Chapter 36 #2
Nik’s whole demeanour changed the moment he saw her, warmth and love sparkling in his eyes. There was also pain and anger, like there always was when he looked at Tatiana, but none of that diminished how much he cared for her. That much was obvious.
I saved him from answering. “You don’t have to say anything, because I already know the answer. And it’s okay. You deserve to be happy, to try and fix things with her. I’m not going to let you give up your chance of happiness for this. Not when I can shield you from it.”
He looked conflicted, like he wanted to disagree with me but knew he couldn’t. A life without Tatiana was as painful for him to think about as it was for me with Drea.
“I’m the oldest. It’s my responsibility, Nik. End of discussion. I don’t want to hear any more about it.”
“What about Lukyan?”
I scoffed. “Be serious.”
“I am. He’s capable.”
“Capable, yes.” That was never in question.
“I say this with love, but he can’t be trusted with something as important as this.
He’s more likely to piss off the Tarasovs and get himself killed.
It’s what he’s done here,” I said, waving a hand through the air.
“It’s what he’ll do there, except he won’t have anyone in his corner to watch his back in Russia.
He’s not serious enough, Nik. He treats everything like it’s a goddamn game.
He also can’t keep his mouth shut to save his life.
How long do you think it will take for him to say something completely inappropriate and stupid? ”
Nik’s brows creased slightly. “Alright, I see where you’re coming from. I do. But, I think you should give him a chance. You’re too hard on him sometimes, Zander. Just talk to him about it. Explain how serious the situation is. He might surprise you.”
“Surprise me how? By getting himself killed on the first day instead of the third?” I shook my head. “No. It’s better if I just do this myself. Easier. Like I said, I love him, but Lukyan will just fuck it up. He’s unreliable.”
Nik opened his mouth to respond when his eyes drifted behind me, his whole body stiffening. I turned. Lukyan stood behind me, that same cheeky and mischievous smile on his face like always, but it looked strained. Forced. The light in his eyes seemed dimmer.
Fuck. Did he hear me?
Lukyan flounced forward on the tips of his toes, being careful not to knock any of the food off his plate as he sat down at the table. “Don’t even think about taking any of my food,” he joked, elbowing Nik playfully in the ribs. “What are you guys talking about?”
I blew out a small, relieved sigh. He didn’t hear me. If he had, he would have been incapable of not mentioning it. “Nothing.”
“Actually,” Nik cut in, his eyes dancing like he couldn’t believe this opportunity had fallen into his lap. “We were just talking about—”
“Is that Tatiana leaving with one of the Cosa Nostra men?” I pointed behind him, desperate to deflect.
Nik spun so fast I’d be surprised if he didn’t hurt his damn neck in the process. A feral growl erupted from his chest and he jumped to his feet, flinging his chair back. He stomped after them without saying another word to us, our conversation completely forgotten.
How lucky I was that Tatiana had chosen that exact moment to walk off with another man. I don’t think there was anything else that could have possibly deterred Nik.
“Should we stop him?” Lukyan whispered out of the corner of his mouth, taking a bite of his burger. “He’ll probably kill the dude.”
Yes, Nik probably would.
I shrugged. “Not our problem.” Nik had been throwing out ‘don’t touch’ vibes towards Tatiana all afternoon. He glared at any man that went near her. If one of them was stupid enough to try something with her, it was their own damn fault.
Illayana plopped down into the seat Nik had just vacated, blowing out an exhausted breath. “Man, hosting parties suuuucks,” she dragged out, plucking a french fry from Lukyan’s plate.
Their fight from earlier was all but forgotten. That was the good thing about those two. They fought like cats and dogs but forgot all about it a minute later, acting like it never happened. “Have you told him yet?” she asked Lukyan, her gaze sliding to me.
“Told me what?” Dread filled me. I looked at my brother. “What did you do now?” I sighed with irritation.
A flicker of hurt flashed in his eyes. It made me frown. It wasn’t like him to get hurt or offended over something like that.
“He didn’t do anything,” Illayana jumped in, defending him. “He has a…what would you call it? An admirer? A stalker?”
“A stalker?” I repeated, confused.
She nodded, a cheeky grin on her face, like she was enjoying this whole thing. “Go on, tell him,” she pushed.
“It’s nothing,” Lukyan mumbled.
“It’s obviously something . What’s going on? Are you in danger?”
Illayana barked out a laugh. “In danger of falling in love, maybe. Isn’t that what the letter said? ‘ You’ll love me as much as I love you, Lukyan, my darling’,” she said in a sweet, high-pitched voice, her tone mocking.
“Shut. Up,” Lukyan growled.
“Make me,” she taunted, poking out her tongue.
Lukyan jumped to his feet and Illayana followed, both of them glaring at each from across the table.
“No.” I cut my hand through the air. “We’re not doing this again. Both of you sit down. Now.”
They sat.
“Good. Now, you—-” I pointed to Lukyan. “Start talking.”
He huffed, taking another bite of his burger first. “It’s really nothing. Just some weird shit going on.”
“Like?” I asked, staring him down. My interest was piqued. Based on their body language, they weren’t worried, they didn’t seem freaked out or scared. Whatever was going on, Illayana found it hilarious, and Lukyan found it strange and annoying.
“It started off small. Just little things here and there. I got this feeling someone was following me. Watching me. I couldn’t see anyone, but you know when you can just feel someone’s eyes on you?
It was like that. Then the calls came. Two or three a day.
No one ever spoke. They’d call, I’d answer, they’d hang up.
Then my shit started going missing. Never anything of value, just random stuff I kept in my locker at the gym.
A shirt. Towel. Can of deodorant. Even my toothbrush. ”
“I told him she probably took it to cast some crazy voodoo spell on him to make him fall in love with her.” Illayana frowned thoughtfully. “Hang on, are we even sure it’s a girl?”
Lukyan glared. “It’s a girl,” he stated firmly.
“How do we know though? It could be some fat, old, balding, middle-aged man who still lives in his mother’s basement. Maybe he saw you from across a crowded room and it was love at first sight. Or maybe—”
Lukyan aimed and threw a french fry right into her mouth. Illayana choked, her eyes going wide in alarm as she pounded at her chest with panic. She spat out the fry, panting heavily. Arturo rushed over, fretting over her in concern, and she waved him away, clearing her throat.
“Serves you right,” I grunted.
“I know it’s a girl because she’s been in my car, and she left her smell behind.”
“Her smell?” I asked, arching a brow.
“Mm hmm,” Lukyan nodded. “Fruity and sweet and 100% feminine ,” he said, scowling at Illayana.
“Nothing was taken from my car, not even my wallet that I’d left sitting in my centre console.
There was no damage to the car. No indication it had even been broken into except for the scent clinging to the upholstery. ”
I frowned in thought. This sounded like it was way more than a simple admirer. It definitely wandered into stalking territory. “Was there anything else? Illayana mentioned a letter?”
“Letter- s ,” Illayana said, dragging out the ‘s’.
Lukyan ignored her. “The first few were about the size of an envelope and all they had on it was a lipstick kiss. The next few had some writing. Just random shit really. We’re perfect together.
You’re my soulmate. Soon we’ll be together.
Blah, blah, blah. And the last one, I got this morning.
” He pulled out a black card the size of an envelope, handing it to me.
Sprawled in beautiful red cursive writing was:
My love,
I am both devastated and hurt by your act of betrayal last night. Don’t you see how perfect we are for each other? How well we fit together?
We’re inevitable, you and I. Like death. We’re bound together by forces beyond our control. I felt it the first moment I laid eyes on you. Didn’t you feel it too? I know you did.
Let this gift be a lesson for you, my love. Not only a show of my complete and utter devotion to you, but also a display of what shall happen should you betray our love again.
Yours always, in this life and the next,
My eyes shot to Lukyan. What nine kinds of crazy was this? This went far beyond the limits of stalking and crossed right into the realm of delusional thinking.
“What betrayal is she talking about? And what gift?”
“Well, I went out last night and ended up fucking this chick in the alley behind the club. She was hot . Big tits. Nice ass. A screamer,” he winked.
Illayana gagged.
“I’m assuming that’s the betrayal she’s talking about,” Lukyan continued. “Because this was her gift.” He pulled out a medium sized box, the kind you get from a jewellery store, and placed it on the table.
I picked it up. God, did I even want to know what was in here? Lifting the lid, I saw ten perfectly manicured fingers inside. Written underneath the lid in the same writing as the letter was:
She lost her fingers for daring to touch what doesn’t belong to her. Take care of who you allow to touch you, my love.
“They belong to the chick I banged. I recognize the rings.” Lukyan inclined his head towards the box as he popped a fry into his mouth. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned about any of it, and that concerned me .