Page 102 of Deadly Knight

Dimitri eventually falls asleep, but I don’t. I’m too wired, my mind racing with everything from the past month. Halfway through recounting the plane ride, Dimitri whimpers, and his arms tighten around me.

“Katya…”

I roll slightly, studying his scrunched eyes. He remains asleep.

“Get away…from her. Stay away.”

Oh.I stroke my hand through his hair, trying to physically remove the nightmare from his head.

“You’ll all pay.”

“Oh, Dimitri…” I sweep my nails over his forehead and cheek, then down the back of his neck, embracing him as he is me. Hewhimpers before nuzzling into my neck, his breathing smoother than before.

I hold him for a while, unwilling to release him and let the nightmares back in. He’s dreaming ofthattime, and I wonder how often he experiences this. More or less than me? He claims he’s handling it well, but deep down, I don’t think he realizes he isn’t.

Nightmares are pieces of our subconscious, and his is screaming. My nightmares are expected, but it solidifies Dimitri needing space to reconcile. Totryand see what he comes out the other side as.

After a while, when I believe his sleep won’t get disrupted again, I pull from his arms. First to use the bathroom, and then to tread from his room, gaining the distance needed tothink.

Twenty-four hours can’t wipe a decade away. A decade in which I’ve forced myself to move on, to forget about him—even if I haven’t.

But in the course of one day, it feels like I’ve come home.

I wander away downstairs and into the kitchen, figuring a glass of water might give me an alibi if anyone finds me.

When I reach the kitchen, I find I’m not the only sad soul up late. Vanessa leans against the island with a glass of wine in her hand, Veles curled by her feet.

She turns when hearing my steps. “Hey. Can’t sleep?”

“Something like that.” I wander to the counter across from her, adopting a similar position. Veles wakes to inch my way, rubbing his face against my foot. “My mind won’t settle.”

Vanessa lifts her wine in my direction, like a salute. “I’ll pour you a glass if you’d like.”

I wave her away, though immediately debate if I should instead take the offer, if only to help me pass out. “No Zeno?”

“Nah, he’s back in Rome to stay close to his sister. He’ll probably come back in a day or so.”

I didn’t know he had a sister. Then again, there’s a lot about this family I don’t know.

“Is everything alright?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. Mob drama.” She rolls her eyes, downplaying her stress, for the way her skin tightens. “Dimitri asleep?”

“Yeah. Hey, did you ever have a marriage deal lined up for him?”

She chuckles before taking a small sip from her glass. “And risk my life? That’s funny. I’m only two years into the role, so settling the Bratva has taken most of my focus. Alliances haven’t been my priority.”

“And now?”

Her lips fold down in the corners, as though thoughtful. “He’s already spoken for, so it’s negated. Katya, that man loves you more than life itself. If I even considered finding another woman for him, I’m pretty sure he’d slaughter her and then me for making the deal.” She pauses, regarding me over her glass. “Where’s this coming from?”

I shift from foot to foot, bending to pet Veles and avoid looking at her. “Dimitri said…things today.”Things like quitting his role.Telling her that opens the chance for her to perform as Pakhan, and I don’t know enough to be certain where the bounds between cousin and leader are drawn. So, for his safety, I won’t.

“My cousin’s an idiot. I’m sorry he kidnapped you, but he’ll take you home tomorrow.”

Doubtful.“Do you honestly believe that? Today suggests otherwise. Did you know he bought my house? The one I grew up in.”

She blinks, whistling. “No, actually. That’s…”