His Dangerous Love On Ice (Olivia and Zane) novel Chapter 157

Olive’s POV

The wind blew through my face with a force that made my eyes water, my hair whipping wildly behind me as I rode the bicycle down through the street with my hands shaking from the thrill of it all, and even feeling the fear coursing through my veins, the anxiety that I might crash at any second, only made everything more interesting, more exciting, more alive than I’d felt in forever.

I increased the pressure on the pedals because I loved the fact that I was finally getting the hang of this without caring about the consequences, breaking the very first rule Klaus had set when he’d agreed to teach me.

A voice screamed behind me, panic clear in every word.

“Don’t get yourself hurt! Reduce the speed, Olive!”

But rather than slow down like any rational person would, his voice somehow motivated me to increase the speed even more, and I cycled even harder through the paved road, my laughter echoing through the quiet suburban street as I tried to race against Klaus who was probably having a heart attack watching his baby sister act like she had a death wish.

He’d taught me on the first trial, the first round, and I was already so fucking good at this-better than he’d expected, better than I’d expected myself.

And that was what he loved about me, one of the many reasons part from being his little sister who he’d do absolutely anything to protect.

But I was too focused on trying to prove a point, too caught up in the euphoria of finally mastering something that had seemed impossible just an hour ago, and I didn’t see the stone justing out from the pavement until it was too late.

My front wheel hit it with full force and suddenly I was flying, actually flying through the air, before gravity remembered I existed and I came crashing down hard, tearing across the rough pavement, my knees hitting the concrete with a sickening crunch that I felt more than heard, and blood came rushing out immediately, dark and fast and way more than I’d expected.

The pain hit a second late, and the next that followed were tears

Klaus had jumped off his bicycle so fast, I heard it clattered to the ground forgotten, deciding that running with his feet was much faster than pedaling, and within seconds he was kneeling beside me with fear written all over his face, real fear, the kind that made him look younger than his nineteen years.

I could see the terror in his eyes, the sympathy and guilt mixing together as he tried to console me and stop the bleeding at the same time, his hands shaking as he pulled off his shirt to press against my torn-up knees.

I could accurately remember his words even now, thirteen years later, could hear them as clearly as if he was still here saying them.

“You’re okay, Peach. You’re okay. I’s just a scrape. Nothing we cant fix.

But it hadn’t been just a scrape-my knees were mangled, skin peled back in ways that would definitely leave scars, and Klaus had known it even as he tried to keep his voice steady for my sake.

He’d carried me across his shoulder all the way home, my blood soaking through his shirt, completely neglecting both bicycles lying abandoned in the street, and I could still feel it even now-the warmth in his arms, the carefulness he used when he was applying the bandage in our bathroom while our other was out, the gentleness in his touch that contradicted how strong and invincible he’d always seemed to me.

And I remembered the sound of rain that started the second we reached home, like the universe was crying for my stupidity.

After applying the bandage with more care than any professional could have he’d told me that we would go out Managed, for another bicycle ride once I healed and stopped being so stubborn about proving I could do dangerous things, and he’d ruffled my hair and promised me ice cream if I didn’t tell Momhat had really happened.

“Olive, Olive!”

The sound of a voice came crashing memory, snapping me back into consciousness.

My eyes snapped open, bringing me back into the harsh reality the present where Klaus was dead and I was sitting in an office at the Mercer Company instead of bleeding on a suburban street.

Jessica was staring at me from across my desk, her eyes filled with concern that looked genuine, quite enough to make me feel guilty for zoning out so completely.

“Are you okay?” she asked quietly, like she was afraid of the answer. “You seem quite out of it. Are you sure I shouldn’t try getting an off day for you? You look exhausted.”

“Jessica, I’m fine,” I said, forcing a chuckle that came out more stained than I intended as I closed my eyes for a brief moment, trying to snap the weight of the memory off my shoulders like it was something I could physically shake away.

I looked around the office even though I was the only one in it, wondering how long I’d been lost in that flashback, wondering if anyone else had noticed staring at nothing like crazy person.

Jessica was still watching me with that ith that concerned expression, like she didn’t believe a single word coming out of my mouth.

“Okay, if you say so,” she said finally, though her tone suggested she very much did not think I was okay. “I just wanted you to review the documents I did for Antonio Mercer. His assessments coming up and I need to make sure everything is perfect.”

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