Chapter 17
Nikolai
T here’s a warm, fresh-scented weight on my stretched out arm. When I look down, Aspen’s asleep with her face tucked into my neck. Her mouth is slightly ajar and her light breaths fan across my throat.
She must have rolled over to my side of the bed in her sleep last night.
I take this moment to look at her. Really look at her. She has two small freckles under her left corner eye. Not freckles— moles. I run a ghost of a touch across them and her skin is soft and supple against my fingertips.
She’s calm and serene right now, which is unusual for her. It’s opposite of her everyday scowl and distrusting face.
Fuck.
Last night I could have lost her. I could have failed her and failed as a husband, again.
I run a palm across my face at the thought and Aspen stirs beside me. When her eyes flutter open, she slowly realizes where she is.
“Morning,” I say hoarsely, throat feeling dry.
“You pulled me to you.” She jerks herself away from me, her cheeks flushed and I miss her warmth immediately. “It was your shadows.”
My brows crease. “I was asleep. My shadows are dormant when I am.”
“I watched them do it. ”
I look in her eyes, and it’s like she believes what she’s saying.
“They pulled me to your back and wouldn’t release me.”
“That’s never happened.”
“I’m telling you it did.”
I look at the corner of her lip. “And I’m telling you, you slobber in your sleep.” I glance at the streak on my shoulder before wiping away her sleep spit. For a split second I thought of running it across my lips.
“That’s. No.” She fumbles over her words.
“We can talk about what you and I did or didn’t do over coffee.” I get out of bed, pulling her with me. “I want to take a look at your ankle.”
“It’s really not that bad,” she says as I shuffle her to the kitchen table’s chair. “You’ll be surprised by how many times I’ve sprained an ankle. Performing in heels or high-heeled boots can do this too.”
“Good thing you’re not performing anymore,” I mutter, kneeling and placing her foot on my knee.
“What did you say?” she snaps.
Sighing, I reply, “aren’t you retired now?” I let my eyes lift to her awaiting ones, she rolls hers.
“Yes, technically. But I could change my mind.”
I feel around her ankle and the swelling has gone down significantly. Still, I hate that this happened to her. What I hate more is that prodding itch in the back of my head that tells me it all could have been worse. She could have died.
“Technically or not,” I place her foot down and rise, heading over to the coffee maker. “You’re not performing, ever again. I don’t think you need a reminder that our lifestyle is dangerous.”
She scoffs from behind me .
“Before getting married to you, my life was peaceful you asshole.”
“It can still be peaceful.” I pour two cups of coffee. I keep mine black with a tablespoon of blood, but I add only creamer and three sugar cubes to hers.
“Nikolai—”
“Niko,” I cut her off before I hand her her cup. “Call me Niko.”
She hesitates before she begins again. “Nikolai.”
I drag out a heavy sigh.
“It’s too early for us to do this,” she waves between us. “This push and pull we do. I’m mentally exhausted right now. Can you piss me off later, after I’ve had coffee and maybe some food before you make me resume my murderous schemes against you?”
“Ok.” I give her a devious smirk before I say, “friend.” That comment earns me a scowl.
There she is.
***
“It was the Yakuza,” Sergei says. He has images splayed across the many screens in my father’s office.
My father called an emergency meeting the next afternoon. Everyone is here, including Quinn’s father who oversees the deals we have with the Yakuza.
“This explosion was a fucking assassination attack. Is there a reason the Yakuza wants me and my wife dead, Isaak?”
“Of course not.” My shadows spread from me to him, crawling over his body. “Wh-what is this all about? ”
“Someone knew where my son and daughter would be there last.” My father’s voice is low and lethal.
“Where were my fucking soldiers?” I demand.
“Dead, execution style,” Sergei says flatly. “Found them three blocks away.”
“It screams setup.” Igor chimes in, his hands folded under his chin.
“No. I-I didn’t even know where Nikolai would be last night. I haven’t spoken to the Yakuza since our last shipment. That was weeks ago.”
My shadows stop at his throat, squeezing. His fear is palpable, you can taste it in the air.
“Igor, test his blood.” My father commands. Igor walks to Isaak, fangs drawn. He bites down on Isaak’s neck, hard, and takes in large gulps of blood.
The pungent smell of piss fills the air.
Igor draws back, blood dripping from the side of his mouth. “He’s telling the truth. His last contact with them was two weeks ago. No contact or indirect contact with them since.”
“You’re dismissed, Isaak,” my father says. Sergei grabs a weakened Isaak off the floor and ushers him out of the office.
“That was too close.” My father takes a seat behind his desk. “We need to remove our women from the compound. We’ve been compromised.”
I nod my head in agreement.
“Sylvia has family in Spain. I can take her there until we eliminate the threat.” Igor wipes away the blood from his chin with a handkerchief.
“Lilith is fine where she is with her husband in New York. She’s still recovering and moving her can make her at risk. Sorcha and Viessa are due for another vacation, I’m sure they can find somewhere to gallivant.”
“I can take Aspen to my penthouse downtown.”
I own multiple properties all throughout Russia. This property has its own separate elevator and garage. There’s twenty-four-hour security, no one can come in and out without my passcode, she’ll be safe.
I’ll make sure of it.
My father and Igor nod in unison.
“Are you absolutely sure she’ll be safe?” My father asks.
“Of course she will be. Let’s not forget she can protect herself if she needs to.” Igor quips.
“I can’t express how much her safety is important. Nothing can happen while she’s in our care.”
Here he goes again. “ My care.” I lean forward. “She’s my wife. My responsibility. I know how to protect her.”
“Be careful with her, Nikolai. If anything happens to her, we may face an entirely different threat.”
“What does that mean? Aspen is not a threat.”
He looks at Igor and they exchange words through their eyes.
My jaw ticks. “Stop being cryptic. What aren’t you telling me?”
My father stands at his full height, sliding his hands into his front pants pockets. “Aspen isn’t a threat,” he says carefully. “But the people who might come looking for her? They could be.”
I clench my fists.
What the fuck does he know that I don’t?
** *
It’s been four days since the car explosion. We’re at the compound because I had to set up some things in our new home. I also had to remove something from a particular bedroom.
Over all four mornings, I’ve woken the same way. Aspen in my arms, face in the crook of my neck, slobber on my shoulder. She’s meant to fit against me, like my missing piece.
She wakes and her brown eyes flicker open and land on mine. Slowly blinking, she raises herself to a sitting position.
“Morning,” she says as she gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom.
Turning on my back, I stare up at the ceiling while I listen to the toilet flush and then the running water from the sink.
“Want coffee?” she asks walking past the bed to exit the room.
I sit up on my elbows. “We’re moving to my penthouse today.”
She pauses under the doorframe. “What?”
“Pack what you want. I already sent some clothes and things you like to our new place.”
She stomps to my side of the bed. “Why, Nikolai?”
Nikolai . She’s pissed.
“The compound has been compromised. I’m moving you to the penthouse because it’s safer.”
“For how long?” She folds her arms across her chest, full defiance on display.
I flip the covers off me and stand in front of her. “For as long as it’s needed.” I walk past her. She hasn’t figured out that my word is law yet. She will today. “Coffee? ”
She’s hot on my heels as I enter the kitchen. “No, no, no. You said we were going to New York. It’s been two months, Nikolai. Why not go there? Roman is already expecting me.”
“He’s not. I texted him last night and told him the situation.” I start the coffee pot. “Would you believe he agreed with my decision?”
Aspen’s jaw drops. “You— you what?!”
“Apparently your husband does know what’s best, he agreed. Do I have to remind you of that someone tried to kill us both. You think I’m letting you leave the country right now?”
“Nikolai—”
“Niko.” I cut her off. “That’s my name when it comes from your lips.”
She bites her lower lip, no doubt thinking of another angle to push back. My eyes catch on her lips, then drop to her toes peeking out of my pajama pants. I turn my back on her to pour our coffee before either of us can make anything of it.
“The compound is surrounded by armed soldiers. How is your penthouse any safer than this? What if someone think to bomb the lobby, then what?”
“Jump out the window. You’re an expert at that, aren’t you?”
She sucks her teeth before tilting her head.
“Listen. Someone leaked our compound’s location. Meaning it’s no longer safe. Only my family knows about my penthouse.”
She crosses her arms, challenging. “You expect me to trust you?”
“Yes,” I meet her eyes. “I do.”
Her eyes dance from me to the door that leads to the hallway and then she brings her eyes back to me .
“Ok,” she concedes but I don’t miss the wheels spinning in her head.
If I’m not careful, I wouldn’t have to worry about an assassination attempt but a runaway.
“Good. Drink up and get ready. We’re leaving in twenty minutes. Pack what you want.”
She stands, then sways slightly, her hands fly to her chest.
I’m at her side instantly. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.” She pulls away from me. “My chest is… sore from the explosion the other night.”
Her chest. It’s always her chest. It’s been over a month since I’ve noticed her rubbing or clutching her chest. It seems like today is worse.
She winces when she breathes.
“Aspen—”
“I’m fine Nikolai.” Her voice is ironclad. “Let it go.”
I don’t though. But I file it away like I always do as she goes to the bedroom to her nightstand.
She only packs one thing.
Her favorite lipstick.