His Beautiful Addiction

I wanted her to wear it while I take advantage of her…

The words tingled in Nicklaus's ears and his grip on the phone tightened;

'' don't touch her… '' Nicklaus's eyes darkened as he looked towards the mansion, his hand tightened into fists as anger riled inside of him;

''I don't have any issues with you, it's with your mother, don't make yourself the most wanted on my list. ''

A loud laughter resonated in the room and Liam shook his head; ''Oh dear, you make me laugh, what are you going to do? If you do anything funny, I promise to return her head on a platter, you can choose to have her head on a tray, or have her head on her neck, the choice is yours. ''

He laughed mockingly. Nicklaus shut his eyes, pain brewing at the back of his lids, he would never forgive himself if anything happened to Tiana.

''What do you want? '' Nicklaus spoke after a moment of silence. Nothing was worth losing her for, even though he had sworn to protect the company, if it was what it takes to get her back then he would give it away. What was the company worth knowing that the woman he lived for was no more?

''Hmm, I like that. '' Liam chuckled; in truth even if Nicklaus does according to his wishes, he was still going to sleep with Tiana before he let her go. He was going to make her pay for leaving him.

''I want you to transfer the ownership of Howells Corporation to me, before dawn. ''

Nicklaus knew that that was what he was going to ask for, he was not surprised;

''It doesn't work that way, Liam. Even if I transfer it to you, it still needs approval from the board. ''

''what other approval do you need? The last time I checked I was your elder brother, or am I not? you just need to introduce me to them as your elder brother and the rightful heir to the company ''

Nicklaus gulped, the scene of his parents' death flashing in his eyes.

What would they think of him now, a coward? He was unable to protect the woman he claimed he loved and now he was about to give up the company he had sworn to protect.

Nicklaus's lips thinned as his head fell, there had to be another way… there had to be another way…

Suddenly he heard a loud noise on the phone, and then a man shouted with a fearful tone;

''Boss, the miss, she's gone! '' Nicklaus's eyes widened as the words of the man filtered into his ears; without wasting a second, he ended the call;

''Everyone, move in! She has escaped! ''

Nicklaus shouted at the men and in an instant, about fifty men hiding in the woods, stood up and raced towards the building, with their guns;

Nicklaus corked his gun and ran towards the building, his heart panting;

Beautiful, please be safe…

He prayed he would get to her before they did; and to the heavens, he was going to pop Liam's brains out of his skull. He stopped for a second as he looked around the building, if she was escaping, she would not go through the front, it was definitely the backyard. Without a second thought, he ran towards the backyard.

A phone crashed against the wall, the parts flying across the room.

FIND HER IMMEDIATELY~!!

Liam screamed, his body vibrating. He felt his veins popping out of his skin and he took in a deep breath to stable himself. Even if Nicklaus overheard him, he wouldn't be able to get to her before they caught up to her. And to hell, she was really going to pay for trying to run away.

Angrily Liam picked a gun from the table and dashed out of the room.

Tiana heard footsteps above her and she knew they had found out she was missing; with her injured legs, it wouldn't be long before they caught up to her. If Nicklaus didn't come to get her, then she was doomed. Tears fell from her eyes as pain radiated from every inch of her body. She wished she would just wake up and all of these were just a dream.

Nicklaus… where are you…

Tiana cried in her heart as she pulled herself forward. Suddenly she heard footsteps approaching and she quickly hid behind a pillar in the darkness, biting her lower lip to hold in her cries, her eyes shut when the footsteps drew closer. If she got caught after all these, then all the pain she had would have been a waste! Tears flowed freely from her eyes; and at that moment, she wished she could just shoot herself on the head and end this nightmare.

The footsteps were very close now, and Tiana knew if she didn't move from her spot, she would be caught. Quickly, she put her leg forward to move, but before she could take a step, she felt an arm pull her and she fell into a warm embrace; a familiar scent wafting into her nose.

Nicklaus…

She had been crying before but at that moment, the tears that flowed from her eyes were unending.

''You came for me… '' 

Nicklaus's hands shook as he held her in his embrace, his eyes clouding with tears. He couldn't see her face in the darkness but he knew she was in so much pain from her voice.

''I'm sorry I took too long. '' He apologized painfully, his heart tearing into a thousand pieces. Maybe he could never protect her. Maybe he did wrong by being with her, she would always get hurt because of him.

''I've been waiting for you… '' those were her last words before her legs gave way. Nicklaus held her up in his arms, tears falling from his eyes. No matter how much he tried to protect her, as long as she was with him, she would never be safe.

His heart squeezed so hard that it was impossible to breathe; he had endangered her by falling for her. And as long as she was with him, she would continue to get hurt.

He took in a deep breath, as he carried her up, towards the exit.

When he got to his car, the driver opened the door immediately and he carried her in, placing her in the back seat. He really wanted to go back and kill that fool himself but she needed him now more than ever;

Taking out his phone, he called the gang leader;

'' make sure none of them leaves here alive, but bring that fool to me, alive. ''

''Yes, boss; '' the gang leader replied before he ended the call. Putting on the car light, Nicklaus gasped when his eyes fell on the woman in his arms.

''god, beautiful… I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! '' Nicklaus cried as his eyes fell on her bleeding hands and purplish knees; the pain in his heart unbearable.

''To the hospital immediately! '' He screamed at the driver, his eyes not leaving her for a second, her eyes were tightly shut and there were still tears on her lids, she looked like she had cried a lot. Nicklaus not able to hold the pain looked away from her, his heart was completely shattered.

Because of him, she had gotten hurt, because of him, she was in this state, and yet, he claimed to love her?

What kind of a person was he?

Tears flowed freely from his eyes as he blamed himself thousand times over.

Maybe he shouldn't have fallen in love with her…

She wouldn't be in so much pain if he didn't love her…

He used his hand to wipe the tears off his face; would she ever forgive him?

He told her he would protect her, but he couldn't, would she ever forgive him?

…

Nicklaus carried her like an egg out of the car as she was placed on the stretcher and driven into the emergency ward; he wished he would go with her, but he was told to stand outside.

He paced around the corridor his mind in a mess; her hands were bleeding and her knees were purplish, did she injure them when she tried to escape?

He felt a knot tie on his throat as guilt overwhelm him, he wasn't sure he would be able to forgive himself for what happened to her. What if he had come a minute late and she was caught, what would be the story now?

God!

Nicklaus pulled at his tie. Before she passed out, she said she had been waiting for him. He wondered how much she called for him in her heart but he didn't come to save her. And he had the guts to say that he loved her?

He shook his head painfully, his eyes blurring again;

He didn't deserve her. No, she deserved someone better, someone, who could protect her, someone with whom she wouldn't be afraid of walking the streets alone. Someone she wouldn't be afraid of calling hers. Keeping her with him was just pure wickedness, and she didn't deserve such. Therefore, he would let her go…

She deserved to be happy…

Nicklaus Howells?

A doctor stepped out of the doors and called, snapping Nicklaus out of his thoughts.