to see you try, though,” Nikolai says as he moves around in circles.

He stops and snaps his head towards Jesse.

“You should be lucky I let the driver survive,” he mutters, causing me to scoff lowly in disbelief.

How cruel and heartless can someone be to this extent?

My lips twitch in disgust as he grinned widely with an evil glee in his eyes.

“And if you think that little recorder in your pocket is going to be a source of evidence, then you must be joking,” Nikolai mutters.

I snap my head towards Jesse, my brows snapping up in shock.

The color on Jesse's face fades as he staggers back, his fist clenching.

Nikolai grabs his collar and reaches into his pants pocket, then pulls out a recorder. My jaw drops as I watch him smash the recorder to pieces.

“You tried so hard, Jesse, you managed to lure me here using Kaitlyn, but it isn't going to go your way this time,” Nikolai says and wipes his hand on a handkerchief before swinging his head in my direction with satisfaction in his eyes.

“Come on, mi amor, let's go home,” he says and stretches forth his hand. I stagger back and shake my head, agony kicking in again.

“No,” I blurt out. The smile on his face fades, and anger flashes across his eyes.

“If you don't want your little lover dead, then let's go home,” he says.

Jesse's head jerks up, and he looks at me.

“Is that what he threatens you with?” he asks.

My lips part and slam shut, trembling.

Nikolai chuckles in mischief and begins to shuffle towards me.

He grabs my hand and pulls me towards him, slamming my body hard against his.

Before I can react or understand what he is about to do, he grips my chin and presses his lips against mine, right in front of Jesse.