Chapter 52
CHAPTER
FIFTY-TWO
SOFIYA
Nikolai’s hand is glued to my elbow as he helps me down the stairs, moving so slowly it feels like we’re trying to sneak past a sleeping guard.
“Careful,” he says, his brow furrowing. “Your feet?—”
“—are fine,” I interrupt. “You’re driving me insane. I can handle a few stairs on my own.”
He shoots me a look. “Maybe I should pick you up and throw you over my shoulder.”
I roll my eyes, though I’m not totally against the idea. “I think you’ve carried me around enough for one lifetime.”
“Never,” he shoots back. “I like carrying you around.”
By the time we reach the dining room, my smile is stretched wide. The room is buzzing with life—Vadim chatting with Roman, Pavel smirking at something Eva’s said—and then my eyes land on my sister.
Liza stands as soon as she sees me, her chair pushed back hastily. A lump rises in my throat as she crosses the room in three quick steps and throws her arms around me.
“Sofiya,” she whispers, holding me so tightly I can hardly breathe. When she pulls back, her hands frame my face, her eyes sweeping over me like she’s memorizing every inch. “I’m so relieved you’re okay. When Roman told me what happened—” her voice breaks.
I grip her wrists gently, smiling through the tears spilling down my cheeks. “I’m okay because of everyone here. And because of you. You believed me enough to send Roman and Pavel to meet with Niko, and I’m so thankful you did.”
Her thumb brushes a tear from my face. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
I shake my head. “It’s behind us. That’s all that matters.” Although, from what Niko told me this morning, not everything is behind us. The Black Company is back on Russian soil, and they are targeting the Syndicate.
Before we can spill any more tears, Yelena sweeps into the room, directing the staff as they set the table with dish after dish—and, not surprisingly, many of my favorite foods. Then she crosses the room and wraps me in a hug that rivals my sister's chokehold.
“I’m so relieved,” Yelena says softly. “It’s over now.”
And it is.
Niko pulls out my chair, his hand briefly brushing mine as he helps me settle into my seat. He kisses the top of my head before sitting beside me. Across the table, Liza’s eyes are locked on us, wide and unblinking, as if she can’t quite believe what she’s seeing.
I arch an eyebrow. “Do you plan on staring at us through the whole meal?”
Liza blinks, caught off guard, her cheeks coloring. “Sorry! It’s just… weird. You two—like this. I’m still trying to process it.”
Niko smirks, leaning back in his chair. “You’ll get used to it.” His eyes dart to my finger. I’m wearing the ring he gave me weeks ago. I don’t mind the tattoo so much now. It’s not exactly a story for the grandkids, but it’s one I’ll cherish forever.
For now, his ring over the tattoo feels right.
Liza’s smile is soft but not entirely free of tension. I can tell she’s still struggling to reconcile the man who abducted me with the one I choose to call husband.
Roman notices it, too. He reaches out, his hand settling on the back of her neck. “If you saw what I saw last night, you’d understand.”
Pavel leans forward and grabs his third cheese Danish while Yelena looks on with hearts in her eyes. “It’s not exactly like these two were an obvious couple,” he says, nodding toward Liza and Roman. “Weird shit happens all the time.”
Eva clears her throat, her grin wicked. “It wouldn’t be surprising to you if you’d been here from the start. Even when they were hating each other, they were still… not quite hating each other, if you catch my drift.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help the laugh that escapes me. “That says a lot, considering I thought you were his girlfriend.”
Eva lets out a choked sound of disgust. “Even if I were into guys, it wouldn’t be him. He’s basically my brother.”
“The day Niko skipped a day of meetings to take Sofiya shopping was when we all knew he was a goner,” Vadim elbows my husband, who shoots him a glare. “Took him a while to figure it out, but we saw it plain as day.”
Niko sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. “Do I need to leave so you can finish roasting me?”
Vadim grins. “No need. It’s much more fun when you’re here for it.”
The teasing continues, but Niko turns toward me, a finger under my chin. “How do you explain falling in love with your captor, moya sladost?”
I release a huff of breath. “You’re a complicated man, Nikolai Zhukov. Manipulative at times, controlling, maddening—but also loyal, protective, and brave in ways no one else is. You don’t do anything halfway, including loving the people in your life. Even if that's scary after all you’ve been through.”
He flinches, not quite believing me, but I press on. “You think you’re too damaged, too dangerous, but I see the man who watched Scream with me because he knew I was bored and lonely. The man who bought me a dance school because he saw my real passion. You think you’re hard to love, but you’re wrong. I can’t not love you.”
His lips part, but no words come out. For once, Niko seems at a loss.
“I love you too, moya sladost, and that’s never going to change,” he declares, his voice unwavering. “You’re mine, for as long as you’ll have me. Even if the world burns to ash around us, I’ll fight through the flames to keep you by my side.”
My throat feels raw, and I have to hold back tears. He leans in, and the kiss he gives me makes it clear that he’s forgotten we’re at a table full of people. When we pull away, the room is still.
“Good,” Yelena’s voice reaches us across the table. “And now you have a baby.”
I throw my head back and groan while laughter breaks out around the table. “Give us a year or two,” I say as Niko grabs my hand under the table.
“It’s never too early to start trying,” he murmurs.
A few hours later, I’m curled up with Liza on a couch while everyone else talks Bratva business. A heavy blanket stretches across our laps as I carefully prop my feet up on the armrest.
Her head briefly rests on my shoulder, and she releases a weary sigh. “You look better than I thought you would.”
I laugh quietly. “Thanks, sis.”
“I’m serious.” She turns to face me, her expression tight. “When Roman called last night and told me what happened—what could’ve happened—I thought I was going to lose my mind.”
My heart contracts, and I grab her hand. “I know; I’d feel the same way if it was you. I’m sorry I’ve caused you so much stress these past few weeks.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s that man of yours.” She stares at me intently. “But fuck, the way he looks at you… I might have to forgive him, eventually.” I know she’s joking. Mostly. “Did you honestly think Eva was his girlfriend?”
“Yup. Well, more of a fuck buddy situation. She’s gorgeous, was always around, and they’re super close. It was a fair assumption. I also didn’t know women could be that high up in the bratva.”
Liza shrugs. “Maybe Niko is a feminist pioneer.”
I burst out laughing. “Yeah, maybe.”
“So tell me about this dance school he bought you?”
A grin spreads over my face. “It’s for underprivileged kids who wouldn’t get a chance to dance otherwise. I’ve already seen the space, and it needs work but we’ll make it happen. Soon I can hire staff and start figuring out all the logistics. It’s mine to do what I want with, even though Niko offered to fund it completely, I want it to stand on its own without relying on his money.”
Liza frowns. Not quite the reaction I expected. “What about Berlin and your dreams of performing onstage? Is that something you’re going to give up?”
I look down at my hands, clutching the blanket in my lap. “Not entirely, but dreams change. Maybe I’ll get a chance to perform with the school. The school feels way more meaningful. And who knows, the next school I open could be in Berlin.” We’re both quiet for a moment. “I'd really like your help,” I say to her. “If you’re willing to, that is. I could use your business brain.”
Liza smiles, brushing her hair behind her ear. “You know I’d love to help. Whatever you need.” Her smile turns mischievous. “Better pick my brain now because I might be a little busy in nine months.”
I blink, caught off guard. “Wait. Are you—Liza, are you pregnant?”
Her cheeks flush. “I think so. I’m late, and the home test was positive, but I want to confirm with the doctor before saying anything to Roman.”
“That’s amazing!” I hug her tightly, tears pricking my eyes.
“Don’t get sappy on me. I’m still processing.”
“Roman is going to freak out. In a good way, I mean.” My eyebrows pull together. “How did this happen?”
“Well, Sofi, when two people love each other?—”
I carefully elbow her in the ribs. “I meant, I thought you’d be too stressed to do the deed.”
“Uh, I mean, I was stressed. It just turns out that my favorite method of stress relief is with my husband inside of me.”
“Okay, TMI.” I hold up a hand. “But this is the best fucking news in the world.”
Her smile turns wistful. “It’s still early, and I don’t want to get my hopes up,” she admits. “We still have a long road ahead of us.”
She’s not just talking about her pregnancy. There’s also the Black Company threat to contend with. I haven’t asked too many questions about them, and Niko hasn’t volunteered any information, but I know it’s what everyone is discussing now. Maybe the one silver lining is that the Syndicate and the Zhukov Bratva are allies again.
I wrap her in my arms because there’s nothing more to say. The idea that there could be a mini-Liza or Roman in the next year makes my heart feel so damn full.
“Think you and Nikolai will have kids someday?”
“Someday, sure. Right now, I just want to enjoy being an auntie and being with Niko. It feels like my whole life has been this race—trying to prove myself worthy of love. Even though you tried so hard to make up for our crappy parents, I guess it was easy to feel like I wasn’t good enough for them.” She’s silent, but I know she feels the same. “But with Niko… he makes me feel like I’m enough, just as I am. It’s the most incredible feeling, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
She squeezes my hand, her voice gentle. “In the weirdest of ways, I’m glad you found him. You deserve every bit of happiness.”
I smile, a riot of emotion playing in my chest.
I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be—with the man who sees me, loves me, and makes me whole.