Niko: Love me Harder by Serena Simpson

settled back as he pulled out of the mall lot.
    “Did you enjoy the mall?”
    She hated herself for asking, but a small part of herself needed to be sure he was ok with having spent the day with her. It wasn’t the money or the clothes. She could easily pay that back. She hadn’t really needed him to buy her anything.
    She’d learned a long time ago to provide for herself. It was the investment in time she was concerned about. You could never get that back. Money wasn’t as important. You could get that one way or the other.
    “Kitten, I’ve never gone to the mall with a female before. I’ve been there several times with my brothers. We go to the store we believe our purchase is in and then we leave. This was like another world.
    It reminded me of combat without the actual killing, when you locked eyes with that other female customer going for the same one-of-a-kind dress. Although I’m positive that they had more than one of them in stock, the look in your eyes as you stared her down, was more fascinating than a video game. We have to come back soon.”
    She flushed red. He’d seen the dress and his eyes had popped. ‘I can see you wearing that at our next company function.’ She had to have it. A hand reached for it the same time as she did.
    The woman had looked down her long straight nose at Dee and practically ordered her to hand it over. Oh no she didn’t. Dee had smiled at her, the smile she used when she was about to make a grown woman cry.
    The dress in question was in back of the car and the woman, well she would think twice before opening her mouth.
    She’d done it all without one cuss word emerging.
    “We should go show Rena my…” Her words turned into a scream as she felt hot pain tear through her shoulder.
    The pain was followed by a loud sound and the car lurched sideways on the parkway making for the shoulder of the road and a long drop.
    Pain ripped through her side as blood poured out. She gasped, trying to breathe as she saw Niko lose control of the car. They continued to head for the shoulder of the road with the car screeching as it side swiped several other cars before heading for the drop off. Her head flew forward and hit the dash.
    Her world went black.
    “Dee, please. Dee, wake up.”
    “Niko.”
    “Don’t move, Kitten. The car is barely hanging on. Any sudden movements and we are going to fall.”
    “Thought we had already fallen.”
    “We did, but the second time would be far worse. How do you feel?”
    “Somebody shot me. Twice.”
    “I know. You’ll be ok. We just have to get out of this little jam.
    “We need to talk about your idea of what constitutes little, Niko.”
    “We will, kitten. Just keep talking to me, ok?”
    “Were you shot Niko?”
    “No I think whoever shot you wanted me to watch. That’s why they shot the tires out so I couldn’t help you.”
    “It was the best day ever Niko. You remember that, ok?”
    “Kitten it was the first best day ever, not the last. What we need is a cell phone. I need to call Aran.”
    “It’s in my bra but I can’t reach it. My arm is pinned. Both of them are. I can’t move them.” She panicked as she tried to move her arms.
    “Calm down. It’s ok. I’ve no qualms about going into your bra. Stay still, I need to turn just a little.”
    The car slid sideways as he turned. She bit her lip to keep from screaming. She was sure the noise of her scream wouldn’t help them at all.
    “Why is your phone in your bra?” He kept his words slow and steady as he inched his hand closer to her.
    “I don’t have any pockets. I took it out thinking I would call Rena and tell her we were coming over…” She choked, a little blood coming out her mouth.
    “Dee?”
    “I’m fine.” Her voice was weaker and her breathing was shallow.
    “You’re doing a great job, kitten. Help will be here soon. Keep telling me your story.”
    He leaned over a bit as he got closer, trying to make no sudden movements.
    “I put the phone in