Page 89 of Darkest Desire

“And so was Nico!”

Anger flashes in her eyes as she paces around the room. “Nico was trying to save you by putting a gun to my head?”

I flinch. “I mean… no. He was just trying to give Mikhail a warning, I think. But I could have been killed with what Mikhail did.”

“And I could have been killed by Nico so many times before. Long before you were married to him. He is not a good man. I’ve seen that myself. So excuse me if I don’t like the guy, when it seems to me that you clearly do like him.”

“I mean… fair,” I grumble. “You have a right to hate him. Sometimes I still hate him. But I’ve grown closer to him. I can’t deny it. And I don’t want him dead.”

The fight seems to leave Natalya at the same time it does me. “Ok. But Mikhail wants justice. There’s a good chance he’ll kill him. Why didn’t he kill him?”

“Because I stood in front of Nico so Mikhail wouldn’t shoot.”

A small smile plays on Natalya’s lips. “Funny. I’ve stood in front of Mikhail before, keeping him from dying. We’re not so different, are we?”

A part of me wants to rebel at the idea of being anything like my sister and yet…

It also feels kind of nice to have something in common with her for once. We never did growing up. She the demure, disciplined ballerina. Me the hothead who couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

“I know you don’t want to hear it,” I say slowly, “but I don’t trust Mikahil to fully keep me safe. I trust you though.”

Natalya gives me her hand. “And that’s all you need. As long as we’re together, we can get through anything. I believe it.”

I decide to take her hand. The moment we touch, I feel safe. But I can’t deny that Natalya’s hand doesn’t exactly feel like home anymore.

Nico felt like home.

I’m not sure what to do with that.

Nico

Since Mikhail kicked me out of my own fucking home with me wearing nothing but the pants on my body, I have no way to call for help. I don’t even have fucking shoes on.

I can’t risk returning to my home. The fire has spread and I’m sure firefighters and the police are there. I don’t need anyone asking me questions that I can’t answer.

So I have no choice but to walk until I reach one of my men’s houses – Tony. He lets me in after I bang on his front door. He’s a good loyal follower of mine. Collects his money owed to me ontime. Never talks back. He’s a good friend to have because right now, I don’t have many friends.

“I need to use your phone,” I rasp out. He doesn’t question me as he hands it over. I call Denis. “Mikhail attacked my fucking home and stole my wife. We have to go after him.”

“I want that fucker dead just as much as you,” Denis hisses. “But…”

I stand up straighter. “But?”

“But I’m busy disciplining my nieces right now. I can’t come. They thought they could try and escape. When I left for Rome. They tried to leave but were caught.”

“Discipline them how?” I slowly ask. Not that I care about Irina or Ana but… the thought of Denis beating up Sasha’s sisters doesn’t exactly sit right with me.

“By locking them both up. But I also gave them each a good beating. They won’t be running again anytime soon.”

I clinch the bridge of my nose. It’s in moments like this that I’m reminded of how much Denis annoys the fuck out of me. I only made a deal with him to gain power and get Sasha, not because I like Denis as a person. Now, I’m no fucking saint. But I don’t beat up helpless women. It’s my one code on conduct. An honor system if you will.

But I can’t tell Denis what to do in his own home, even if I did have the power to take Irina and Ana away from him. Which I do. Yet, I can’t risk pissing off an ally. Not when I’m in danger at the moment.

“Fine. You’re no fucking help.” I hang up and call Adrien. “Can you get here?”

“Since I’m currently in Paris, if you mean New York, then no.”

“I need help in taking down Mikhail Novikoff. I need all the strength I can get.”