Page 51 of Nikola

Branka pursed her lips. “Don’t let Sasha and Dante hear you. They’d skin that poor boy alive, whoever he turns out to be.”

I winced. “You’re right.”

“I actually hope she takes her time before falling in love,” Branka remarked. “She’s so young.”

“Agreed, but considering time restraints with this arrangement—” I pointed out. “Let’s hope for sooner.”

Skye was so lucky to have the Nikolaevs in her life. Sasha and Branka would protect her at all costs, just like Dante and I would. In fact, Dante and Sasha were so overbearing and overprotective that nobody had ever dared approach her. Unfortunately, it made it impossible for Skye to experience the things I was sure other twenty-year-olds did.

“I saw Damien and Skye talking at dinner,” I pointed out, changing subjects. “Do you know what they’re up to?”

“I noticed that too. But you know those two…” Branka shrugged, rolling her eyes playfully. “Thick as thieves.”

“True siblings.” I leaned over and took her hand in mine. “We’re lucky they get along so well.”

Guilt passed her expression before she schooled it. “You know, we never talked about…”

I sensed where she was going, and I squeezed her hand. “Even if I’d known then that I’d miscarry and be unable to have any more, I still would have chosen to carry your and Sasha’s baby.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

Tears glistened in her eyes. “I’m so grateful you did, but the guilt has never stopped eating at me.”

I shook my head. “I truly believe that even if I hadn’t carried Damien, Dante’s and my outcome would have been the same. But I’m glad that we could give you and Sasha a beautiful baby boy.”

“You're a better person than I am.”

“Hardly. You two protected our girl until I could find her.”I chuckled. “So let’s put it all behind us. Only lightness ahead.”

When I entered the bedroom, I found Dante seated in the armchair, wrapping up a phone call.

I leaned against the bedpost and admired the man who’d aged like fine wine. His dark hair was streaked with silver around his temples, but other than that, he looked just like he did twenty years ago.

My handsome devil.

My knees still went weak around him, and when he kissed me, the entire world faded into nothing.

We’d endured some obstacles over the years, but I wouldn’t trade my life for anything. I loved it just the way it was. And I loved him more than any words could express.

The only dark cloud that sometimes lurked in a faraway castle was my grandmother who I never reconciled with, much to her dismay. People said that time cured all wounds and forgiveness came easy. That was a load of shit. I hated what she’d done and the years we’d lost because of her even more today than I did when I learned of her betrayal. She cost Dante and me our beginning and years of our lives, and even more unforgivable, those of our daughter.

Dante sighed and threw his phone on the nearby table, crooking his finger to beckon me over, and my grandmother was instantly forgotten.

I smiled, playing coy, and shook my head, knowing exactly where that would lead.

“Wife, when you look at me like that, it should be illegal to deny me.”

I chuckled. “I’m not denying you. I want to talk first.”

He sighed. “Let me guess. Skye and the arrangement.”

“I don’t agree with just marrying her off to anyone.”

Dante pinched the bridge of his nose. “Amadeo Marchetti isn’t just anyone, my dandelion. And his last name will keep her protected should something happen to me.”

Just the thought of something happening to Dante sent a sharp pain through my chest.