64. Wynter #2
“I am thankful every single day that the day I lost so much, I didn’t lose you.
” The lump in my throat choked, knowing she meant the day Gio shot dad and her.
“You have exceeded my wildest dreams and made me so proud.” She twisted her hands.
“On and off the ice, my little Star.” I let out a shuddering breath and I felt a big hand squeeze mine under the table.
“From the moment you were born, you were my light. You and Juliette kept me going.”
Her eyes darted to Juliette then returned to me.
“I made a little video of pictures and recordings for you,” she announced softly. “I have one for Jules too for when she gets married.”
“You might as well hand that over now,” Juliette muttered. “I’m never getting married.”
Then she glared at Dante and I had to bite the inside of my cheek or laugh. A round of laughter followed Juliette’s proclamation and Mom pushed the start button.
I stared at the screen. A picture of Mom at the hospital with me in her arms appeared. A sad, soft smile. Pictures I had never seen rolled. First roll. First steps. First ice skate. Me sprawled on the ice, my hair a wild mess. It was my first jump and my first fall.
“I still remember that one,” Juliette muttered. “After you fell, you turned over and kissed the ice. Disgusting.”
My throat burned and the lump in it made it hard to swallow. I remembered it too. I was so happy on ice. I really was. Some people search their entire life for something to be passionate about. I found mine before I learned to write.
Then a clip of a video played. My first competition. First day of school.
“I didn’t know you kept recording all that,” I murmured softly, glancing at my mom,
“How could I not?” she rasped. “I knew the time would fly and leave me without you.”
I shot up from my seat and took three steps to her, wrapping my arms around her.
“I’ll always be here,” I vowed. “I love you, Mom.”
Inhaling deeply, I tried to stop the tears from falling in front of everyone.
“I love you too, Star. Always.” She rarely gave us emotions. Sometimes Juliette and I grumbled about it. We knew she loved us, but she rarely said it or showed us affection. So when she did thoughtful things like this, it shook me to the core.
She pulled away and our gazes locked. “Your distraction found you.” A sharp inhale of my breath echoed between us.
How did she know? Guilt swam in my chest and in my eyes, and I opened my mouth to start explaining myself, when she continued, “Be happy, Star. And your distraction,” she flicked a gaze to Bas, “... better worship the ground you walk on. Or I’ll take a page out of my brother’s book and have him killed. ”
A choked laugh escaped me. My mother had never even raised her voice at anyone. I couldn’t imagine her threatening to kill anyone. Until now.
She looked back at my husband. “Make her happy, Basilio.” Or else hung in the air.
Bas nodded, his gaze meeting mine consuming me. “I will,” he vowed. “I swear on my mamma’s life.”
Fuck. I might end up bawling my eyes out today. “Go back to him,” Mom whispered into my ear. Each step I took towards him felt so much more. Fuck, it almost felt like finding my way back to him.
This romantic side of me would be the end of me , I thought wryly.
Servers began bringing the food around. It looked like strictly Italian cuisine. Everyone ate, the slight tension around our table was evident but somehow I didn’t think it had anything to do with Bas and I, and it had everything to do with Mom and Franco DiLustro.
A band started playing and Bas stood, holding out his hand. “Time for our first dance, principessa.” Something about the way he looked at me had my heart flutter and unwillingly, our first dance came to mind.
Different times, different circumstances. And the same song, I realized with a startling realization.
With my heart in my throat and probably stars in my eyes, we headed to the floor. We didn’t say anything, the guests were silent or maybe they faded into the background as he pulled me against his chest.
The holster under his vest pressed against me and our eyes connected.
“I found you,” he murmured, almost softly as the tunes of the first song we danced to under the starry sky over nine months ago filled the backyard of his Hampton home.
The tables were set up in circles around the large dance floor so everyone could get a front row view of the bride and groom. But to me, nobody was there. Just the two of us, like nine months ago.
Our bodies moved together, like we’ve done this a million times.
“Why this song?” I murmured softly.
He bent his head, his lips against my forehead. “Because no matter where you go, Wynter, I’ll follow.”
I wasn’t sure whether it was a threat or a promise. But my heart melted just the same.
* * *
I danced with so many people and smiled so many fake smiles that when Sasha finally came up, I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t have to pretend.
“Hey,” I greeted him, smiling softly. “Where have you been hiding?”
“Staying out of your husband’s reach,” he grumbled. “Either I’ll kill him or he’ll kill me.”
I shook my head. “He won’t.”
As long as I kept my distance from Sasha. Apparently over the last nine months, Bas has become obsessively crazy too.
“Has he hurt you?” His jaw was clenched, his muscles tense.
“No.” It was the truth. Physically he’d never hurt me. “Thank you for-”
My words faltered because I knew it wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
“For not killing him,” he finished for me.
My fingers curled around his bicep. “I love him,” I admitted softly. “Just the thought of living without him shreds me to pieces.”
He sighed. “It has to be something in the water,” he muttered. I frowned and he shook his head, dismissing his weird comment. “I take it as a good sign that his father is not here.”
Memories slammed into me. The foul breath in my face; Gio’s grip as he pushed against me. I shuddered and lowered my eyes, and kept my focus on Sasha’s tie.
Gio DiLustro left a mark.
“Wyn, I swear-” he started to talk and I shoved the past into a corner.
“I’m fine,” I said. “You trained me well. And if I come face-to-face with Gio, I’ll kill him.”
Another growl vibrated between us. What was it with these men and growling?
Sasha, just like his brothers, could be scary.
That blond hair and pale blue eyes with the danger vibes that screamed from every pore.
Basilio had the dark allure that was hidden below his gentlemanly exterior.
With Sasha, no amount of suits and polish would hide his ruthlessness.
Whether it was ink that covered most of his body or that stocky MMA body frame, I didn’t know.
But unlike his brothers, I didn’t fear him. Maybe because he held me while I bawled like a baby. Or maybe because he took care of me after what happened with Bas’ father.
Aurora and Alexei swayed next to us, their little Kostya protesting and reaching for me.
“I can take him,” I offered. My eyes stayed on Alexei just for a second before they shifted to Aurora. She was the safe alternative.
“I don’t know why he always squirms for you,” she murmured.
I shrugged. “I’m a baby whisperer.”
“You get knocked up and I swear to God,” Juliette showed up on the other side of them, dancing with Ivy, “this friendship is over. With you and with Davina.”
“Good thing we’re family then,” I retorted. “No escaping us.”
I shifted little Kostya on my hip who cooed happily. “Mine,” he claimed, pulling on my curl.
“Okay, buddy,” I mused. “You’re a bossy little thing, you know.”
Just like it seems to be the trend in the Nikolaev family, he had pale blue eyes and bleach blonde hair. He’d be a gorgeous boy one day. Sasha and I kept dancing, Aurora and Alexei barely two feet from us. Alexei had some seriously obsessive, psychotic ways, but his wife didn’t seem to mind it.
“Your husband won’t be happy about a one-year-old stealing his wife,” Aurora teased.
“It would serve him right,” Sasha grumbled and little Kostya’s eyes snapped to him.
“Shhh,” I soothed him before he’d start crying. “Your uncle is a grumpy one.”
“I don’t give a shit what I promised you, Wyn,” Sasha growled. “I see one single hair on your head hurt, and I’m coming for all of them.”
Nothing beats an appointed psychotic big brother and psychotic new husband.