Chapter fifty six

Two fingers on his pulse assured Nick that the jackass was still breathing... unfortunately. He blew out a breath and tucked his hands into his overcoat.
Crystal had been asleep when he slipped away. And he had to be there when she woke up.
So he had to figure out what to do. And fast.
His heartbeat was steady, he looked around and the surrounding seemed to calm him. It was the same dark room with the shadows creeping in from the corners. And the eery silence was most welcoming, he took in a breath and it would literally be the only sound heard.
But he was in an actual dilemma here. And he had always hated those.
Taking a couple of steps back, he settled down on the metallic chair which was also the only thing in the room. Well, there was also the man lying half-dead on the floor but Nick refused to acknowledge his existence.
Leaning back on the seat with his long legs spread, he observed Hines.He just took time to study him and try to make a decision on what to do.
He could hardly see his chest rising and falling. Which was why he had checked his pulse, because he thought that he had finished the guy off the last time he was there.
He recalled how he had dallied with the knife on Hines' neck for a few seconds after Matt had rush in to inform him of Crystal's waking up. It had been a short moment of indecision. He had wondered whether to burry the knife in his neck or just let him be.
And he had chosen the latter.
But that was only because he had expected Hines to slowly bleed out and die a slow painful death. No one else around to help him. Besides, the guy was pretty old, it ought to have taken less effort to put him out.
The dark hair that was greying up, the pained look on his aged features, the dried up blood that was...everywhere on his form.
He truly was old. And Nick tried to channel that into his thoughts, trying to use that fact to enable him to spare the guys life.
But how could he do that?
He had hurt Crystal, had made her lie in a pool of her own blood. And he had not shown any trace of regret over what he had done.He actually seemed rather proud of himself. So how was he expected to just let him be.
If only Crystal hadn't made him make that cursed promise!
He still couldn't believe that he had actually made it.He was Nick Hilton...even with the newly found change of heart.
He liked violence....he lived for the thrill that it offered.It had been so his entire life for as long as he could recall. And he tried to picture himself doing something else and was literally unable to.
Because he wasn't made for anything else. I mean, he almost got withdrawals when he went too long without using his gun.
And it's not like he could just suddenly decide to actually join the military or something.
Sighing, Nick shook his head. Then he took out his phone, intent on pushing all those thoughts aside and calling Saunders. But he could not.
He tried dialling the detective's number but his conscience wouldn't let him do it. It argued that he was doing an injustice to both Crystal and every other innocent person that Hines had hurt. All those families that were now hurting.
He had never really cared about others, and he still did not. He was just trying to find ample reason to enable him to put an end to Hines' life and not really feel guilty about it.
Because the promise he had made to Crystal would no doubt make him feel guilty.
If he called Saunders, Hines would be taken to the hospital where he would be taken care of... Nick spitefully thought, his teeth grinding with the thought. And he tried to not ponder on the likelihood of the bastard being admitted to the same hospital as Crystal. The mere possibility of that happening almost made him turn wild.
After the hospital, he would be charged and taken back to prison. It was a sort of punishment...but it was in no way punishment enough.
Not as far as Nick was concerned.
He again regretted making Crystal that promise.
He stood and very patiently paced the space before him. Over and over until it became a subconscious action. His thoughts were elsewhere.
He felt the slight breeze sweeping in through the many cracks in the wall.
" Dammit Crystal! " he silently swore. Then he squeezed his eyes shut with the tips of his thumb and forefinger. He loved her..... but this once, that love would not be enough to compel him into doing the right thing. There was a chance he'd get lucky and make it out of this one, but there was also a chance of it completely backfiring on him.
And soon he would have to answer a few questions. Because it wasn't as if he could just burry the fucking body somewhere in the middle of the woods and forget all about it.
Nope, the body had to be found because that was the only way to put Crystal's mind at rest. To enable her to live her life without constantly looking over her shoulder.
And what they had was strong. They had survived so much yet they were still together. Seriously though, she even learnt of his previous career and even that wasn't enough to push her away.
She would be angry... definitely. And disappointed, no doubt. But he was certain that he would he able to find a way to make it up to her. Because he was literally incapable of letting Hines leave that place alive.
And with that in mind, he retrieved his pocketknife. That rush of adrenaline he always felt before a kill swept over him. Providing him with all the energy he needed.
Going down on his haunches next to the body, he took a while to think everything through again. And afterwards, he raised the knife and brought it down with as much force as he could.
Right in the heart....there was no coming back from that. And a feel of his pulse confirmed it.
Hines was finally dead. And he felt a great deal of satisfaction. Now all he had to do was find the best place to dispose off the body.
He didn't want it to be some dark alley, quite the contrary. He wanted as many people as possible to see it. It would serve as a warning to anyone else who dared think of hurting the woman he loved.
And in his mind, he was already planning what he would tell Crystal.
And he knew very well that despite his promise to her, everyone that hurt her was likely to suffer the same fate.
An explanation would not be enough...neither would be an apology. He needed to think of something great to do. Something guaranteed to make her forget all about what he had done.