Chapter 75 A nightmare of a morning
Maria's POV
When I opened my eyes, the sunlight was already filtering through the blinds, with the songs of birds echoing through the room.
Not even thinking, I picked up a pillow and threw it at the window: “Shut uppppp!” I screamed at the birds as if that was really going to do anything to quiet their noise, infiltrating my pounding head.
The memories of the night before were like one big nightmare. It played through my mind like a movie every time I shut my eyes. I'd never seen him like this, I mean, I've seen his lethal side and his mob boss persona, and his protective side. But I'd never seen him lose his shit like this.
I'd only met Adam those first two days for a few passing moments, so I never got a good read on him. But from what I've seen of Aleksander’s men so far, it was hard to imagine one of them betraying him to someone as heinous as Viktor.
The only sort of betrayals I'd ever known were other waitresses stealing my regulars or Mark stealing my tips. This was all so incredibly new to me that no matter how long I lay in this bed, I just couldn't comprehend it.
But did I have a choice anymore? I was in love with him, and I highly doubted there was any way I could ever go back to my old life.
I was so ready for all this shit to be over with. I still felt like death warmed over, but I'd be damned if I didn't get a cup of coffee. Grasping the bedside table for support, I pushed myself up and hobbled to the bathroom.
After using the toilet, I made it to the sink, making quick work of washing my hands and brushing my teeth. Taking my brush, I ran it through multiple knots that had made my head resemble a bird's nest. Sweeping my hair back, I used a giant clip to fasten it in place, knowing it would work better than a hairband.
Feeling satisfied, I grabbed a black satin robe from the hook on the bathroom wall and slipped it on. Holding on to the wall for both ease and support, I opened the door and almost tripped.
“What the fuck?” I blurted out, my right hand quickly covering my mouth.
Sleeping in front of my door was Henry. He was wrapped up in a thick woolen sleeping bag, and his head was resting on some kind of odd-shaped pillow as if he had grabbed it off the couch.
He looked so peaceful, but surely he was taking his guarding duties too far. I didn't want to wake him up, so maybe if I just stepped over him, he wouldn't notice.
I placed one hand on the door frame and leaned over, placing my other hand on the other side of the door. Picking my left foot up, I used it to step over him to where I was now standing directly over his sleeping body and still holding on to the door frame. I picked my right leg up high enough so that I wouldn't accidentally kick him. My leg was almost down to the floor when his right hand snaked out, grabbing hold of my ankle. I screamed, “Awwwwwwww,” the rest of what was gonna come out of my mouth lost in commotion as I toppled down into a now smiling Henry, who somehow had managed to sit up with his sleeping bag and pillow shoved off to the side.
He'd used his arms to break my fall, which hadn't prevented him from laughing hysterically, “What were you doing? Did you think you could slip past me that easily?”
Puffing my chest out, I glared at him, “You're asking me that? Why are you sleeping in front of my door like some weirdo?”
He was quiet.
Too quiet.
Pushing me back up so that I could stand up against the wall, he jumped up to where he could face me.
“Maria, it's my job to watch you.”
Pushing him out of my way, I started heading to the stairs where I was gonna slide my butt step by step to make it to the espresso machine.
He was following me.
I sat down on the top of the stairs, situating myself to start my descent.
“I’m going to talk to Alek about this, Henry. This is some bullshit. As much as I like you, I don't need you to follow me around like a puppy when he's locked up in his office or whatever.”
Still no response.
Good, maybe he’s gone off somewhere.
I’d made it halfway down the stairs. I was making good progress; I just needed to keep going.
“He's not here.” Henry blurted out as he finally decided to rush past me down the stairs.
My mind whirled.
“Like he's on some errand or something?”
I mumbled as I finally made it down the stairs.
He reached his hand out to mine, took it, and pulled me up.
“No, Maria. He went after Adam!” Henry said, looking me straight in the face.
“He did what?”
Feeling woozy again, Henry scooped me up as if I were some woman in the old movies who fainted all the time.
Carrying me into the kitchen, he plopped me down in front of the kitchen island.
I couldn't think.
I couldn’t concentrate.
I never thought he'd leave, much less leave without saying “bye.”
I must've tuned out the noise of the espresso machine, because the next thing I knew, Henry was shoving a steaming hot mug of espresso with a dash of cream and sugar under my nose.
Smelling its aroma, I grabbed it and took a long, soothing sip.
This was going to be one hell of a morning.