Chapter 19 - Nikolai
I hadn’t expected her to hand me ice, and that little gesture has stayed with me far longer than it should have.
Out of everything Danielle could have done after learning about the attack and how badly this situation had spiraled into my family’s affairs, she chose to listen. Her empathy was reluctant, but empathy all the same.
Most people in my world learn quickly to keep their distance from problems they don’t understand. They protect themselves first, then look at men like me and decide if we deserve whatever consequences come our way.
Danielle should probably think the same, but instead, she looked at me in the kitchen, covered in blood and exhaustion, and somehow, regardless of her grief and anger, she still cared enough to check in.
It’s the kind of softness that makes her better than me. It doesn’t make her weak, but it does something to me that I’m still trying to understand.
For over a week, I’ve thrown myself into work even harder than usual, partly because the Malenkov situation genuinely demands it, and because keeping busy is easier than sitting still long enough to examine what is happening between us.
Ruslan has been running his men ragged trying to track Grigori’s movements through Vegas. Every lead we get dissolves before we can close in, as their safehouses are abandoned hours before we arrive, and any trace of them vanishes like they were never there to begin with.
Grigori is being cautious to the point of paranoia now, which means he understands the pressure building around him just as much as I do.
Still, I know men like him eventually make mistakes. Greed and arrogance always fracture their patience eventually, and I just need someone good enough to help expose them.
That’s why I called Artem to meet up.
Of course, he agrees to see me at a lounge instead of somewhere discreet. Artem has always liked spectacles too much, even for someone as serious as him.
Still, I agree and make sure to end the call before he can ask more questions. This is something best discussed in person.
When I head downstairs afterward, I find Danielle curled into one corner of the couch with a book open in her lap. She isn’t really reading it, given how her eyes stay fixed on the same page for too long.
She’s still restless and trying too hard to look settled, which bothers me more than I admit aloud.
As much as it would be easier to keep her here and to ignore her wishes to live normally again, I know she needs more than this.
She needs something of her own, and one way or another, I want to give it to her.
Dani looks up when she hears me approach, cautious curiosity meeting my gaze.
“I’m heading out,” I tell her simply. “And you’re coming with me.”
Her brows lift immediately. “Is this a new kind of kidnapping?”
Despite myself, my mouth twitches, appreciating her lighter tone. “Something like that.”
Suspicion wars briefly with interest in her expression, and given how long she’s been cooped up here, I imagine getting out appeals to her, regardless of what the reason might be. “Where are we going?”
“To meet family.”
That gets a much stronger reaction as her brows pinch together lightly. “Family?”
“You’ll survive. It’s just one of my cousins.”
“That’s not exactly reassuring,” she mumbles, looking more hesitant now, likely wondering what this might entail.
“It wasn’t meant to be.”
She narrows her eyes at me, but there’s less bite behind it than there used to be, and that alone feels like progress.
Truthfully, I’m bringing her because I know she needs time away from the house before she completely loses her mind inside. She’s been trying to hold herself together ever since the other night, but her grief has only had time to fester.
And selfishly, I also want her near me, where I can keep an eye on her.
An hour later, after giving Dani time to get ready, we arrive at the chosen lounge on the Strip, which happens to be one we own. The place hums with low conversation, jazz music, and the muted glow of soft lighting reflecting off the dark walls.
Danielle slows slightly as we enter to take everything in.
She looks beautiful tonight, despite not being overly dressed up.
Still, the dark jeans, boots, and fitted black top beneath her jacket catch attention anyway. Maybe because she still looks slightly out of place among people who belong to this world, or maybe because I notice everything about her now, whether I want to or not.
Artem spots us almost immediately from the mezzanine near the back, and he rises with the easy confidence I’ve always envied a little.
He’s taller than me by an inch, broad-shouldered, and dressed in all black with his sleeves rolled neatly to his elbows, showing off the expanse of tattoos he has earned throughout the years.
He looks like a wealthy entrepreneur capable of ordering executions before breakfast, which he has definitely done before.
“If this is about borrowing money,” he says immediately, taking my hand with his before clapping the other against my shoulder, “you’re out of luck.”
“Says the one who comes to Roman with a new business idea every month,” I muse, used to his antics by now as I return the gesture. “Good to hear your personality has survived this place.”
“Barely. What do you need?” He says more seriously, though the warmer gleam in his brown eyes still lingers.
For as brutal and ruthless as he can be at times, Artem has always had a soft spot for family, immediate or not.
“A favor or two. Nothing you can’t handle, I’m sure.”
Artem grins faintly at that. “Then we’ll talk shop.”
Beside him sits his younger sister Vera, who lit up the second she saw me and has been impatiently waiting her turn.
“Nikolai!” she says dramatically, standing up the moment she has the chance to give me a proper hug. Her long, sleek black hair sways as she does. “You remembered you have family, how sweet.”
“I regret correcting that mistake already.”
“Too late, no take-backs.” She grins unapologetically before her attention swings immediately toward Danielle, sharp eyes assessing like she’s deciding if this one is prey or something sweeter. “And this must be Danielle.”
Dani stiffens slightly beside me, and her hesitation is completely called for.
Meeting Bratva family members probably wasn’t part of her life plan, and these ones specifically are a little more intense, even compared to the rest of us.
Artem is the head of his group, and unlike most, he keeps Vera close at hand and relies on her advice more often than not. She’s the second oldest and a leader in her own right, which gives her plenty of sway, and Artem the level-headed guidance he needs when his temper gets the best of him.
She knows the ins and outs of the business, and while intimidating enough to hold her own, she has a softer heart than one would expect. It makes her perfect for handling PR when things get messy.
“Danielle,” I say quietly, gesturing to them both, “these are my cousins, Artem and Vera.”
Artem inclines his head politely. “Nice to finally meet the woman causing so much trouble.”
Danielle blinks, apparently unsure if she should be offended or terrified. “Excuse me?”
“Not you specifically,” he clarifies smoothly, expression as welcoming as he can manage. He gestures toward me with his drink. “Mostly him.”
To my surprise, Dani huffs a small laugh, even if it’s a bit shaky around the edges.
Without hesitating, Vera apparently makes her assessment and pounces on the opening.
“Oh, thank God,” she says dramatically, linking an arm through Danielle’s before she can react, almost cat-like in her movements. “Someone else around here who understands Nikolai is unbearably uptight.”
“Vera,” I warn, well aware of how she can be at times.
Getting Dani back from her will be like trying to save a small animal from an anaconda’s clutches.
“What? I’m bonding.” She hums innocently, already attempting to pull her away.
Dani looks startled by the sudden affection, but some of the tension leaves her shoulders as Vera effortlessly draws her toward the steps overlooking the lower stage area.
“Come, come. There’s a live violinist downstairs, and I refuse to suffer even a minute of logistics being discussed.”
“That’s not what we’re discussing,” I mutter.
Vera gives me a look over her shoulder, unrepentant. “I hear enough details every day…I need one night of peace.”
Then she sweeps Dani away before I can stop her, forcing me to watch them disappear into the crowd for a moment longer than necessary.
Artem notices immediately, and he chuckles to himself before taking his seat again.
“You’re fucked,” he says mildly, sipping his whiskey slowly while keeping his eyes on me.
Sitting across from him, I scoff under my breath. “Good evening to you, too.”
“You brought her around family.”
“And?” I ask, making it sound like no big deal, even if it absolutely is. I’m not one to bring anyone around. “I needed to meet with you.”
“You could’ve left her home.”
“She needed out of the house.”
The answer comes too quickly, and Artem’s mouth curves knowingly in response.
“Ah, I see. You had to let her stretch her wings a bit, which must mean she’s some kind of guest. Maybe more?”
I already regret this conversation, but it’s too late to back out now. Especially when I need his help.
Artem leans back comfortably against the leather booth with a contented exhale, and he studies me with infuriating amusement. “So, what exactly has backed you far enough into a corner to involve me?”
“I need help tracking someone, and everyone knows you’re the guy for the job,” I murmur, hoping to butter him up at least a bit. “Grigori Malenkov…he’s the head of a criminal group participating in scam medical trials and organ trading.”
The amusement fades slightly from his face, and he lets the words settle for a moment. “That’s unfortunate timing.”
“I gathered.”
He exhales through his nose and sets his glass down. “I’m still buried in the Balakin situation, as you know.”
I nod once, fully aware of the project he’s been working on for some time now.
Yuri and Maksim Balakin have been causing problems for months, and they’ve both proven to be more evasive than we anticipated. Artem’s been handling most of the tracking personally, but not many updates have been passed along lately.
Still, I wouldn’t have called him if I didn’t need someone exceptionally good at hunting people down.
“I don’t need you directly if you can’t manage it. I need your resources.”
That gets his attention, whether from his pride or not.
“You think Malenkov’s hiding locally?” He asks, obviously curious now.
“I know he is. He’s been causing problems for us lately, and they have enough information on us to know some of our locations.”
Artem considers that for a moment before nodding slowly. “You’re asking while I’m focusing on the others, but flushing rats out is one of my better talents.”
Artem has always excelled at pressure tactics. From isolating people to cutting escape routes and making enemies paranoid enough to expose themselves, he knows the best angles, and that’s exactly what I need right now.
His gaze drifts toward the lower lounge level where Vera and Dani now stand watching the performers together like old friends, then he looks back at me. “She must be important.”
I keep my expression neutral. “This isn’t about her.”
“Bullshit.”
“Artem,” I utter with a sigh, not wanting to dwell on this topic for long.
“What?” he says lightly. “You’ve always been private. Half the family thought you were emotionally dead for years.”
“That’s overselling things.”
“And yet somehow you still look at her like she matters more than your own sanity,” he muses, vaguely pointing in her direction. “That isn’t nothing.”
Glancing away briefly, irritation sparks in my chest at the fact that he’s observant enough to be right.
“I’m handling it,” I mutter.
“Close, but that wasn’t denial.”
I shoot him a flat look, but he just laughs quietly into his drink. Unfortunately, that only makes me feel more exposed.
I’m beginning to see that I’ve been too obvious lately, and I’ve stopped guarding certain things as carefully as I usually do. It’s a dangerous mistake, and yet, none of that changes the reality sitting underneath all of this.
I lean forward slightly and lower my voice. “Whatever’s happening with her doesn’t matter right now. Malenkov does. I need this finished before he causes more damage. Roman has already been on my ass enough as it is.”
Artem studies me for a long moment, then finally, he nods once. “Alright, fine. I’ll help, but only because this side of you is rather interesting.”
Choosing to ignore that part, relief settles low in my chest. “Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he replies dryly, swallowing back another mouthful of whisky. “You’re still going to owe me for this.”
“Being extorted by family should be surprising, but somehow, it isn’t.”
He chuckles. “It runs in our blood.”
Regardless of everything weighing on me, I find myself glancing back toward Dani again.
Vera is talking animatedly beside her while the violinist plays somewhere on stage, and for the first time in days, Danielle actually looks relaxed. She isn’t being careless about it, but it’s enough for the tightness in my chest to ease slightly.
Whether Artem can help me or not, I know with absolute certainty that I’m going to end this for my family and anyone involved. More importantly, for her.
And maybe one day those will stop feeling like separate things.