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Together, Nikolai and Mikhail silently guide me out of the room, their gentle hands pressed firmly to my body.
Nikolai, with his hand around my arm, and Mikhail, with his hand against the small of my back.
With their presence this close, and so protective, the three of us leave the room, and leave the other men behind.
As we step into the hallway, I glance back over my shoulder.
There’s concern etched in Papa’s face, and it’s obvious that Dario’s fury is barely contained. Isaak simply stares back at me as he watches me walking away with his two sons. AndAlessandro watches us leave with an unmistakable glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.
“This way.”
Nikolai says in a low voice, bringing my attention back to where we’re heading.
As we reach a room, this one even bigger than the last, the door closes behind us with a soft click, sealing the three of us away from all the chaos.
I swallow hard, tilting my head back a little to look up at them, feeling their eyes searching my face already, waiting for me to say something. But I don’t know what to say—not yet.
My mind is still a little fuzzy.
My chest is tight with the weight of everything pressing down on me, and I’m not too sure how to process it all.
I breathe out, trying to steady myself, when they both move. Their arms wrap around my body once more as they pull me in between them, their warmth so comforting against this overwhelming storm that’s currently present in my mind. I don’t hesitate to wrap my arms around them either, sighting softly into their chests.
“How do you feel, beauty?”
My body trembles at the use of that word—now hearing it from his lips after so long.
Mikhail’s voice is so soft, and so full of concern.
My breathing hitches.
“I’m okay.”
I manage to whisper.
Nikolai’s voice is tight with something darker.
“Are you in any pain?”
I shake my head quickly, needing to reassure them.
"No, I'm not in any pain.” I say. “I just feel a little tired.”
They both exchange a glance, then they both look down at me.
Sighing, I rest my head against Mikhail’s chest, the steady beat of his heart grounding me.
Despite everything, despite the confusion and the chaos, I know that I’m safe here with them.
I'llalwaysbe safe here with them.
Mikhail cups the back of my head as he holds me close, and Nikolai strokes my cheek with the back of his finger.
Together, they speak to each other in Russian, their voices barely murmured whispers.
When they stop, I open my eyes to look at them both, and Nikolai tilts my chin up a fraction.
“Whatever happened between our parents meansnothingto us. We are not bound by their past, darling. We are not our parents.”