Page 52 of Nikola

I padded across the room, my feet sinking into the Persian rug, until I reached him. “The Nikolaevs have our backs. You’re not going anywhere, and neither are they.”

Dante and Sasha tolerated each other at best. He blamed Sasha—irrationally, which my husband knew—for the fact that we couldn’t have any more children. Dante felt that Sasha—notBranka—stole the one healthy pregnancy that was supposed to be ours.

Emotions were a funny thing, and despite the reason telling him otherwise, my husband couldn’t let it go. Hence why we continued to go in this circle of the two men bickering like hell to be the number one man in Skye’s life. Right now, they were just like children, competing for Skye’s affection and trying to be the superior parent. It was certainly a good problem to have, despite their constant yapping and bickering.

But I knew Dante respected the rest of the Nikolaevs. In fact, I believed my husband respected Sasha too, but the two were too far down the road of bickering all the time to stop. But if push came to shove, in my heart I knew they’d have each other’s backs.

“Their family has their own problems and have to protect their own.” Dante could be so stubborn sometimes. “I don’t want to leave anything to chance when it comes to Skye.”

“They’ll never stop protecting her, and we’re here too.”

“I need you protected as well if something happens to me, Nix. If I die?—”

I put my finger to his mouth.

“Don’t talk like that,” I scolded him, taking a seat on his lap. “I wouldn’t survive it.”

“You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

I shook my head. “You give me more credit than I deserve. Just don’t say that again. You and me… we’ll go together. Like Romeo and Juliet.”

His brows met his hairline. “Baby, those two were a tragedy. We’re a fairy tale.”

My lips curved into a soft smile. “That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

“A fairy tale?”

“Yes, I want a fairy tale for Skye.” His jaw clenched, but he didn’t comment. “She won’t get all that she deserves marrying a stranger.”

“I want the same for our daughter, but for that to happen, she needs to live. We already know from the last few raids that the traffickers are targeting children of criminal families.”

“We can protect her,” I reasoned, trying my best not to shudder. If I had to, I would repeat these words until I turned blue. Or until Dante finally caved. “So can the Nikolaevs. Do we really need to push her into this arranged marriage?”

Dante let out a tired sigh and guilt flickered in my chest. “I was able to push their wedding by a year. Maybe by that time, the threat will be eliminated.”

I doubted that, and so did he, judging by his tone. Organ trafficking had taken off and was too lucrative to just die down on its own.

“Marchetti isn’t one for backing down on any deal. Luca DiMauro could attest to that,” I reminded him softly.

“I know, dandelion. Don’t I fucking know it.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I should just kill him.”

“His wife—who’s my very good friend, in case you forgot—would be heartbroken.”

“Friends and family,” he muttered. “Sometimes they make even more trouble than enemies.”

I chuckled. “Maybe, but we love them anyway. If there’s one thing I know for certain, Dante, it’s that you’ll ensure our baby’s happy.”

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I let my fingers brush through his hair before I kissed his forehead. I inhaled his scent deep into my lungs while his hands tightened around my waist.

Taking my throat in a firm grip, he pulled away slightly.

“I love you, Nix. I’d turn this world red for you and our daughter.” All levity had vanished from his tone. “And I promiseyou this: if the Marchetti boy makes Skye unhappy, I’ll find a way to end him.”

The corners of my lips tipped up. “That’s an awful thing to say, but I love you even more for it.”

“As long as you love me.”

His lips found mine and I sighed into his mouth.