Chapter 14 #4
Nyx follows me into the large media room my mom is in. I plop down onto the comfy leather couch next to her and rest my head on her shoulder.
“Hey, honey. How are you?” She wraps her arm around me and pulls the afghan over my legs so we’re both covered and cozy. My fingers run over the soft yarn. My grandma made it, just like the one on my bed, and every time I use them I think of her.
“I’m fine, Mom,” I tell her, but she hears something in my voice and ignores the show she’s watching so she can look over at me.
“What’s going on? I thought you were still staying at Allie’s. What made you come home early?”
“Misha and Yuri,” I say, trying not to sound as irritated by it as I feel.
She gives a soft laugh at my tone and kisses my forehead. “Uh-oh, are they getting a little too protective?”
“When aren’t they?” I mutter.
“They love you,” she reminds me. “I wish I’d had two brothers to look out for me when I was young.”
“I love them too, and I know I’m lucky to have them. I just really wanted to stay with Allie. I hate feeling like I’m left out of the fun.”
“What fun?”
I shrug. “I don’t know, just hanging out with everyone, I guess.”
“Does this maybe have something to do with the two very good-looking Melnikov visitors? Maybe one in particular?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I tell her, but she just laughs at my tone and runs her fingers through my hair.
“I used to be young too, you know,” she says. “I haven’t forgotten what it feels like.”
“You had freedom,” I remind her.
“You know why things are different for you.”
“Yes, because my entire family runs a very illegal Bratva.”
She laughs again and presses a finger to my lips. “Shh, family secret, Sitka.”
I laugh and swat her hand away. “It’s not like I’m going off the property. I’m perfectly safe at Allie’s.”
“You are,” my mom agrees.
She’s quiet for a few seconds while she softly strokes my hair.
I relax against her, only tensing when she asks, “You going to tell me what this is really about? Niki used to visit here all the time before he got married, and you never once asked to stay over at Allie’s while he was here.
” Her fingers keep working my hair, letting me know she’s not upset, just curious. “Ev or Damien?” she finally asks.
“Damien,” I whisper.
I feel her shoulders lift with her soft laugh. “I knew it. Your grandma and I had a little bet going on. She thought it might be Ev, but I saw the way you looked at Damien when we went over there for breakfast after they arrived. I also saw the way he looked at you.”
“Are you mad?”
“Of course I’m not mad,” she says. “I just want you to be careful. Does he feel the same way about you?”
“Yes,” I tell her, not doubting the truth of it for a second.
“Smart guy,” she murmurs.
“Are you going to tell Dad?”
“I’m not going to keep it from him or lie about it, because we both know there’s no way I could pull that off, but I’m also not going to bring it up right now either. Your dad and brothers need to be eased into this one. I need to think about what the best way to do that is.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I tell her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders so I can hug her. “I really think you’re going to love him when you get to know him better. He’s perfect.”
She’s grinning when I pull back. “I can’t believe my daughter is in love.” When she starts to get a little misty-eyed, she laughs again and waves a hand at her face. “See? There’s no way I could hide this if your dad asks me about it.”
“Don’t worry. We’re going to say something soon.”
“So you wanted to go over to Allie’s so you can sneak out and see him, is that it?”
I try very hard to not blush while I say, “That was the plan, yeah.”
She gets a very sappy smile when she says, “I fell just as hard for your dad.” She shakes her head and laughs.
“Well, first he scared the hell out of me, and then I fell hard, but even when he scared me, I knew he was the one. He was stubborn, though, and fought me on it.” Her smile grows a bit bigger, and I hope like hell she doesn’t tell me too many details. “Tried to fight me anyway.”
Squeezing my hand, she says, “When you know, you just know. You want me to drive you over there?”
My eyes widen at that. “You’d do that?”
“Of course I would. I trust you, Sitka. You’re a smart girl, and Damien would have to be suicidal to risk all this if he wasn’t sure about his feelings.
” She throws the blanket off and starts to stand, “Come on, we’ll pick up your grandma on the way.
She’s gonna want to see this and hear all about it. ”
When Nyx comes walking in, my mom sees my worried look and says, “Don’t worry about her. I’ll let her sleep in bed with us and spoil her rotten.”
Knowing my mom will make sure Nyx is okay, I lean over and kiss her furry head before hurrying to my room so I can repack my bag.
I throw in the cutest bra and underwear I own and the small gift I’d put together earlier for him.
After shoving it all in, I send a text to Damien, letting him know I’m on my way.