34. Skye
SKYE
A fter we all agreed there wouldn’t be any half-assed, speedy weddings while Papa and Sasha were unconscious, Nikola packed a few belongings and went to stay at the club where we shared our first kiss.
Of course, nobody else knew that but the two of us.
Branka and Mama were deep in their wedding planning talks, and they were sure to get Isabella’s input on everything. Vasili dedicated his energy to the only thing he could control: business. His words, not mine.
Marietta, the fashion lover she was, was showing me wedding dress photos that she thought would be perfect for me. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I already had something in mind, and it was anything but traditional.
Because Nikola and I… we were anything but an ordinary couple.
Just as I was about to rip her phone, along with the Pinterest app, away from her, the doors and windows of Vasili’s office shook, and I knew Papa or Sasha must have risen from their slumber.
The door swung open with force, banging into the wall behind it.
“Where is that fucker?” I couldn’t hear Sasha’s roar, but I imagined it would have pierced my eardrums.
Branka shot to her feet and rushed to calm him down just as my papa showed up behind him, gun in hand.
“I’ll murder that little shit,” Papa signed. I was fairly certain he was shouting those words too.
“ Dante !” Mama scolded, her expression full of disapproval. “ He’s just a young man, and our daughter loves him .”
His expression darkened.
“He’s not good enough for her. Where is he?” I shot to my feet and joined my mother. “Don’t give me that look, princess. He’s not worthy of you. You’ll thank me one day.”
I pried the gun from his hand, then emptied the bullets before he did something stupid.
“ I’ll never forgive you if you hurt him ,” I signed calmly despite the turmoil churning inside me.
Papa shook his head. “He’s not right for you. Your husband should treat you like a queen.”
“ And he will, ” I signed firmly. “ He does. ”
“Skye, he’s a deviant. He’s all wrong for you. He’ll hurt you, disrespect you, and then I’ll truly have to kill him.”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” Sasha chimed in. “He is a deviant, there’s no disputing that one, but he’s never disrespected Skye.”
At least Sasha still had some sensibility left.
“ Papa, do you really think I’d let Nikola treat me poorly? I can hold my own. ” I tipped up my chin. “ And you taught me how to kick a man’s ass. ”
“He made a sex tape .”
“ Papa, I know. I was there, remember? ” My cheeks burned, and I couldn’t help but be annoyed at him. I loved him, but he could be so overbearing. “ He asked me for my permission, so I’m to blame as much as he is for that tape. ”
He gently cupped my cheeks. “Princess, he’s just not for you. Trust me on this.”
I blew out an exasperated breath. “ And Amadeo Marchetti is? When did you meet him? Have you not heard the rumors about him? Even I know that he’s a total playboy. ”
“He is?” Sasha straightened and had the decency to look slightly embarrassed. “News to me.”
I rolled my eyes.
“If Nikola cheats on you, I’ll kill him,” Papa said with a murderous expression, and hope flickered in my chest. He was coming around.
“ I can handle him .” I touched his cheek. “ Trust me on this .”
Papa kissed my forehead. “You’re strong and fierce, like your mama, but it’s my job to protect you for as long as I live.”
“ I know, Papa, but you don’t have to protect me from Nikola. ”
He didn’t look convinced. “Where is the little shit?”
I threw him an annoyed look. “ Papa, why are you not listening to me ?”
Sasha pinned me with a stare. “So what do you recommend, Skye? We just let Nikola get away with everything?”
I pursed my lips. “ Didn’t you get away with kidnapping Branka on her wedding day ?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Not the same. Nikola needs to be taught a lesson.”
I stared between the two most wonderful fathers a girl could ask for. “ If you hurt him, you hurt me. ” They sighed and I took advantage, doubling down. “ Let who I marry be my choice. ”
“Why are you making this so difficult?” Papa said with a steely expression and Sasha eagerly agreed.
“You’re too strong for your own good,” Sasha said. “It must be the Russian in you.”
“It’s the Italian in her,” Papa countered.
I let out a frustrated groan. “ It really doesn’t matter.
It’s having you both as parents that made me independent and strong.
Now, let’s stay focused. I need your promise that you won’t hurt Nikola, because I want to marry him.
” I let my hard stare set in before I continued.
“ Do you hear me? Want. I want to marry him. He’s the only one for me . ”
“Meaning?” Sasha grumbled, and I rolled my eyes.
I really couldn’t have been clearer.
“ Meaning I want your word that you won’t hurt him and that you will give us your blessing. ”
They shared a glance, but neither conceded.
“ Seriously, you two ?” My gaze darted between them. “ Couldn’t you take this opportunity to join forces and get along? You seem to get along when you want to murder someone, or when you both signed the marriage agreement. ”
Papa kissed my forehead with another sigh. “You’re right, princess.”
Sasha nodded. “Of course she is. And no matter what, you’ll always be our little girl, and we’ll kill anyone who hurts you.”
Papa raised an expectant eyebrow. “Even though that someone might be your nephew?”
Sasha nodded somberly. “Even so.”
Papa grinned. “Then let’s go hunting.”
I flew my hands up in the air exasperatedly, but they ignored me. Instead, they high-fived each other and left me staring after them with my mouth parted, shock filling every bone in my body.
Figured it would take some fucked-up scenario like this for the two of them to start getting along.