Brad glanced over his shoulder periodically as Richie fiddled with the security system. The door opened and Richie quickly entered a code. Green light.
"Not too many people are egotistical enough to use their own name as a password." He grinned at the twins as they shut the door behind them.
"I really appreciate this, Richie."
"Not a problem. I love sneaking into people's houses." the tall, baby faced, blond young man replied.
"Check the VCR. He said he played it back this afternoon." Brad said. Seth looked.
"Nope."
"Look through all those videotapes. I'll search the bedroom."
Brad hurried down the hall and opened doors. Mirrored ceilings. This was it. He walked to the closet and opened it. There, he was greeted by rows and rows of videotapes. Brad pulled one out. Maria. The next read Sally. Then Michele. Jess. Gywen. Chastity.
This guy had videotaped all these girls. What a sicko. No Nia though. Closing the closet door, he returned to the living room.
Seth was searching through the videotapes near the VCR.
"His second room is full of video and editing equipment." Richie came into the living room.
"None of these are it, bro." Seth put the last one back.
Brad's eyes wandered around the posh room. On the couch lay a thick book. An encyclopedia. An encyclopedia? he thought, picking it up. Opening it, he found it was hollow and there was a video tape in it. Lifting it out, he saw SAMONIA written on it.
"Paydirt." He sighed.
"Should we double check it?" Seth asked, hesitantly. Brad winced.
"I suppose."
Playing it,they watched as the pair stumbled into the bedroom, tearing at each other's clothes.
"That's enough." Richie turned it off and ejected it." You guys need to see this other room. It's full of editing equipment. I'd bet he throws some music on and sells them. "
"Let's go." Brad said, feeling sick to his stomach.
***
Two hours later, Kevin was sated and passed out next to her in bed, Nia drifted into sleep and remembered Brad's words.
Glancing over at the sleeping Kevin, Nia sighed and her eyes drifted to the ceiling. They were in the guest room. Never had Nia been able to have a lover in her bedroom. It was her private domain, her sanctuary. No, the few times her lovers had spent the night they stayed in the guest room.
The two bottles of wine were almost gone, she noted. She had kept them chilling on ice for a few hours and she and Kevin had drunk most of it, finding interesting ways to use the rest. Her dress lay in a small heap on the floor, he had quickly removed it.
Videotapes. The thought popped into her head. No, Brad was just being jealous. What had induced his crazy behavior lately?
Kevin and she had never really talked. Usually, he went on about his plans to own his own production company, his father's collection of classic automobiles, and that driving a Mercedes was a family tradition.
Nia had never opened up to him about losing her parents or her aunt. He didn't know anything about her, really, Nia realized. That first weekend they had met, he had shown up at her game for a while. Brad and Seth came to almost every game she was in.
Not that it really bothered her that they didn't talk much. Her goal *had* been to get him into bed, and now that she had accomplished it. . . well, maybe a couple more weeks before they tired of each other.
The doorbell was ringing, she realized, getting up slowly. Finding her dress, she slipped it on and hurried downstairs, pushing her hair from her eyes.
Smoothing her curls down, she opened the door to find Brad. It occurred to her she had bought the dress thinking of a date with Brad. A date that would never happen.
"What ‑"she started when she saw him.
"I have to talk to you. Now. And I don't care where he is." Brad stepped inside before she could shut the door on him. Painfully, he noticed her tousled appearance.
"He's upstairs, asleep. What the hell do you think you're doing, barging into my house?" she demanded angrily. Brad held up the tape.
"This is the tape I told you about. You don't believe me? Play it."
"Get out of here. I don't ever want to talk to you again! I'm sick of this game you're playing!"
"Nia, listen to me!" Brad shouted.
Nia flinched. Brad never raised his voice. Her head was pounding from the wine.
"I love you and I refuse to let that asshole do this to you!"
"Do what?" she demanded.
"Nia, he has a whole room of editing equipment. He makes copies of the videos! He has a collection of dozens of videotapes, different girls. I don't know what he does with the videos, but I'd bet he sells them! Nia, he made you part of his video collection!"
Brad's heart wrenched as he watched the tears flood her eyes. Why wouldn't she just listen to him?
"Nia, I'm trying to protect you, that's all! I love you!"
"What's going on here?" Kevin appeared on the stairs in his pants.
"I know what you're up to Kevin. I know all about your videos and I won't let you keep using her." Brad snarled.
"Listen, blondie, I've seen you lurking around. I see you follow her. I see you lusting for her. You need to face up to the fact that I give her what you don't. I keep her satisfied."
"You'redisgusting, Kevin. You videotape your bedroom!"
"I do it to improve my skills. I watch thetapes again to see what my girl likes, so I know how to please her even more." Kevin said smoothly, stepping over to Nia. Nia backed away from him.
"You must have 100 tapes in there!Look at the bruises on her, Kevin, you did that!"
"She didn't complain at the time." Kevin said calmly." She was begging for more."
Nia's eyes widened.
"I think that's your problem, blondie. I think you're just jealous that I bagged her before you did. She begs me for it, man. I know what she likes. I know how to make her scream." Kevin crossed his arms over his chest. Nia felt the bile rising in her throat. Brad was right.
"Stop." she said shakily.
"Baby, you know I satisfy you. Less than an hour ago ‑"
"Stop!" she yelled. Kevin was puzzled. "Kevin, I think you should leave."
"Me? Baby, we're just getting started ‑"
"I want you to leave." Kevin's dark eyes narrowed.
"You better rethink that."
"I don't need to. Get your clothes and leave."
"Baby, give me ten minutes to make you change your mind."
"She said leave, asshole, now do it."
Nia glanced at Brad, startled. Gentle, mild-mannered Brad was losing his temper. And he was rather sexy while doing so. In fact, in his black leather jacket, his hair down, and that protective attitude, Nia was seeing him in a new light.
"You gonna make me, pretty boy?" he snarled, facing Brad.
"Kevin, please just go." Nia said.
"Why do you think she put on that hot little number? 'Cause she wanted me. She was all over me man, the minute I stepped inside, like a bitch in heat. "
"Get out of my house." Nia stepped forward, eyes furious. "You lying son of a bitch."
"Get out of here before I throw you out." Brad snarled. His father had raised him to be a gentleman. Women were to be cherished, respected, adored. Never could he have referred to a woman like that.
"I'll get my shoes. You can have the little slut. I'm done with her."
Brad moved swiftly, but Kevin was ready for his swing, dodged it and slammed his fist into Brad's jaw.
"Brad!" Nia screamed.
"Nia, stay back!" Brad ordered, retaliating with a kick that forced Kevin back a few feet towards the fireplace. .
"You wanna take me on, blondie?" Kevin grinned maliciously.
"Brad, he has a black belt. Don't. Kevin just go. Please." Nia knew Kevin could kill Brad. In his living room she had seen all the trophies for martial arts.
Kevin's false start caught Brad. Kevin grabbed Brad by the arm and hit his shoulder sharply, at which Brad screamed.
"Kevin! Stop it!" Nia screamed. Trying to get to Brad, Kevin grabbed her by the arm.
"No woman throws me out." he growled. Nia's soccer strength was in her legs. Ramming one knee into his crotch, her other slammed against his face and he was down temporarily. Running to Brad's side, Nia feared for him.
"I think he dislocated my shoulder." Brad winced, tears streaming down his face. His face was beginning to swell from where Kevin clocked him. With his other arm, he tried to push Nia away before Kevin could grab her, but he didn't succeed.
"You little bitch." Pulling Nia to her feet he tore the straps on her dress as he pinned her against the wall.
Brad rose to his feet, grabbed Kevin by the shoulder and turned him. Kevin, ready, belted Brad across the face again. Nia tried to dart past him, but he caught her and smacked her hard.
"Brad! Nia!"
Seth was there, with a guy Nia had met once or twice. Seth, a student of martial arts himself, attacked Kevin and the pair went at it around the room, knocking over furniture. Richie knelt next to Brad and Nia crawled over, trying to hold her dress up. Quickly, Richie put his jacket around her as she held Brad's head in her arms. He was out cold.
"The police are on the way. Stay here." Richie said, quietly. Nia nodded. "I'm going to help Seth."
Seth needed it. Though a formidable opponent, Kevin was bigger and crazed. Kevin threw Seth against the wall and the man's eyes swam. Just as Kevin grabbed him by the shirt, Richie grabbed a chair and whacked Kevin in the back with it. Stunned, Kevin was frozen for a minute, which was all the time Seth needed to rattle off a series of blows that finally took the man down.
"Richie, in the kitchen, top drawer to the far left, there's rope." Seth told him, pinning the larger man down.
Richie ran for the rope. They could hear the sirens approaching.
Nia cradled the unconscious Brad in her arms, sobbing. Slowly, he stirred.
"Hey,gorgeous. What's wrong?" he murmured. Blue and red flashing lights danced off the living room walls. The couch had been moved askew, a splintered chair lay on its side, a lamp had been broken and the armchair was overturned.
Wiping her tears way she kissed him lightly.
"EVERYBODY FREEZE! POLICE!"
***
Richie helped Brad up the stairs.
"Take it easy." he said quietly.
"Thanks, man. I owe you." Brad smiled at his friend.
Seth had stayed with Nia until she fell asleep, then he crashed on the couch downstairs. Richie had gone with Brad to the hospital where they reset his shoulder.
Slipping into Nia's room, Brad made his way to the bed, everything spinning. The codeine and assortment of painkillers hehad been given was kicking in. Easing his shoes off, he slid under the comforter to lie next to Nia. By the fresh peach smell of her skin and dampness of her hair, he knew she had taken a shower.
Snuggling next to her as carefully as he could without causing himself extra pain, Brad quickly fell asleep.
***
Nia awoke in the middle of the night, recognizing the breathing pattern next to her. She had spent too many years with him to not recognize it. Rolling over onto her other side, she studied Brad as he slept. His left eye was purple and swollen, his lip was cut and bruised. His right shoulder was in a sling.
Softly, she leaned over and brushed her lips against his. His eyes moved, but he didn't wake up. Happily, she kissed him again.
This time he opened his eyes, though his left wouldn't open fully.
"I'mdreaming." he murmured, closing his eyes again.
"No, you're not, Brad." she whispered, brushing back his long hair.
"You just kissed me. I'm dreaming. But it's a nice dream." he murmured thickly.
"I'll kissyou as many times as you want to prove it's not a dream." She chuckled.
"I won't refuse that offer." he answered, his eyes closing again.
"Can you forgive me for being so stupid?" she asked.
"Two conditions." his eyes opened again, more alert now.
"Name them."
"One, you move. You're hurting me." hegroaned.
With a small gasp, she moved quickly. Thecovers fell back to reveal her bare shoulders, the straps of her silk nightgown having fallen down. Brad tried not to stare at her tanned flesh.
"What'sthe other?"
"Before we take this leap, I want you to think about what you're saying. I don't want to risk our friendship."
Nia was silent, studying his handsome features. A short gash on his forehead she'd just noticed.
Studying his handsome features, Nia thought about the years they had spent together. The laughter, the tears, the comfort, the support. All this time he had been there, right in front of her. With all the yearning and adoration her young heart could invoke, Nia leaned over and kissed Brad lovingly.
THE END
