Page 88 of Nikola

“We aren’t them,” Mama protested.

“That’s right, we’re smarter,” Branka added.

“You two manipulated the situation a bit,” Mrs. Nikolaev chimed in, although there was no bite to her words. “I understand you weren’t taking chances with our refusal, but?—”

“Would you have refused?” Nikola cut her off.

“No.” There was no hesitance to Mrs. Nikolaev’s words, and when she smiled softly at me, I knew she meant those words. “I’m so happy for both of you. We’ll figure out how to manage Dante and Sasha, and eventually, they’ll accept this too.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Nikolaev,” I signed, choking up all over again.

“Remember, you have to call me Isabella,” she reminded me.

I nodded.

“And no more Mr. Nikolaev,” Nikola’s father interjected. “Call me Vasili. After all, you’ll be an even closer member of our family.”

I swallowed, glancing at Mama who was smiling, before I returned to lock eyes with him. “Thank you, Mr.… Vasili.”

He flashed me a reassuring smile, although his expression remained somber.

“Dad, maybe you can procure a priest so I can marry Skye before Dante and Sasha wake up from their drug-induced sleep?”

He opened his mouth to answer, but Mama was already shaking her head in stern denial.

“You don’t agree with that plan, Phoenix?” he asked her, his brows furrowed. “They might be easier to handle if the deed is done and behind us.”

“Oh, the deed is done,” Mama signed with a wry expression. “But Dante deserves to walk his only child down the aisle. We can’t, and won’t, take that away from him.”

“Or from Sasha,” Branka added. “It will break their hearts.”

“But what if those two never agree to this?” Vasili questioned. “They were scheming to kill Enrico Marchetti to get out of it.”

“This is where I draw the line,” Mama claimed. “Dante and Sasha will walk Skye down the aisle, and we’ll wait for as long as necessary for them to come to terms with Skye’s marriage to Nikola.”

I could see my mama’s point, but waiting for my papa and Sasha to come to terms with the idea of Nikola and me wasn’t exactly my dream scenario. On the other hand, I wouldn’t forgive myself if I hurt Papa and Sasha.

Nikola’s eyes zeroed in on me. “What do you want to do, Skye? You know I’m up for dragging that priest back and pointing a gun at him so he can marry us, but I don’t want to take away from your dreams of a perfect wedding.”

God, I loved this man so much. He might act crazy and unhinged at times, but he was the most wonderful man on this planet and I wouldn’t have him any other way.

“You two almost got married without us?” Isabella protested like she was ready to cry, almost as if the wedding had actually happened.

Nikola pecked his mom on the cheek. “But we didn’t.”

“Instead, you made a sex tape,” Vasili grumbled, causing my cheeks to flame. “We’re so freaking lucky.”

Mama, Branka, and Isabella shook their heads.

“I thought it was a great idea,” Marietta chimed in, speaking for the first time.

I winced, shooting her a warning glare, and she just laughed, putting her hands up in surrender.

“I’ll work on Papa and Sasha,” I announced. Mama and Branka were right; I couldn’t take the experience away from them. They were my heroes, and I was who I was thanks to them. “They’ll have no choice but to agree. I don’t want to rob Papa or Sasha from walking me down the aisle.” I sensed Nikola’s grumble and I took his hand in mine, gripping it. “They deserve at least that much. They’ve been such amazing father figures to me.”

“Skye, those twoareyour fathers, end of story,” Branka stated matter-of-factly.

And just like that, the tension eased and we got to talking about possible venues and floral arrangements. I knew we weren’t in the clear yet and that a storm was no doubt brewing, but sitting here, surrounded by so many people who loved me, I felt at ease.