Page 103 of Darkest Desire

I wake up to Nico’s face.

“Hey,” he murmurs, gazing down at me with love in his eyes. It’s the most affection he’s ever shown me.

“Hey,” I rasp out.

“Take it easy. You just got out of surgery.”

It’s then that I notice I’m in a hospital room and then I remember the gunshot wound to my leg. Looking down, I see my leg is covered in a thick bandage.

“Am I ok?” I whisper.

“The doctor told me your surgery went well and you should have a full recovery within a few months.”

I relax onto the bed. That’s good news at least. But… “Where’s my sister? Did you hurt her?”

Nico flinches slightly and I realize that was the wrong thing to say. “I didn’t hurt her. She’s waiting outside. I’ll go get her.” He leaves the room and comes back a moment later with Nat beside him.

“Sasha,” she gasps, gripping my hand. “You’re ok.”

“I’m ok,” I reassure her.

“You saved my life,” she says. “You got us out of there.”

“I was fighting for you.” My eyes flick to Nico. “Can I speak with him alone?”

“Of course. I’ll just be outside.” She gives my hand a kiss before leaving.

Nico rejoins me at my side. “You want to talk?”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have accused you of hurting my sister but you can understand why I would.”

“I know. I deserved it. I did point a gun to her head. But I promise you, Sasha, that I won’t hurt her again. I realized something seeing you unconscious and hurt, knowing I could lose you at any moment.”

“What?” I ask softly.

“I realized that I want you to be happy with me. And hurting your sister will only hurt you. So she’s safe from me. I promise.”

I’ve been conflicted with my feelings for Nico for so long, Between hating him and wanting to be with him, I didn’t understand how to feel. But now I know that I can trust him. The vulnerability in his eyes is new. He’s speaking from the heart.

He’s my future, whether I want him to be or not. And I know, deep down, that I do want him to be.

“Thank you,” I say.

“And… there’s something else. Natalya wants me to make peace with Mikhail. I told her I would consider it if you survived.”

“I did survive.”

“You did.” He sighs, rolling his neck back. “I think it means I need to make peace with Mikhail Novikoff himself. That fucker.”

“You don’t have to.”

“No. I do. I can’t risk him trying to get to me again and you ending up in the way. I can’t risk your safety. I just won’t. So…I’ll make peace with him. Denis is done. He wants nothing to do with me. Part of that is your fault, you know. When you told him about my deal with Giovanni.”

“A deal which promptly fell through,” I remind him. “Don’t blame me for your double crossing actions.”

He chuckles as he leans down to kiss my lips. “There’s the feisty woman I know and lo-,” he stops himself short.

I go still. Was he going to say… love?