Page 35 of Dangerous Liaisons
She dropped her hand into her lap. “I didn’t intend for it to happen, but it is my choice to continue that path. Should I choose to do so with him, youdon’t have a say in that.”
“For a long time, I found myself in love with you. Each time the thought entered my mind, I hated myself. I hated the thought of how it betrayed my little brother.” He held up his hand when she opened her mouth to speak. “It was momentary, a seed that grew into admiration and a different love for you. You have gifted me with an amazing nephew, and I know Nikolai would be very proud of the man you are raising him to become.”
She swelled up with emotion at his admission. “Thank you.”
Sergei refocused on the mantle. “Mother painted this after Nikolai was born. She said the innocent life she had created out of chaos inspired her and that one day he could look at it and know true love.”
“You never told us.”
“I was waiting for the right moment.” He raised the glass to his lips, swallowing the entire contents. “That moment never came.”
Isabella clutched her glass. She panicked at the hard look that crossed his features, all softness gone from him as swiftly as it appeared. “Please don’t leave.”
“I must look into what has happened. It cannot wait. I was too blind to realize how deeply loyal Alexie had been to our father. He must have taken Nikolai and Maxim’s death as a sign that there was a weakness in me.”
“He saw weakness inme, not you.”
“He was a fool.”
“You will leave and do something foolish. I cannot allow you to do that.”
Standing, he let out a dry chuckle, and the look he directed at her was one of amusement despite the coldness lingering in his eyes. “You must stay here and comfort Mikhail when he awakens.” He leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead. “I will return when Hunter Collins is ready to speak to you, little bunny.”
There was nothing more she could say, Sergei leaving her without another word. Her gaze ventured to the painting, and she stared at it as a lone tear rolled down her cheek.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Wake up, Isa, you’re dreaming!”
She continued to scream, twisting in the sheets to free herself.
“Zelenyy!”
She sat up straight in her panic, wide eyes darting around the darkened room. Xavier continued to cradle her against him, his words soft as he pressed his lips to her bare shoulder.
“You’re okay. You’re safe,Isa. I’m right here.”
Isabella collapsed against him, unable to stop the tears that streamed down her face even when her breathing slowed. She threw her arms around him and buried her face in the crook of his neck.
“It was just a nightmare.”
She didn’t realize she was mumbling in Russian, his hands stroking her back in comforting circles.
“Do you need some water?”
Refusing to let go, she shook her head and kept her eyes closed. It had been months since she relieved the pain of that night she lost Niko, endless days passing since the last nightmare interrupted her sleep. She knew it was a terrible memory that would never leave her, no matter how many good things happened to her.
“Hey, look at me.” Xavier maneuvered her, so their gazes met. His thumbs stroked away the tears staining her cheeks. “I love you; I’m here.”
Swiping the back of her hand across her face, she extracted herself free. She lowered herself onto the bed pillows and stared up at the ceiling. He waited patiently, resting a supportive hand against her upper thigh.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She shook her head, fighting to find her voice as tears threatened to choke her once more. “Do you ever dream about your wife?”
“I did in the beginning.” He settled his frame against the headboard. “I blamedmyself for what happened to Cassie. I barely slept. The fear of seeing her face and hearing her voice blaming me for not keeping her safe haunted me.
“You got revenge on the man that did it.”