5. Nikolai
5
NIKOLAI
I t’s early evening by the time I catch sight of Alice again. She’s outside with the twins in the garden, keeping Mila entertained with some elaborate storytelling as Luka sits nearby, watching with wary eyes. There’s something striking about her out there, the late sunlight casting a warm glow around her.
I step outside, strolling toward them with a faint smile. Mila sees me first, and her eyes light up as she waves me over. “Niko!” she calls out, abandoning her spot and running over to me, arms outstretched.
“Hey, little bird,” I say, scooping her up and spinning her once. She squeals, delighted, and clings to my neck.
As I set her down, I glance up to find Alice watching us, a soft smile playing on her lips.
She gives me a polite nod. “Nikolai.”
I return it with a grin, keeping things light. “Looks like you’re winning Mila over easily enough,” I say, glancing down at my niece, who has already returned to Alice’s side, beaming.
Alice smiles, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Mila’s easy. Luka’s…” She hesitates, glancing over at the boy, who’s standing off to the side, staring intently at a patch of flowers as if they hold all the secrets in the world.
“Luka’s Luka,” I say, nodding. “It takes a while to get him to open up.” I know he’s guarded, just like his father. He doesn’t let people in easily—not since Elena. “But you seem to have patience, Alice. That’ll help.”
She chuckles, though her eyes remain focused on Luka. “I hope so. He’s got a lot on his mind for a kid his age.”
I can see she’s trying to understand him, to break through that wall he’s built around himself.
“Elena was…everything to him,” I say, my voice lower, my gaze shifting to Luka. “She was like his whole world, and when she…left, it left a mark. He’s careful with people. It’s his way of keeping himself safe.”
Alice listens, her expression softening as she takes in my words. She doesn’t ask for more, doesn’t pry, just nods, like she’s absorbing it all.
A soft breeze stirs, and for a moment, we’re both quiet.
“Nikolai,” she says slowly, her voice barely a murmur, “I’m sorry for asking, but…what was she like? Elena?”
“She was…bright,” I say. “Brighter than most people. She could make anyone feel like they mattered. And she loved this family with everything she had.”
“I see it in him,” Alice says, gazing at Luka.
Her words surprise me. It’s rare for someone outside of the family to see that side of Luka. Every nanny we’ve had so far has called him a host of names—difficult, spoiled even. It didn’t take long for Ivan to fire them.
“Thanks for trying with him,” I say softly. “It means more than you realize.”
She looks up, meeting my eyes, and for a moment there’s something there—something unspoken. She smiles, and it’s a simple thing, but it hits me like a punch to the gut. I don’t understand the feeling.
“So,” I say, lifting Mila into my arms as she clings to me, “don’t work too hard to crack Luka’s code. Give it time. He’ll come around…eventually.”
Alice chuckles, glancing at Luka with a nod. “I think I can manage that.”
I smile back, watching her for another beat before turning to Mila, who’s still tugging at my shirt, demanding my attention.
As I turn to lead Mila back toward the house, I catch sight of Sergei standing by the garden’s edge. He’s dressed impeccably, as usual, in a dark suit that’s a little too formal for the setting, but that’s Sergei—always polished, always alert.
He’s been with our family longer than most of our own blood relatives, and Ivan trusts him as much as he trusts us or Uncle Alexei.
“Sergei,” I call, motioning him over. “Come, I want you to meet someone.”
We walk over, and Sergei straightens, giving Alice a brief nod, though his eyes linger on her a beat too long. Sergei is hard to read, a man who keeps his thoughts as tightly guarded as his loyalty to the family.
Sergei doesn’t warm up easily to newcomers, especially not ones who are around the kids. I can’t blame him. After everything with Elena, he’s as guarded as the rest of us—probably more so.
“This is Alice,” I say, motioning to her, though I can see from the flicker in his eyes that he already knows who she is. Nothing gets past Sergei. “She’s our new nanny.”
Sergei gives a polite nod but says nothing. He doesn’t offer a smile, and there’s no warmth in his gaze. He’s courteous, in his own way, but never friendly, always keeping a distance. I can tell Alice is a bit unsure of how to respond to him. Her smile falters, and she shifts on her feet, looking slightly uncomfortable under his watchful stare.
“Nice to meet you,” she says.
“Likewise,” Sergei replies, though there’s a subtle coolness in his tone.
He glances down at Mila, who’s still in my arms, giving her a quick nod. “I’ll be inside if you need anything,” he says to me before turning on his heel and heading back toward the house without another word.
Alice lets out a breath, and I can tell she’s a little relieved once he’s gone. I chuckle, shooting her a reassuring look. “Don’t mind him. Sergei’s…well, let’s just say he’s not the warmest of people.”
She nods, her smile returning but still tentative. “He seems…intense.”
I shrug, smirking. “He’s been with the family a long time, almost as long as I can remember. He’s loyal, but he’s not one for small talk. Keeps to himself, mostly.”
She nods, still looking a bit uneasy. “I guess I’m still getting used to everyone here.”
“Give it time,” I say, my voice softening. “We’re not as intimidating as we look.”
She gives a small laugh, glancing back toward the house where Sergei disappeared. “Well, most of you, anyway.”
“Most of us, hmm? So you think I’m the safe one?”
Alice tilts her head, that small, playful smile still on her lips. “You’re…the least intimidating, maybe.”
“Least intimidating,” I repeat, pretending to be offended. “That hurts, Alice.”
She laughs softly, her eyes sparkling, and I can’t help but let my gaze linger on her a little too long.
Her cheeks flush, and she looks away, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. It’s such a small, innocent gesture, but it’s enough to have my mind wandering to places it shouldn’t. I can’t help but imagine that blush spreading across her skin, that same pink flushing her cheeks while she’s under me, her breath catching, her eyes locked onto mine as I…
I shake the thought away, but my gaze lingers on her lips, soft and pink, parted just slightly as she takes a small breath. My fingers twitch, a surge of want pulsing through me. I wonder how she’d respond if I closed that small distance between us, if I pinned her against the wall, if I let her feel just how intimidating I can really be.
It’s dangerous really—how easily she distracts me, how just the thought of her here, so close, makes me want to ignore every boundary, every rule. In my head, I imagine sliding my hand down, feeling her pulse quicken as I pull her close, feel her surrender?—
She bites her lip, and for a brief, charged moment, I think she might say something equally daring, something that would give me the excuse I need to pull her even closer. But before she can respond, movement catches my eye, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Ivan.
He’s standing a short distance away, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on us, and even from here, I can see the faint crease in his brow, a look of unmistakable irritation.
I straighten, clearing my throat and stepping back just enough to put a more respectable distance between Alice and me. The last thing I need is for Ivan to get the wrong idea.
“Well, I’d hate to keep you from your work,” I say, handing over Mila to her.
She just manages to nod as my fingers brush against her, shooting thrills down my spine. Something tells me she isn’t as unaffected by me as she tries to show.
As she heads back toward the house, I let out a slow breath, and the heat from just that brief moment lingers.
I glance back to where Ivan is still standing, watching me with a look that’s anything but friendly.