Chapter 50: Chapter 50

Getting back to the estate, Nadia made sure it was only Ava who carried her purchases. And they took the lift up instead of the stairs. Once they got on her floor and she saw there were no guards there, she helped her to carry some of it into her room. As soon as she shut the door to her room, she pulled Ava into her arms for a hug. The other girl was startled for about a second then she returned the hug. When Nadia pulled back, she saw her eyes were misty with tears.

“So, I got you something — five dresses and two sneakers…”

“Wait what, the masters…”

“Don’t worry, you wouldn’t be wearing them here,” she said to the girl without elaborating and ignored her puzzled glance. “I would not want to draw attention to you, anyway,” Nadia added.

* * *

Angel lay on the bare, cold floor with one arm over his face, he used stones to cover the broken wall just in case any of the guards happened to come inside there, and perchance, managed to get away before he could get to him. He needed it not to be too obvious. His ears pricked when he heard sounds of footsteps, although it was slight, he could still pick them up. He had told Nadia where to find him and thus was expecting her, but he also knew it could be anybody. He had been waiting for Daniel to make another move and the thought that he had not yet was getting him on edge. He got up and got out of the cell, hurrying down to the entrance, he hugged his back to the side wall and waited. The door slowly came open and the smell of food assailed his senses. A slow smile stretched his attractive lips just as her scent whizzed into his nostrils. His beast made a low guttural sound expressing pleasure.

She carried a heady scent of something sweet, exotic and floral. The urge to bury his nose in her hair and hold her tight welled in him.

“Angel?” she called out in a whispery tone as she walked inside the dark, shrouded room, using her phone as a torch. Angel trailed his eyes down her shapely back, her choice of clothing made his smile widen. She wore a long thick winter coat over a short dress and an ankle-high leather boot covered the rest of her. He moved slowly to stand behind her and wrapped his arms around her chest. He felt her stiffen for about a second and then she purred deep in her throat as he nuzzled her neck with his nose and lips. He slipped his hands into her coat, searched and cupped her breast through the fabric of her dress and gently squeezed.

“You smell good,” Angel said. His voice was gruff and husky. Nadia wanted to raise her hand to touch his head then felt the heavy load in them. Her hands were feeling relatively weak to hold the bags up now and so were her legs with her weight. She felt weak in the knees and just wanted to melt into him.

“Darling, the bags…” she breathed in a warning. He chuckled and drew back. Coming to stand in front of her, he retrieved the four bags from her hands.

“Thank you, I will pay you back, I promise,” he rasped.

“It’s okay, you … um don’t have to,” Nadia said, looking up into his handsome face. He held her gaze for about a second and then nodded his thanks again.

“Lock the door, please,” he said as he back away then turned to strode back into the darkness.

Nadia’s eyes roamed the expansive space, noting that although the place was clean, an unpleasant smell lingered like that of a refuse house mixed with a dirty wet dog scent and the smell of a butcher house. And seeing that it was some sort of a prison made her heart hurt.

Tears blurred her vision and she turned around to shut the door as Angel requested. She wanted to use the woollen scarf she wrapped around her neck to cover her nose but figured it might seem insensitive. She swallowed softly and walked in the direction Angel went. The place was pitch black and yet he had strode away like it was basking in the light. She knew it had to do with his ability and thought that was pretty cool. She looked down at the beam of light from her phone and wished she didn’t need it too. That made her smile.

When she got to him, he passed the packed food, bottled water and apples she got from her fridge through the wall.

“Thanks, man,” a voice said from the other side. Angel merely nodded. When he opened one of the bags and saw separately packed food in it, he turned an amused glance at her.

“For you,” she said, sounding embarrassed as she shifted awkwardly on her feet. He nodded. His beautiful eyes gleamed under the torch beam. “I know the food may be small for men of your sizes…”

“It’s okay, Nadie, they just need sustenance,” Angel rasped as he started to use broken concrete to cover the wall. When he was done, he picked up the bag that contained his food and reached for her hand. “Put off the light you don’t need it and it might attract attention,” Angel said.

“Oops, sorry” Nadia whispered and quickly did as he asked. She pocketed the phone and blinked. Her heart raced as she noticed she could still see in the dark. A frown furrowed her eyebrow and she shut her eyes again and opened them as Angel continued to lead her to the exit door. She then lowered her eyes to the strong, manly hand laced with hers and she wondered if the development was because of their body contact. She raised her eyes to gaze at his side profile and he turned his head to hold her gaze. His eyes were intense and dark as if there were unending secrets hidden in their depths. The thought that he was beautiful clouded her head, making her forget she could see in the pitch-black room for some unknown reason.

“Watch your step,” Angel said and a teasing smile tugged the corners of his lips as they got to the door. Nadia blinked reverting her eyes forward and saw they were at the exit door and he had opened it.

“Sorry…” she whispered, abashed, and raised her right leg to cross over the elevated threshold. As soon as they got out, a fresh and cold breeze rushed at Nadia. She gladly took in a refreshing breath. She felt Angel’s eyes on her and looked in his direction. His scrutiny was guarded and she could not tell his mood. “People were kept in there, weren’t they?” she asked, searching his gaze.

“Not people, Weres,” Angel replied, sounding cold. Nadia’s eyes misted and she swallowed softly.

“They are people to me…” she said in a barely audible whisper and looked away from him.