30. Nikola
NIKOLA
W e’d barely set foot into my father’s house when my uncle Alexei cornered us.
“You fucked up, nephew.” His vocal cords were slightly damaged from his early youth days when he was tortured, so his words came out rougher.
“Is this about Kostya?” I asked, but his expression told me he had no idea what the fuck I was talking about. “Ah, so you must have all seen the video.”
Uncle Alexei shook his head in disapproval. “That was a bold move. A real dumb one too.”
“It’s an artistic movie,” I claimed, but Uncle Alexei’s expression said it was a stupid claim. “I mean, you couldn’t even see anything.”
“Yet we knew it was you and Skye,” he retorted wryly. “Imagine that.”
“Undoubtedly the Marchettis will know it too,” I deadpanned.
Uncle Alexei's expression was sullen when he said, “That’s not the way we treat women, Nikola.”
“ It was consensual, ” Skye signed, rushing to defend me. “ We were just… experimenting .”
Alexei shrugged. “Maybe, but you’re engaged.”
She scoffed. “ Not anymore. Not to Amadeo Marchetti anyhow .”
“Kids,” he mumbled. “Nikola, I’m taking you to see your father, and you, young lady”—Skye rolled her eyes and I couldn’t help but smile proudly—“better go see your parents. Or at least your mother.”
My mom appeared, and despite having seen the video, the smile she gave Skye and me didn’t dim.
“Hey, you two,” she greeted us. “How was your day?”
Skye blushed. “ Ah, good, Mrs. Nikolaev .”
Mom waved her hand. “Just call me Bella. It’s high time, don’t you think?”
Skye shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably. “ Okay, if you insist. ”
“Is Marietta home?” I asked, taking the heat off Skye.
“Yes, she’s still sleeping off her buzz.” Mom pursed her lips in disapproval. Funny, a sex tape was totally okay, but clearly my sister’s drunkenness wasn’t.
“Okay, I’m going to bite the bullet and find my dad.” I pecked Skye’s cheek, then my mom’s. “If I die, make sure Skye’s still considered my widow.”
My mom smacked my forearm. “You’re not going to die.”
“He might,” Alexei deadpanned in a cold voice.
“He said to meet him in his office,” Mama called out after me as I stalked down the hallway and took a left turn. I entered, not even bothering to knock, but found the office empty.
“Might as well get comfortable,” I muttered as I took a seat in front of his desk, stretching out my legs.
The peace lasted merely a few seconds.