"Brian??" Both Nick and I said in unison. I got up and walked over to them. Brian looked up.
"Nick, Rachel? You guys ok?" He said still trying to get his breath.
"As ok as we can be." Nick said still looking Brian over concerned on how he was. "How about you?"
"I am ok. Actually that was they first time the hit me." Brian said reaching up to his face. His nose and lip were bleeding. I bent down to Brian and hugged him gently since I was still sore.
"How did they get you?" I asked.
"Well I was dropping off the money and they looked in the bag but it wasn't enough so they grabbed me too. The police couldn't get to me in time." Brian said and I stepped back and let Nick hug Brian. Then for the first time Brian got a good look at us. He saw my face.
"Those bastards! I'm gonna kill them." He said angrily.
"Hey, me first! Get in line." Nick said also angry. I brought my hand to my face. I felt self-conscious.
"Oh my! Your arm." Brian gasped. Shit another thing for him to worry about. He gently picked both of my arms up and looked at them. They were black, blue, and purple and had some gashes from the sharp points on Rick's rings. "How about the rest of you? Are you hurt real badly?" Brain asked. I really didnt look at the rest of my body yet. All I knew was that I hurt a lot.
"I'm ok Brian, just a little sore." I said not wanting him to worry anymore.
"Nick, how is your back?" Brian asked. Nick was about to say how did you know but he then remembered the videotape that was sent to the guys.
"It's ok Bri, I'll be fine." Nick said shifting a bit. "Did they say anything to you after they took you?" Nick asked.
"Well from what I could hear under that sack was on guy said 'Why did you take him? We have the other two. This wasn't part of the plan.' and then the other one said 'Adam plans change.' then there was silence the rest of the trip." Brain said then scratched his head.
"Adam seems to want no part in this." I said
"What do you mean?" Brian asked confused.
"Well Adam said he was going to try and get us out of here if you guys didn't come up with the money by 6pm tomorrow because Rick said he would kill us at 8pm if he didn't get the money. Plus Rick sent him in here to hurt us again when they didn't have the money but for 4 hours he just sat in here and watched us sleep. He didn't touch us." I finished and Nick nodded his head.
"True but we still have to be careful." Nick said. I stood up and walked over to the door. "Rae? What are you doing?"
"Shhh." I said back. "I hear someone." They 2 guys got up and came over to me. "They are outside the door." I whispered.
"Lets move back." Nick whispered protectively and took my hand. We walked back to the corner and sat down. Rick opened the door seconds after we sat down. His men followed him. Rick walked over to Brian and pulled him up to his feet.
"HEY STOP!" Nick yelled. John hit nick across the face to shut him up.
"QUIET!" John yelled at Nick.
"Brian, Brian, Brian, you tried to rip me off. Are your friends not that important to you? I asked for 30 million and you bring me 15." Rick said angrily shaking Brian and banged him against the wall. Brian let out a groan. Nick went to get up but John put his hand on Nick's shoulder and pushed him back down to his spot. I sat there not sure what to do. "Like I said pretty boy, you don't pay your friends will suffer." Rick said letting Brian go. John went over to hold Brian as Rick went over and stood in front of Nick. Nick tried hard not to show fear but his eyes couldn't hide it. Rick grabbed Nick's arm and tried to get him stand but Nick refused. Rick, bring bigger then Nick then applied all his strength this time and easily lifted the 6'1" man up to his feet. He then threw Nick up against the wall and held him there. Nick groaned from the pain from his back.
"So BRIAN." Rick said emphasizing his name. "What should I do to him?" Nick was trying to get loose from Risk grasp. I sat there not being able to do anything. I didn't want to anger them anymore considering the position Nick and Brian were in. Being held by two angry and disturbed men. Brian didn't know what to say. He looked from Rick to Nick and back. "Well?" Rick said getting impatient.
"Please don't hurt him. It wasn't his fault!" Brian pleaded.
"Please don't hurt him it wasn't his fault." Rick mimicked in a high voice. Then Rick said "You mean like this?" Then he punched Nick in the stomach. Nick groaned and tried to bend over to ease the pain but Rick was still holding him up with his other hand. Nick shut his eyes tight and waited for something else to happen. Nick couldn't do anything. I heard a phone ring.
"Adam go get it will ya." Rick said annoyed. Adam ran out to get the phone. I sat there watching Rick just stare at Brian then back to Nick. Nick now had his eyes open again and Rick was staring him down. Seconds later I heard Adam yell.
"Rick! It is for you!" He yelled.
"I'm busy!" Rick yelled back
"They said it is important!" Adam yelled again.
"All right coming!" Rick yelled. "Come on John." Rick then punched Nick in the face. Both men left the room and locked the doors. Nick slid down the wall and sat on the floor. His hand covering his face and the other on his stomach. Both Brian and I went over to him.
"Nick, honey are you ok?" I asked shaking. What was I saying, of course he wasn't ok. Nick didnt answer.
"Nick, talk to us buddy." Brian said.
"Can't." Nick whispered in obvious pain. "Back" was all he said.
"OH my God! His back!" I gasped in realization. Brian realized it too. Nick's back was still sore and the gashed hadn't healed at all. I gently guided Nick to lay on his side on the blankets. He curled into a ball and his eyes were shut tight in pain. After a couple of minutes Nick took his hand away from his face and looked up at us. His eye was turning black and his nose was bleeding.
"I'm sorry guys, it just hurt to fucken bad." He whispered.
"Nick don't be sorry. None of this is your fault." Brian said softly. "Nick I need you to lay on your stomach so I can look at your back." Nick did so but slowly. Brian and I both saw new blood on the back of the white t-shirt he was wearing. Brian slowly peeled off Nick shirt off his back. I watched hoping it wasnt that bad but it did. His back was all black and blue and the cuts were bleeding. 'Why his back? Always his fucken back' I swore to myself. Brian went to work to clean it the best he could. Brian ripped off the bottom of his shirt to use to clean the cuts. Nick winced and silent tears rolled down his face. His hands gripped the blanket.
"Nick take my hand." I said putting my hand in his.
"Squeeze if it hurts."
"If I squeeze it will hurt you. I dont wanna do that." He said concerned.
"Me nah. Dont worry about it." I said with a small smile. I stroked his hair with my free hand to try and sooth him a hit.
About 15 minutes later Brian finished. "Well I did the best I could. Just hope it doesnt get infected." He said looking at me. I nodded and looked down at Nick. He had fallen asleep a few minutes earlier.
"How are you doing?" Brian asked me worried.
"I could be better but I will be ok." I said lying. I was in a large amount of pain but I didnt want to worry Brian.
"Rachel, you and Nick are exactly the same. You both suck at lying. Where are you hurting?" Brian asked with concern.
"Brian, the question is where don't I hurt?" I said with seriousness. Brian made his way over to me and put his arm around my shoulders.
"Get some rest." He said. With my hand still in Nicks', I put my head back against Brian's shoulder. "I promise to wake you up if anything happens." I nodded. I soon fell asleep because I was so weakened by everything that happened.
