Chapter 2 - Nikita
Pink fairy lights hang from one side of my bedpost to the other, flickering a warm glow through my room.
The night is dark and cool with pale mist hanging around outside my window.
The air smells of fresh salty ocean. I love living near the sea.
There is so much space to breathe and think, and clear your thoughts.
Not lately, though. Lately, my brothers have me under lock and key.
Lying on my stomach, I'm stretched out over my bed, wearing sweatpants and a crop top.
My hair is pulled up into a messy bun, with black strands falling loose and hanging in my face.
There is a magazine open in front of me, but the pages don't have my attention.
I bite my lip, resting my chin on my hand and wondering when my life got so freaking boring.
It's Saturday night, and I'm home alone.
The entire house is quiet. I didn't even have the will or enthusiasm to put music on. I'm bored out of my skull.
My whole family is on a weekend vacation. They wanted me to go with them, but in all honesty, I think it was just to keep an eye on me. And I need a break from their smothering protectiveness.
Matvei and Diomid, especially.
I get it. They're worried about that Bardil Popov guy.
I mean, how bad can he be anyway? I've never met the guy, but he's Talia's brother.
Talia is amazing. Marlen and Simon are great.
Why would their brother be so different from them?
No one actually gave me the full rundown on what he did.
All I know is what I overheard. Marlen said he's selfish and reckless and has hurt a lot of people.
It sounds like he used people and then refused to take responsibility for his actions.
I really don't know the details.
But apparently, he's bad news, and until they know where he is, everyone is on high alert, and that means I'm hardly allowed out. And if I do go somewhere after I've begged my brother for permission… He makes me take a personal guard with me.
I mean, come on.
We're Bratva. There is always going to be some bad-news-guy, and we're always supposed to be on high alert. This Bardil situation isn't anything new to us, and I wish it didn't have to affect my social life so badly.
I get invited out all the time, but Diomid keeps shutting it down. Between Matvei and him, I think they'd lock me in my room if they had any say in the matter.
I know it comes from a good place. They want to keep me safe, and I love them for it.
But man, it's hard to be so obedient. And it's boring as all hell.
The rest of my family seems content to wait it out. They kind of have their lives all comfortable and cozy. Home bodies who like hanging out together, watching movies, or spending time with their partners.
But not me. I've been mischievously managing to sneak out now and then. Don't judge me. It's that, or I go completely insane.
Sighing loudly, I slap the magazine closed and roll onto my back just as my phone chimes a loud jingle. I grab it excitedly and flick the screen on, relieved for some kind of distraction.
My friend Mila's message lights up in front of my face.
Mila: Hi, you! I know you're under close watch, but there is this amazing new bar having an opening event tonight, and we have to go! It's the Red Dragon Hotel. I've just been sent VIP tickets! Please say yes! Is there some way you can sneak out?
A wide grin spreads over my face, and my heart somersaults. Obviously, I can't say no to Mila. It's opening night! It's going to be such an epic party. I've seen the adverts on social media for the new bar, and it looks epic.
My fingers dance over the phone as I type out my reply in a rush.
Me: I'm in. Where just I meet you? When? What are you wearing?
Mila: Meet me at The Red Dragon Hotel. I'm wearing red, of course.
Can you be there in an hour? My friend only sent me the tickets now, but the party has already started.
We will be fashionably late. Everyone knows the cool people don't arrive till later anyway.
I'll make sure your name is on the list at the door.
Me: I'll meet you there! Save me a spot in VIP. Have a few tequilas lined up for my grand entrance.
I grin as I toss my phone back down onto the bed and wiggle to the edge. Yes, thank goodness I'm not going to be stuck here all night wallowing in self-pity and my utter aloneness. And the invite came on the perfect evening. My family is away, so sneaking out is going to be ten times easier.
Tugging my closet open, I start looking for something to wear.
Just knowing I get to go dancing tonight already has me filled with energy.
This is what life is about. Friends. Music.
Living. Not hiding away in case some moron decides to do something stupid.
Besides, wherever this Bardil guy is, I'm pretty damn sure that the last person he's interested in is me.
He probably doesn't even know I exist.
From somewhere on the bed, my phone rings, and I rush over to answer it, assuming it's Mila. "Hello," I blurt out, trying to balance the phone between my shoulder and cheek while I lay three dresses out on the bed to see which one I feel like wearing.
"Hello, you sound like you're in a good mood," Diomid teases.
"And why shouldn't I be in a good mood?" I giggle.
He laughs. "As long as you're in a good mood while still behaving yourself, then you can be in whatever mood you like," my brother says.
"Well, thank you so much for your permission to be in a mood," I laugh.
Diomid chuckles. "How are you, kiddo? Are you lonely in the house by yourself? It's not too late to change your mind and join us. The flight is only two hours."
"Are you kidding?" I say, spreading out the pink dress and wondering if pink will clash with red too much or if the contrast will be a fun mix. "I'm finally getting some peace and quiet now that you've taken Matvei away."
"What did you have for dinner? I know you. You'll eat a bowl of microwave popcorn and call it a gourmet meal," he asks.
"Cheese and chives. And it wasn't made in the microwave. I made it on the stove," I correct him. I drop the phone from my cheek and press the speaker button, letting it sit on my bed between two of the dresses.
"Nikita, you have to eat real food. Didn't the chef make you something?"
"Of course he did. But I wasn't hungry. The popcorn filled me up."
"Did you watch a movie?" he sighs, picking his battles and deciding that trying to control what I eat is too much effort.
"No, I'm really into that new series, actually. I'm watching that creepy one you told me about. With the circus people… "
"Oh, yes, that's a good one. But I don't recommend it when you're home alone," he laughs.
"Please, there are a hundred guards in every corner of this place. I'm sure the monsters under the bed won't be a problem," I roll my eyes.
Pink, black, or white? I toss the white dress aside. It's not my current vibe.
"You are being good though, right? Not up to anything I wouldn't approve of?" Diomid asks more sternly.
"I'm not doing anything you wouldn't do," I answer cheekily.
"Kit," he groans, frustrated that I refuse to take his worry seriously. I sigh loudly. "I'm being good, you don't have to worry about me, Dio," I huff.
"Ok, good. You know I'm just trying to keep you safe, right?"
"Yes, yes. Enough about me, though. How is everyone enjoying the cabin?
Did you make a bonfire at the edge of the forest like we did last time?
" I ask, guilt spiking into me as I manipulate the conversation to change the subject.
I don't like lying to my brother. He means the world to me.
But I'm old enough to make my own decisions and control my own life.
One day, he'll have to figure that out on his own.
Until then, I have to hide a few things from him. It's just the way it goes.
He still thinks I'm this little girl who can't make her own choices. And like I said, I love him like crazy. My whole family… I love them all. But they really need to give me some space to live a little.
Finally, I settle on the black dress and toss the pink one aside, too. Let's go full sexy mode with head-to-toe black. I'll be like the midnight vixen, sneaking out on a secret mission.
"… and Stef got such a fright she dropped her marshmallow right into the fire," Diomid says, and I realize I've missed a whole story.
"Oh my word! That's hilarious!" I laugh loudly.
Diomid chuckles again and then sighs. "We're just chilling around the fire now. Watching the last few logs burn out before we go inside for hot chocolate. It's getting colder. What are you doing for the rest of the night? How's the weather there?"
"It's super pretty outside. It's misty and fresh. I think I'm going to make some salted caramel cappuccino and watch a few more episodes of the circus freaks before I go to bed," I say, staring at my shoe collection. Heels or sneakers?
Sneakers. That way, I can dance all night without my feet complaining.
I pull out my black high-top Nikes.
They'll look super cute with my tight black dress.
"Well, I just wanted to check in and see you were ok. Shout if you need anything. Or if you get lonely. I'm only a phone call away," he says.
"I know, and a two-hour flight if I change my mind," I giggle.
"Exactly."
"Love you guys. Enjoy that fire and the lake and everything."
"We will. Chat in the morning, ok. Sleep well," Diomid says.
"Bye, Nikita," I hear a chorus of shouts from everyone around Diomid.
"Bye, everyone," I shout back.
I click my phone off and stare at it for a second, biting the inside of my cheek and feeling the weight of guilt on my shoulders.
No. Tonight is going to be fun. I need this.
I haven't even put makeup on for about two weeks now, never mind getting all dressed up and doing my hair. It's time to glitter up and go dancing.
Sneaking out is easy.