273- Blood at the UP

273- Blood at the UP
POV Nicholas:

The driver pulls up at the curb of the UP and I get out even before he turns off the engine. The tension that propels my body toward Deloy’s office is the same that interrupted my engagements in Dubai and brought me back to Brazil.

On the day I picked the scatterbrain up in the Fuergo, I ended the sexual arrangement I had with Aline, but I kept the professional one; I should have explained when I had the chance to Raica — that would have avoided the misunderstanding and all the damage I haven't even added up from this trip. I read, in Meu sol’s eyes, a disappointment that wounded my soul. How could I stay in the United Arab Emirates with her pissed at me? I canceled everything and came back without looking back.

My blood pumps fast; knowing that my girl walked into Deloy’s office alone, without the ex-security guy — because the moment that son of a bitch crosses my path he’s fired — causes nausea, repulsion. Unfortunately, I no longer trust the guy who for so long was family, a brother, someone I put the trust in that I had lost in Dominic. We built an empire together and in a fraction of a second everything crumbled.

"You're fired," I inform the man standing by the door and enter without knocking. Why would I knock? "Where did they go?" I ask Gael, who is leaning nearby. A chill runs down my spine.

"They didn't leave, sir. I haven't left the post since the miss entered here."

I draw a breath and let my feet guide me swiftly to Deloy’s private balcony; it's the only exit from that office, and it also gives direct access to our private parking lot.

To my utter despair, the space is empty and… I can barely hold in the pounding of my heart when red splashes color the light floor like a bloody rug. The overturned furniture shows that a lot of shit happened here and just imagining the scene makes my vision blur, my reasoning lose its balance and I become a well of irrationality.

"RAICA? RAICA?" I call for her, but get no answer.

Then I pull out my phone and call her — no answer. Brizz, nothing.

"It's blood, sir."

Gael's statement is like a knife to my chest.

I can't control a single movement; I run to the private parking lot. The guard on my tail signals the others to search the area. I make another attempt, shaky, off-kilter, and dial Beca. It's the first name that comes to mind.

Two rings, she answers.

"There's blood, so much blood!" Her voice trembles and is choked as she describes the marks left along the way. "She's not here, Deloy, I…"

"Nicholas?" The hoarse timbre makes me hold the phone up to my eyes. Fuck, I called Dominic. I put it back to my ear.

"What are you talking about? Where are you?"

"At the UP. I… I’m hanging up."

It's not Dominic I need; I search for the investigator's contact, but the scene freezes all my muscles.

"Deloy?"

Gael is the first to reach and checks for a pulse on the body lying at the feet of his car.

"Sir, he's breathing."

Quick strides bring me to my knees beside the son of a bitch, the only person who can explain what makes my heart bleed. Fuck, I never imagined I'd feel this strong, desperate anguish for someone again.

"Deloy!" I shake him and nearly beat him trying to wake him. "Fuck, Deloy, where's Raica?"

"Nicholas…" he moans, feeling pain in his pained expression. His half-open eyes seem to make a surreal effort to recognize me. "Sorry… they… took her…"

"Who took her?"

"Them." His voice dies, his eyes close, his body weakens on the concrete. Everything inside me dissolves into despair. "There were three and I don't know how they got access to my private area; they overpowered me armed, I even tried to go after them, but it was already too late. Look what they did to me. Sorry… man."

"Gael, tell the guards to sweep the area," I shout to the man and through the radio he gives the command to the others. With Deloy, I grab his shirt in my hand and pull him closer. Close enough to taste his nicotine breath. "Why did you call her here, you motherfucker?"

That question keeps banging in my head. What was Deloy’s intention in luring Raica to the UP?

"Let go of me, damn it!"

His head jerks when I shake his torso.

"Answer me."

"I needed to inform her about her father, the man is a pain in the ass." I squeeze the fabric of his T-shirt, choking him, forcing him to open his mouth for air.

"Didn't I tell you this was my matter? You put my girl at risk, you piece of shit."

I push him to his limit watching his face take on a lot of blood, his eyes open as wide as they'll go.

"Sorry… I… I…"

I release the bastard who slams, like shit, into the car's bodywork.

I stand and spin in the space.

"FUCKING BASTARDS…" I scream with my hands on my head, my knees wobbling as I search for a way out.

How did I let this happen?

Raica was right — I'm not capable of protecting her. I failed her.

I failed her.

I failed her.