Page 23 of His Forbidden Obsession

LORENZO

Ieased the door to my room open, not wanting to disturb Niko. Once I’d checked in with all of the guards and seen that Rafe had fallen asleep on the couch in the den, I’d let Dante know I was on my way back. I didn’t want to knock and risk waking Niko.

Dante rose from his position near the window when I entered.

“Everything okay?”

“He woke from a nightmare, wanting water and ibuprofen.”

I looked at him, now sound asleep, lying on his side, good arm tucked under the pillow supporting his cast. “I wish I’d been here.”

“We talked for a little while. I put him to sleep with descriptions of my research.”

I huffed. “That will do it. What else did you talk about?”

Dante grinned. “That’s none of your business, but if you hurt him, you will have to answer to me.”

“He’s going to have to leave and start a new life somewhere else.”

“Why?”

“You know why. He won’t be truly safe here, and Remington isn’t going to allow me to keep a Russian asset in my home.”

“Fuck Remington.”

I snorted. “Say that to his face.”

“I will if I have to. Nikolai cares about you. Be fucking careful. Don’t let your martyr complex ruin something that could be perfect for you.”

I took a step back, feeling like Dante had punched me in the gut.

“I don’t—”

He raised his brows. “You’ve punished yourself enough.”

I pointed to the door. “Get out.”

“I’ll leave, but that won’t change anything.”

When he’d closed the door behind him, I walked over to the window and looked out.

He didn’t understand. I was six years older than him.

I’d been there as he grew up, watching him, protecting him, and then when the cops had dragged me away and locked me up, I’d left him with no one.

Our parents were gone, and Dante was left to deal with Rafe, who was already out of control.

That wasn’t something I could just get over.

Niko stirred, and I moved toward the bed. He settled back into sleep, but I was sure he’d sleep better if I were holding him. I pushed thoughts of the future from my mind and climbed into bed, where for the next few hours at least, I could be content.

I woke to bright sunlight and my phone buzzing. Niko stirred as I rolled over to answer it, and I realized he had slept soundly with me holding him. I shouldn’t be as pleased as I was about that.

I rubbed Niko’s back as I looked at my phone screen. The call was from Remington. I couldn’t put him off, especially since I’d slept half the morning away.

“Hello.”

At the sound of my voice, Niko rolled over to look at me. I put my finger against my mouth and hoped he understood that he shouldn’t make a sound.

“Lancelot and I will be there in an hour to discuss how we’re going to handle the Russians. I want your brother there too.”

“Which one?” As usual, he’d started right in like we were in the middle of a conversation.

“Dante. Do you really think I want to deal with the shit Rafael is going to say?”

I ran my fingers through Niko’s hair, hoping to soothe him back to sleep. “What if I told you both of them were already here?”

“Fine, but if Rafael runs his mouth, he’s out. I’ll be there soon.”

Remington ended the call, and I leaned down to whisper to Niko. “I’ve got to shower and get dressed. Remington and Lancelot Theriot are coming for a visit.”

His eyes widened. “What will they do with me?”

“Nothing. We’re going to find the best plan to get you somewhere safe and take care of your father and Ivanov.”

He frowned. “Where will you send me?”

“I don’t know yet, but I won’t agree to any plan that would make you uncomfortable.” I wanted that to be true, but I had a feeling that he wouldn’t like any plan where I wasn’t with him, and neither would I.

He nodded. “Okay.”

“Try to get some more sleep.”

“What time is it?”

“Almost nine o’clock.”

He stretched, and I enjoyed the sight of my T-shirt moving against his body. “I shouldn’t still be sleeping.”

“You’re injured, and I kept you up much too late. Rest while I get ready and call my brothers. I’ll have someone bring breakfast up. The TV remote is on the nightstand if you can’t sleep.”

He nodded, but I could tell he was worried. I hated the idea of sending him away. Who could I trust to look after him other than my brothers?

The highly trained guards Remington would send to a safe house.

With anyone else, I wouldn’t question that was protection enough, but Niko was different.

And why is that?

Because I was the reason he was here.

And what would have happened if you hadn’t decided to go to his room? He’d be in Ivanov’s hands now.

I shuddered as nausea curled in my stomach. I couldn’t let myself think about what that man would have done to Niko.

Tell yourself the truth.

He was here because he was mine. I let the enormity of that sink in as I stepped into the shower. I’d let myself make a rash decision, and now I’d let myself want someone I would have changed my own rules for. Did I dare?

Once I was dressed in a clean button-down and dress pants, I stepped onto the balcony to make sure the guards were where they should be. The man stationed below looked up immediately when I slid the door open. “Everything quiet out here?” I asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Stay alert.”

“Yes, sir.”

I pulled out my phone and called Dante.

“I’ve got to leave for class in five minutes,” Dante said. “What’s up?”

“I need you here. Remington’s coming to discuss our next move.”

“Didn’t you hear me earlier? I told you I have to work today.”

Niko was far more important than his classes. “You’re going to have to get someone to cover for you.”

He sighed, and I knew he wasn’t going to argue anymore. “You fucking owe me.”

“I know.”

I called Rafe next. He answered with a groggy hello.

“Were you still asleep?”

“Fuck, yes, I was still asleep. Dante took the other bedroom, so I slept on the couch.”

“It’s a perfectly comfortable couch.”

“Not when it’s right under your room, where you’re staking your claim on your little Russian.”

“Fuck off.”

“Why are you calling me?”

“Remington’s on his way to make plans. You need to clean yourself up, get dressed, and figure out how to remain calm while he’s here.”

“I’m the picture of calm.”

“Rafe.”

He snorted. “I’m getting dressed now. It’s going to be a hell of a day, isn’t it?”

“It sure is.”

I sent Dante to stay with Niko while Rafe and I greeted Remington. Lancelot had brought Tony, his pet monkey. They were basically inseparable. He headed right to the kitchen to get Tony some dried fruit to snack on.

“Where’s Dante?” Remington asked once I’d ushered him into the living room and offered him a drink.

“In my room, guarding Niko.”

He gave me a pointed look. “In your room?”

“Dimitri broke the window in the guest room.”

“One of your guest rooms. There are other options.” I held his gaze. If he thought he would intimidate me, he was wrong. “Dante doesn’t need to be with him. You have plenty of guards surrounding the house now.”

“I don’t want him out of our sight.”

“Do you think he’ll run?”

I stared at Remington for a moment, then realized he didn’t know Niko or anything about our situation other than the fact I’d fucked him for revenge.

Was that really the reason?

“No, I think his father will come back for him.”

Remington shook his head. “He’ll need longer to regroup after last night.”

“We can’t count on that. We need to get him to a more secure location.”

“I’m working on that,” Remington said.

“I need Dante downstairs.”

I could tell his patience was wearing thin. “I’ll send Rafe to Niko, then.”

Remington sighed. “It pains me to say this, but Lancelot convinced me we need Rafe too.”

Rafe gave Lance a thumbs-up.

Remington waved a hand toward his brother. “Go get Louis from out front and send him to Lorenzo’s balcony.”

I shook my head. “No.”

Remington’s glare almost had me backing down, but I held his gaze as I said, “I don’t know Louis, and neither does Nikolai.”

“And this is a problem, why?”

“Niko has been through a lot. He needs to be with someone familiar. I could have Dante bring him down here.”

The brief shock on Remington’s face before he covered it let me know I’d gone too far. I was losing it. I wasn’t even trying to hide how I felt about Niko.

“Absolutely not,” Remington growled. “This is family business.”

“Niko would rather fight for our family than his.”

“No. And why do you care how comfortable a prisoner is?”

Rafe cleared his throat. “Remington.” I tensed. What crazy thing was my brother going to say now? “Lorenzo has promised Niko his protection. He’s taking that vow very seriously.”

Remington huffed. “I hope that’s all you’re taking seriously. I told you to keep your hands off him.”

Rafe grinned. “Nikolai has to pay for his protection somehow.” How the fuck did Rafe know about that arrangement? “Right?” He winked at me, and I realized he was giving me an out.

Remington let out a long breath. “Maybe I should just kill all of you.”

“That wouldn’t solve your problem with Ivanov and Dimitri,” Rafe said.

I scowled at my brother. Now was not the time to anger Remington any further. We needed his help, and I needed him to work with me to keep Niko safe, because I would go against him if I had to, but it could be a death sentence for me.

“Very astute, Rafael. Do you have any other advice for me?”

“Well, I—”

“No,” I said. “He doesn’t.”

Lancelot, who’d been so much like Rafe at Rafe’s age, saved us by sending his pet monkey, Tony, over to Rafe. “Keep him company. I know all the plans, so I’ll go watch over Niko. Do you approve of that, Renzo?”

Lancelot was crazy, but I trusted him completely. “Yes. I’ll introduce you.” I turned to the stairs. Remington surprised me by letting me go without comment.

Lance had charmed Nikolai immediately, as I’d known the bastard would. If he weren’t so in love with Julian, I would have been worried, but I knew Niko was in danger with him.