C H A P T E R 4

Five Finger Fillet

Thirty minutes rolled by and I was already seething. I tried my best to control the furious simmer of energy bubbling inside me. It wasn't easy hanging out with people you don't know much about, especially when one acted like an asshat and the other one looked like he was about to devour you like an anaconda. I don't know if Nik ever noticed how uncomfortable I was around his friends that night. Either he doesn't know about it, or he simply knows but doesn't give a damn.

"Can we go somewhere else?" I shouted over Nik's ear as we moved to the pumping music. He nodded, immediately catching the concern in my eye. We made our way back to the table. Unfortunately, Chase and his other friend Russell were still there. I was hoping they'd disappear by the time we got back but something tells me the two stuck to Nik like nasty gum underneath his shoe.

Nik excused himself to the restroom before answering an incoming phone call, leaving me with two of the most hated people on my list. As soon as he was out of earshot, Chase grinned, patting the seat next to him with a sly grin.

"Come here, Little Red," said Chase. "Russ here has something to show you."

"What?" I snapped.

"Sit down," Chase gestured for me to take a seat. I hesitated for a moment, thinking the two were probably up to no good. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're fucking scared?"

"No, I'm not," I said defensively, sliding into the booth. "Try me."

"Well, you will after this." Russ finally spoke up. I've never heard anything else come out from his mouth apart from introducing his name the first time. He was the complete opposite of Chase, who is probably the most talkative, whiny asshole I know.

Chase stifled a laugh, covering his mouth with his hand as he glanced over at Russell.

"Don't you know that fear makes people dumb? Now give me your hand," Russell commanded. I opened my mouth in protest. "I said, give me your hand."

"What the hell for?" My hands remained balled up underneath the table. I could feel my blood thrumming through my veins. Something was up and I wasn't going to give in.

"Come on, Aggie," Chase snickered, ruffling his spiky hair with his fingers. "You heard the man."

I studied their faces for a brief moment. Oh, crud. I'm in a pickle. It couldn't be that bad, right? I bravely lifted my hand up, sliding my arm across the table towards Russell. He held my hand with a tight grip. With his free hand, he slowly retrieved something inside his leather jacket. My heart raced as soon as I saw a flash of silver between his fingers.

"What the—?" I tried to wiggle free but he was too strong for me. He had my wrist pinned down on the table.

"Ever played the five finger fillet?"

"What? Are you out of your fucking mind?" I screeched. "Let go of me!"

Chase started laughing but Russell's face remained emotionless. He stared at the small pocket knife like he was in love with it. He switched his gaze down to my hand.

"I won't hurt you, I promise," he positioned the knife at the side of my pinky finger. "Now, stay still. Unless you want to have a missing finger."

"Oh, God," I swallowed and closed my eyes, praying Russell won't make a mistake. "Please, don't."

One, two, three. I counted in my head. I'm not one to shrink away from a challenge so I think can handle this. Chase started laughing and Russell suddenly released my wrist. I opened my eyes, and to my relief, Russell had already placed the knife back in his jacket.

"Man, you should've seen your face. Fucking priceless," Chase chuckled and I quickly punched him real hard in the arm in return. "Ow, that hurts!"

"You're an idiot," I said through gritted teeth before switching my gaze to Russell. "And you. You're a goddamn psychopath."

Tears stung at the back of my eyes as I slid out of my seat. Even from the blasting music in the background, I could hear Chase calling me back saying it was only a joke. Leaning my back against Nik's black Ferrari, I sent him a quick text informing him that I was already at the parking basement.

In just a few minutes, the elevator door opened. It was Nik. Relief washed over me as soon as I saw him. "Hey, what happened? Are you alright?"

I sighed, brushing my hair away from my eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just—no offense or anything, but your friends are really getting on my last nerve."

"Oh," Nik smiled as he scratched behind his ear. "Well, they told me what happened back there. Don't worry, it was only a joke. Russ would never do that to you."

"A joke?" My blood began to simmer again. Russ perfectly knew what he was doing and I doubt that he was playing around.

"Look, they're a couple of losers, alright. Just forget about them."

"Tell me something I don't already know." I muttered. He gave a light chuckle as he pulled me into a hug, my eyes closing as my cheek met his warm chest. The rhythm of his heartbeat made me relax a little. Butterflies fluttered inside my stomach as his hand moved around my back in slow circles.

*

Before I knew it, we were already standing by the front door of my aunt's house. Nik rested one palm against my cheek, studying my face like he wanted to remember every bit of me.

"I just want you to know, I really like you, Aggie. I really do."

He likes me, and I know deep down that I like him, too. But this is what I was afraid of. I didn't want to fall for anyone else. Because in my heart, I still love Brayden.

Nik brushed his tongue over his lower lip as he lowered his face to mine. Oh, God, he's going to kiss me. Any second now. My stomach continued to flutter with butterflies, panic quickly settling inside me. I pressed my hand over his chest, pushing him away from me gently.

"I'm –I'm sorry," I shook my head. "I don't—"

He nodded with a smile, his face blushing with embarrassment. "I get it. You don't kiss on a first date. Gotcha."

"It's actually complicated. I don't want you to, you know—"

"Oh, no, it's cool," he slid his hands inside his pockets. "I understand. Seriously, you don't have to explain."

I smiled in return. "Thanks, Nik."

"Don't mention it."

He stared at my lips for a moment. Not sure for how long but his gaze just sent me into a pool of awkwardness. Couldn't really say that I'm in love with him. After all, it's barely been a week since I met him. This is definitely not love.

I needed to cut the tension between us, so I pressed my lips together and slowly stepped away from him. "Goodnight, Nik."

"Goodnight." He whispered back with a small smile. Even in the dark, I could tell the sadness from his face.

Reaching the key from the pocket of my purse, I glanced over my shoulder and saw Nik jogging over to his car. Disappointment pierced through me as he drove off into the night. After he was out of sight, I leaned my head against the door and sighed.

What is happening to me?

Just a few months ago, I was plagued with endless love notes by an unknown stalker. That led to me breaking up with Brayden, because when he found out, he wanted to get involved on finding out about my stalker. Let's just say it became a serious obsession of his. Another thing why I broke up with him is because of a serious death threat. I couldn't afford losing him that way so I decided to move away from him. It was for the best.

Moving in with aunt Cornelia was probably the best decision I've ever made. The thing is, Nik is another problem. I still love Brayden. That's what my brain kept telling me. But why is my heart screaming for Nikolai? I am tied up with so many emotions, I couldn't untangle them all.

The porch lights suddenly came on. That almost caused me a massive heart attack right on the spot. The door clicked open and I could see my aunt peeking through the screen. "Oh, Honey," she gasped. "It's only fifteen past eleven. Why are you home so early?"

Like that's a crime? I wanted to tell her.

I whipped past her and went straight to the bathroom, immediately soaking my face with cold running water. Aunt Cornelia leaned on the doorjamb with crossed arms, concern matting her face.

"How did the date go?" She asked.

I turned the faucet off, reaching for a fresh towel in a nearby wicker basket. "It wasn't really a date." I murmured.

"Well, whatever," she sighed. "You don't look too happy. Is everything alright?"

Lie, said the voice at the back of my head. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired, that's all."

"You want some hot tea?" She offered. "I could make some right now."

"I'm fine, Auntie," I shook my head, dabbing the rest of my face. "I'll probably just sleep on it."

"Sleep well." My aunt nodded and continued her way to the kitchen.

As I walked up the rickety stairs, the death threat I received months ago flashed before my eyes.

Break up with your boyfriend or I will break him for you.

The note seriously left me trembling for the next few weeks. I knew what the note meant. It was serious and I know the person wasn't playing around. The next scene that played in my head was me picking a fight with Brayden after leaving The Pizza Shack the day after Spring Break was over. He was supposed to drive me back to Los Angeles that day and it was the perfect place and time to draw in a scene. My break up with Brayden needed to be in public that way my stalker, whoever it was, would know about it.

"What the hell's wrong with you?" Brayden grabbed my arm as soon as we stepped out of The Pizza Shack. "What do you mean it's over?"

"We're done, Brayden," I said a little louder. "Do you even understand what I'm saying? We're through. I've had enough of your childishness, so please, just let me go." Shaking my arm away from his grasp, I continued walking towards my car that was parked at the parking meter by the curb. Stares started to build up from people walking past us and customers going in and out of The Pizza Shack. It's what I wanted, and I do hope my stalker saw that.

I drove away as fast as I could. Away from Brayden. Away from everything.

That's why I refused to say anything to my aunt or to anyone I cared for. For some reason, it's better this way. If I let my guard down, I'll fail for sure.