This is how it happens.
This is how I die.
Helpless.
Bound.
Unable to breathe.
My attempts to scream are futile.
Suddenly, I feel air surge into my lungs and open my eyes. My chest is heaving, trying to fill my lungs with oxygen. As my eyes adjust to the light, I find Malakai pinning Steve to the wall, his hand around Steve’s throat. But Steve isn’t going down so easy. He brings up his arms, placing his palms on Malakai’s chest, and forces him off.
“Steve, stop!” I yell from my bound position. Can somebody fucking untie me already?
“Shut up, bitch!” He snarls back.
With him distracted, Malakai lands a right jab straight into his jaw, knocking him back against the wall again. Steve pauses and looks at Malakai with so much psychotic rage, that I’m scared for him. I know Malakai is a strong man and can throw a hearty punch, but Steve used to be a street fighter. He plays by nobody’s rules but his own when it comes to a brawl. He charges toward Malakai, running directly into the same knife he was going to off me with. At some point, Malakai had picked it up without Steve noticing. With a stab to the gut, Steve stumbles to his knees, blood soaking his shirt. Malakai takes advantage of his position over Steve and punches him once more, effectively sending him into a supine position.
Groaning in pain, Steve just lies there, allowing Malakai the opportunity to cut me out of the knots on both my wrists and ankles. He pulls me up off the bed and against his chest, squeezing me as hard and affectionately as he can. He breaks the hug to look me in the eyes.
“Carrie, love, I thought I lost you.” He closes his beautifully sad, chocolate-colored eyes and rests his forehead on mine. I hear the pain in his voice. He reaches down into his pocket for his cell.
Dialing nine-one-one, Malakai reports the incident, requesting police and emergency medical services and gives them the address and apartment number.
“Malakai, how did you find me?”
“I tracked your cell, because I got worried after multiple calls and texts got no responses. I told you I had a bad feeling about this. When I got to the building, I talked the security guard into telling me which apartment I could find you in. I showed him your picture. He said he saw you being carried in a few hours prior by this asshole.” He points down at Steve. “Claimed you weren’t feeling well or something.”
“He put something in my food. I got to the bakery, and he had already ordered a plate full of food for us to share. It didn’t hit me until we were walking through downtown. As soon as we got in front of this building, the same building where Troy lived and attacked me, I started feeling dizzy, my vision blurred. I think I passed out, and that’s how he was able to get me up here. Actually, I still don’t feel all that great. My head is pounding, like I have a gnarly hangover.”
Malakai starts to rub my temples, and we hear people entering the apartment. Emergency personnel and police officers storm the bedroom. They spring into action to check on Steve and stop the bleeding. Running him through a gamut of tests and placing him on a gurney, they roll his body out of the apartment. Two others stay back to come to my aid, asking questions about what happened. I told them how I felt physically, and they ran through a variety of questions about any illnesses, conditions or medications I might be on. When I mentioned being drugged, they urged me to come down to the hospital so the staff could run some tests. I emphatically agreed, on the condition that Malakai could take me.
Before we head to Midtown Memorial, we give a statement to the police, mentioning the security guard as a witness to Steve bringing me upstairs. I also suggest they talk to anyone at the bakery that might have seen him acting strangely or fidgeting with our food before my arrival, or even pull security cameras.
The thing is, I want Steve to live. I want him to suffer in prison like Troy. He might not have gotten the chance to really hurt me, but after all I went through with his former best friend and roommate, he knew how potentially fragile I could be if placed in the same scenario as before. The way he acted today, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if the doctors, or even the courts, refer him for a psychiatric evaluation. It’s obvious something isn’t right with him.
Once Malakai and I are free to go, he takes my hand and leads me out of the apartment and downstairs. We get into his car, which security allowed him to leave by the curb, and he takes off for Midtown Memorial.
“Carrie, I have something I’ve been meaning to tell you,” he says, squeezing my palm in his and looking over at me reverently as we’re stopped at a red light.
“If it’s bad news, I don’t want to hear it. Not now. Not today.” I am too wrung out for this.
“When I rushed into that bedroom and saw Steve with a pillow over your face, trying to suffocate you, I realized one thing.”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“That I don’t want to lose you. That I would do anything to keep you around. That I’m helplessly and hopelessly in love with you. That what I feel for you surpasses any feeling of unbridled lust. Any feeling beyond whatever we do in scene. You are the piece that completes the puzzle of my heart.”
His eyes are shining with unshed tears, but I fail to hold mine in. They stream down my face, dropping onto my chest and dotting my shirt. I sniffle and smile so wide, then at the next red light, he turns to me fully and grabs my face in both of his hands, kissing me so hard that I feel my lips bruise. He nips my bottom lip with his teeth then sweeps his tongue inside. I let him in fully, without hesitation. Behind us, a driver honks, interrupting the best kiss of my life. I start to giggle like a school girl.
“Does that mean …?” He asks, more insecure than I have ever seen him.
“Yes, Malakai. You have my heart and soul. I am so in love with you. I never thought I would feel this about anyone, but you are in my bones, marrow-deep.”
Malakai brushes his thumb across my lips then across my cheekbones to catch my tears.
“Let’s get you to the hospital so the doctors can run those tests. I need my woman in perfect health.” He gives me another quick kiss and proceeds the rest of the way to Midtown Memorial.
***
Once we get behind a curtain at the emergency room, I talk to a nurse about what happened. Since Steve said it was a mixture of substances, that’s all I can convey. I tell her how I am currently feeling, the headache and drowsy, hungover feeling. When the doctor comes in and we go through the events again to bring everyone up to speed, they suggest I admit for observation and to flush my system out, rehydrate me. They say that in the meantime, they will draw some blood and take a urine sample. Pretty standard, I’m told. The staff move me to a room and hook me up to an IV, then give me some pain relievers so that the headache will subside.
To my right, Malakai is pacing, his rage palpable.
“Malakai, please sit down. You’re making me nervous.” I plead.
“It’s just ... If I ever see that man again …” he trails off.
“I don’t think we will have to worry about that again, with the exception of my testimony in court.”
“How are you so calm about this?”
“Not my first rodeo, babe.” I remind him. “And hey, at least this time there was no bloodshed, at least none of mine. Besides, having you by my side to protect me and take care of me shows me I have no reason to worry. I honestly never thought I’d hear myself say that, but it feels good, right even.” I smile at him reassuringly, reminding him just how perfect we are for each other.
“Having you by my side makes me feel ten-feet-tall. Not that I think you’re weak or fragile, but you’ve let me be that strong man in your life, while still maintaining your fiery ways. I love that. I love a woman that can submit to me in bed but challenge me on an everyday basis. But for now, just rest up. I know your head still hurts, and I want to see you at one-hundred percent. I’ll stay with you if you need me to.” He comes over and takes hold of my hand, giving it a firm squeeze.
“Would you? I feel a nap coming on, but waking up to that handsome face of yours would be nice.” I think it’s the meds talking, but I roll with it.
Malakai kisses my forehead tenderly, and my eyes start to close involuntarily.