All the World (15 page)

              “You have no proof! We talked about that earlier! The police will let your mom and uncle put you in the hospital!”

              “Then I will go to my mom’s house before the sun rises and deal with Uncle Phillip. I will take care of everything before I see daylight!” The frantic gleam returned to Nickolas’s eyes.

              “Nickolas—”

              Braedon placed a hand on Lexie’s back to stop her from speaking. “We are exhausted, and none of us can think straight after all we have seen today. Let’s get some rest and figure out what to do in a few hours. I’ll set an alarm for 4:00 AM, so that gives us about ten hours of sleep.”

             
I can’t spare ten hours!
Lexie fought the urge to rip out her hair.

              However, as Lexie helped Braedon with the pullout couch, she sadly realized that she couldn’t stop the curse at that moment. She had no way of getting the key. Pierre currently had the best chance of saving everyone in Vernon Hills. All Lexie could do was wait, and she hated waiting.

Chapter Thirteen: A Needle as Deadly as a Sword

              A burning pain coursed through Lexie’s shoulder and arm, jerking her out of her slumber. She groaned and rolled over onto her stomach. Though Braedon’s pullout couch was covered with blankets and pillows, it did not lessen Lexie’s pain. She pulled herself off the bed and looked around the living room. There was a pile of blankets and pillows between the coffee table and TV, and Lexie vaguely remembered Braedon offering to take the floor when discussing sleeping arrangements. The empty cot next to the front door was where Nickolas had slept.

              The dribbling sound of a coffeepot came from the kitchen, and the scent of the freshly brewed drink wafted into the living room. When Lexie heard cabinets open and shut several times, she walked into the kitchen.

              Braedon was holding two empty coffee mugs in one hand while dropping bread into a toaster with the other. He was wearing the clothes he had on yesterday and had a severe case of bedhead. A frying pan filled with seasoned tomatoes was sizzling on the stove.

Lexie lightly knocked on the counter, prompting Braedon to turn around.

              “Good morning, Lexie,” Braedon murmured, sleepily pushing his dark hair away from his forehead.

              Lexie nodded and yawned. “Same to you. What time is it? I didn’t hear the alarm go off.”

              Braedon pulled his phone out of his pocket. “It’s only 3:45, so it hasn’t gone off yet.”

              “Where’s Nickolas?”

              “He was up before me,” answered Braedon, glancing towards the ceiling. “I woke up when I heard him in the shower. I couldn’t get back to sleep, so I decided to make breakfast.”

              “That’s nice of you,” Lexie told him.

              “I’m really not much of a chef. It’s only coffee, toast, and fried tomatoes. The toast is a little burnt. Sorry about that. I didn’t make a lot since we have a busy morning, but, hopefully, it will get us through most of the day.”

              Lexie took the coffee mugs and placed them on the counter. She chose the cup with clocks stenciled in brown and filled it to the rim with coffee. “Is Nickolas still in the bathroom?”

              “I think so,” replied Braedon as he handed Lexie a plate of toast and tomatoes. “Forks are in the long drawer to the left of the dishwasher. Feel free to eat in the living room. That’s where I’m heading when I’m done.”

              “Thanks,” Lexie accepted the plate and shuffled back to the living room.

             
Why hasn’t Pierre called again? Wouldn’t he want to know if the Lindegaards found us? I want to know if he’s had any progress with Mr. Garland.

              Shakespeare’s dramatic descendant seemed to have forgotten about them. Lexie knew his focus was on Mr. Garland, but she wished he had asked about how things were going with Nickolas and his family.

              She lifted a fork to her mouth and took a bite of tomato. It was seasoned with basil and thyme, and Lexie was impressed with Braedon’s cooking skills. She doubted she ever would have thought to put those herbs on fried tomatoes.

              Lexie was about to tell Braedon the tomatoes were good when she heard commotion right outside the townhouse. Her head snapped up, and she listened for the sound of water coming from the bathroom upstairs. There was only silence.

             
Nickolas is leaving! Does Braedon know? Did they plan this when I was asleep?

              “Braedon!” Lexie shouted. “He’s leaving!”

              Braedon hurried into the living room, confusion on his face. “What?”

              Lexie was already on her feet and opening the door. The stone walkway leading to the road was cool and damp beneath her toes. She flinched as pebbles dug into the sensitive areas on her feet. However, her discomfort was overshadowed by the fact that Nickolas was unlocking the rental car’s door.

              “What are you doing, Nickolas?” Braedon called out to his friend. Lexie could see the surprise and hurt in his eyes. Nickolas had planned to leave on his own without mentioning anything to Braedon. The fact that she wasn’t the only one left in the dark made Lexie feel a bit better.

              “I have to do this alone!” Nickolas howled. “This unpleasant deed belongs to me, and I will not have your goodness corrupted by accompanying me! Should I not return, explain everything to Flora!”

              “Your uncle will kill you!” bellowed Lexie.

              Braedon spun to face her. “Why do you say that?”

              Lexie cringed. She’d forgotten that Braedon wasn’t fully convinced about the curse. “Nickolas knows too much. He could expose Dr. Lindegaard and ruin his reputation.”

              “If I die, then I die for a good cause!” argued Nickolas.

              Suddenly, a charcoal grey Mercedes pulled up beside the rental car. Though its windows were tinted, Lexie knew exactly who was sitting inside. She pulled on the end of her ponytail and snuck a glance at Braedon. His face had gone pale and tight.

              Dr. Lindegaard calmly stepped out of the car and was followed by a large man who appeared to be on steroids. Lexie recognized him as one of the men who had escorted the patient shouting about prostitutes out of Lindegaard Counseling and Therapy. Audrey slipped out last, her face filled with fear and horror as she stared at her only son.

              “We’ve been worried sick about you, Nickolas!” Audrey shouted plaintively. “Get in the car so we can talk.”

              “You don’t want to
talk
! I see through your lies! You want to lock me up!” Nickolas roared.

              Audrey pressed a palm to her chest. “Honey, we just want to help you! That doesn’t mean we will put you in the hospital.”

              “You are a liar!”

              “Nickolas Aleksandar Lindegaard, don’t speak to your mother in that tone!” Dr. Lindegaard snapped. “Show her some respect!”

              Nickolas’s hysterical laugh cut through the morning air like a bullet through a window. “How can I show
respect
when she married the man who killed my dad! Aleksandar Lindegaard is dead because of
you
!”

              Dr. Lindegaard sighed and crossed his arms. “I don’t want to use my authority as a doctor, but I will if you do not come calmly. Let’s have an adult conversation in the car as a family.”

              “No! No! No!” Nickolas bellowed.

              Dr. Lindegaard looked back at his wife before nodding to the large man at Audrey’s side. The man stretched his thick arms and moved toward Nickolas at a speed Lexie never thought would be possible for such a giant. He grabbed Nickolas with both hands, but the young Lindegaard elbowed him in the chest. Nickolas was thrown against the car, and Lexie heard a loud pop.

              “You dislocated his shoulder!” shouted Braedon, eyes wide with fear and anger.

              Audrey heard the pop too and started to run forward, ignoring the protests of her husband. She dodged his hand as he tried to pull her back. Audrey reached her son and helped him stand up straight.

              “Listen, I love you, so please come with me and Phillip. I want you to get better! I want us to be a family again!”

              Nickolas glared and backed away from his mom, nearly falling into the street. “We haven’t been a family for a
very
long time!”

              Audrey burst into loud sobs and covered her face. Nickolas took that moment to charge at his uncle. Before he could reach him, the large man grabbed Nickolas from the side and locked him into a tight hold with his steroid-infused arms. Nickolas cried out when his shoulder was jostled and threw his head back, smacking it over and over against his captor’s chest. The man didn’t appear to be fazed by Nickolas’s struggles. He simply tightened his hold and waited for his boss.

              Dr. Lindegaard turned back to the car and pulled out a black bag bearing the logo of his counseling practice. He dug around for a few moments before taking out a syringe and small bottle. The doctor ignored all the commotion around him as he pulled out a needle and filled the syringe.

             
It’s the poisoned blade! Pierre was right!
Lexie wanted to intervene, but the man holding Nickolas was large and any type of intervention could result in her being pricked by the needle. She had no desire to die anytime soon.

              “Let him go! Don’t do that! You are going to kill him! It’s not his fault he’s acting like this!” screamed Lexie. She took a few involuntary steps forward before Braedon grabbed her shirt and pulled her back.

              “It’s poison, Braedon! He’s going to die!”

              Braedon’s face was white and panic-stricken. His eyes snapped to the man holding Nickolas. “Don’t hurt him!”

              “Vinny, loosen your grip on Nickolas so his friends will stop shouting false accusations. Though, Ms. Stanley should know that your hold will not kill my son.”

              “I’m talking about the poison in that syringe!”

              Dr. Lindegaard looked at Lexie and chuckled. “Please don’t tell me you believe Nickolas’s stories. He is very sick and confused. There is no merit to anything he says. You are a smart woman, Ms. Stanley. Don’t let yourself be fooled by him.”

              “Why do you need to give him an injection?” asked Braedon.

              “It’s just a sedative,” Dr. Lindegaard replied with the most innocent look on his face. “I want to get my son to the hospital as calmly as possible. Clearly, he has lost the ability to regulate his emotions.”

              “I’m not your
son
!”

              Audrey stood beside Nickolas and Vinny. She brushed the sweat-soaked, blond hair off Nickolas’s forehead. Lexie and Braedon watched helplessly as Dr. Lindegaard walked over with the needle prepared and pointed at Nickolas.

              “Don’t do this!”

              Lexie’s voice was high-pitched, but Braedon still managed to shout louder. Yet, no one responded to their shouts. It was as though they had become invisible.

              Nickolas threw his head forward, knocking his mother’s hand away from his face, in an attempt to bite his uncle.

              “Don’t hurt Phillip,” chided Audrey softly. “He only wants to help you.”

              Dr. Lindegaard paused to allow his wife to return her hand to Nickolas’s forehead. The needle was inches from his nephew’s neck when Nickolas kicked up both legs and forced Vinny to drop him to the ground. Vinny kept his arms wrapped around the struggling man, ignoring the confusion happening above him.

              “Audrey, you hand…” Dr. Lindegaard’s voice was tight with alarm. “We need to leave
now
!”

              “Oh, I’m fine,” Audrey assured her husband as she pulled the needle out of the top of her hand. “I’ll just be asleep while you handle Nickolas at the hospital. Oh, I don’t feel that well! Goodness, this is quite the sedative! It works fast!”

              “Let’s get in the car,” Dr. Lindegaard said swiftly. “Vinny, stay here with Nickolas. I’ll call you with orders. Audrey!”

              The woman was falling to the street when her husband caught her in his arms. He muttered her name over and over as he patted her cheeks and checked her pulse. The horror Lexie felt washed over her like ice water.

              “What have you done?” Nickolas shouted. He somehow managed to struggle out of Vinny’s arms and climb to his feet. He ran to his mom, tugging at her limp arm and shaking her shoulders. His eyes flickered between Audrey and Dr. Lindegaard.

              “She needs to get to the hospital,” explained Dr. Lindegaard.

              Nickolas had enough sense to let his uncle place his mother in the backseat of the car. As soon as Dr. Lindegaard closed the door and turned around, Nickolas punched him in the face. Then he grabbed him by the front of his shirt and flung him away from the car. Lexie wasn’t sure if the cry that left Nickolas’s mouth was from pain or anger. He then proceeded to tackle his uncle to the ground.

              “Take her to the hospital, Vinny!” Dr. Lindegaard ordered before Nickolas punched him again.

              Vinny did as he was told, and the grey car sped out of sight. Braedon ran forward and pulled Nickolas off Dr. Lindegaard, careful not to touch his dislocated shoulder. Lexie was surprised that Nickolas allowed himself to be parted from his uncle.

              Braedon led him over to Lexie. Without a word, he popped Nickolas’s shoulder back into place.

             
How does he know how to do that?
Lexie raised her eyebrows at Braedon, but he just shook his head.

              “You are killing everyone in my family! Why? Be honest for once in your life! If you did all of this to hurt me, then you have succeeded! I hope you’re happy with yourself!” thundered Nickolas. “Are you really the one responsible for putting the woman I love in the hospital? Do you plan to kill Braedon, the man who is like my brother?”