Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Irina
Days pass by in a blur. Nikolai makes sure I’m fed and taken care of but I barely process any of it. My father’s death – at my hands – has left a mark on me that I’m not sure will ever fade.
“I’m getting worried,” Nikolai says to someone on the phone one day while I’m in the living room. He’s in the kitchen but I can easily hear him. “I’m not sure how to get her out of this.”
I can’t hear the response of the other person but whatever the advice is, I don’t care. I only curl into a ball on the couch and remain there.
After a few minutes, Nikolai comes to see me. There’s a gentleness in his eyes as he kneels down beside me. “Hey. How are you feeling?”
I only look at him.
“Right,” he sighs. “So I was talking to Maksim. He suggested I get you out of the house. Take you to the club. Having people around you could help.”
“You want me to go to the club where I first met your ex who you killed to save me?”
He blinks. “When you put it like that…” A heavy sigh leaves him. “Irina, you’re not doing well after your dad’s death. You need to get out. Distract yourself. I’ll be right by your side the entire time. I promise. It will do you good. And I’m not giving you a say. Come on.”
I go through the motions of getting dressed into something cute and going with Nik to his club.
Once we’re there, the beat of the music and the swell of people dancing doesn’t change anything for me.
I did the worst thing a person could: kill my own father.
And now I have to suffer the consequences of that.
Nik takes me to his private booth. Maksim is there and they greet each other.
“Hi, Irina,” Maksim says but I only give him a nod. He and Nik exchange concerned looks with each other but fortunately, Maksim doesn’t push it. He’s a loyal friend to Nik and won’t do anything to hurt me. “Come sit down. Have a drink.”
“She doesn’t need a drink,” Nik says. “I don’t need her getting wasted.”
I sit between Nik and Maksim while they talk about business and life. I zone most of it out. Women walk by and try flirting with Nik but he shuts them down so they turn their attention onto Maksim who gladly flirts back.
This whole thing feels pointless and boring… until a man approaches the private booth. One I remember very well.
Alexei.
“Hi, Nik,” he says, smiling wolfishly. I remember the way he kidnapped me. How he tried to rape me. Try to kill me. How I barely escaped.
Nik and Maksim get to their feet, acting as a protective shield around me. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Nik snarls.
“Just came by to see how you and your wife are doing. We didn’t part on the best of terms last time.”
“Meaning you kidnapped my wife. Get out of my club.”
“I don’t think so.” In one quick motion, he pulls a gun out of his jacket and points it at Nik’s head.
“How did you get a gun in here?”
“I took care of your guard out back. It wasn’t hard to get inside after that. Now, if you don’t want me shooting up this club, then you and your wife are going to come with me. Now.”
Nik looks at Maksim before he sighs. “Just me. Not Irina.”
“No. Both of you. Now.” He aims his gun at Maksim when Maksim reaches for his pocket. “Don’t even think about it.”
“You’re starting a war, Alexei,” Nik tells him.
“You keep coming after me and I’m going to have to kill you one day.
You’re plunging us into dark territory. You can leave now and I won’t kill you.
You can go back to having less power than me.
But if you think you’re going to kill me and gain what I have, then think again. You never will.”
“I have my own power,” Alexei says. “My own men who stand behind me. If you kill me, they’ll be pissed off. But it’s a price to pay to see you dead. That’s how much I fucking hate you.”
“Why? I’ve never killed anyone you care about.”
“No. But you walk around with everything while I have nothing. It pisses me off so I’m doing this. Come with me, Nik.”
“Drop your gun,” one of the guards at the club says, rushing forward.
Nik raises his hand. “Don’t shoot him. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt. I’ll go with you, Alexei. To stop a panic from arising. But Irina is not coming with.”
“No. She’s coming. It’s either you two or I shoot up this place.”
A pained expression crosses Nik’s face before he looks at me. Guilt flashes in his eyes. “All right. Me and Irina. Just us.”
“Nik, no,” Maksim breathes out. “This fucker is going to kill you.”
“And then you’re going to have to deal with the fallout of it if he does. Call your father, Maksim. Let him know what’s happening. I’ll be fine.” Nik turns to me and holds out his hand. “I will protect you.”
All the numbness I’ve been feeling for days disappears and is replaced with an icy fear. Not for me. But for Nik. I can see the anger on Alexei’s face. He wants Nik dead and he’s going to make it happen. Am I going to lose my husband right after I lost my dad and my innocence?
But I know there’s no choice. I can’t be responsible for more blood on my hands so I take Nik’s instead of fighting. He pulls me to my feet and into his side, trying to keep me as safe as he can.
We walk with Alexei out of the club. Neither Maksim nor Nik’s guards stop it. Nik won’t let them intervene.
The moment we step foot outside the back door and into a dark alleyway, Nik runs at Alexei but Alexei already has his gun drawn.
And points it at me. “I will shoot her. If you don’t get in line.”
Nik immediately stops. He promised to always protect me and he’s still trying to do it now.
“Now, come along you two.” Alexei keeps his gun pointed at me as he leads us to a car parked in the alleyway. We’re forced into the backseat. Alexei whips his gun against Nik’s temple, knocking him out.
I gasp.
“I’m guessing you’ll stay in line,” Alexei says to me. I can only nod. “Good.”
I stare at Nik’s unconscious body as Alexei takes us somewhere. Nikolai, my strong, powerful husband, now unconscious. Weak and vulnerable.
Yet, I’ve never cared for him more.
Nik told me to move on from what I did to my father. That it would weigh me down forever. My life with Nik will never be a peaceful one. His darkness is too ingrained inside of him and his enemies will always come for him. And for me too.
But looking at my husband, hurt and unconscious, all I know right in this moment is that I never want to be without him.
That I love him.
He’s partially the reason I’ve been put in danger but I was always going to be in danger because of my dad. Nikolai helped me the best he could and he’s shown that he’ll fight for me.
So now it’s my turn to fight for him.
Alexei parks outside a rundown warehouse in the middle of nowhere. For it being close to the city, there’s no other people around. The perfect spot to kill us.
My heart is pounding as he opens the back door and slaps Nik’s cheek, waking him up. Before Nik can react, Alexei points his gun at him. “Get out of the car and don’t make a scene.”
Nik does as he’s told. I’m sure it’s taking everything out of him not to fight back. I follow behind the men as we’re led into the warehouse.
Alexei throws rope at Nik and tells him to tie his own hands. Nik hesitates and Alexei points the gun at me once more. Nik ties his hands without hesitation after that.
I’m his weakness, I realize. Nik is going to let himself be killed just to save my life. I have to do something. Now.
Alexei can’t hurt me if I’m not afraid and I’m tired of being afraid.
While Alexei has his eyes on Nik, I run right at Alexei. He tries to act but I’m upon him. I rake my fingers down his cheek, coming away with blood. Alexei shouts, startled and backs away.
That gives Nik the chance to move. He rushes towards Alexei and grabs Alexei’s hands before he can get shot. Alexei’s gun goes high as he fires. The bullet lands in the ceiling.
Nik is stronger than Alexei is and punches him hard in the face, sending Alexei to the ground. Nik takes Alexei’s gun and points it at him.
“You fucking idiot,” Nik says. “You should have just stopped when you had the chance.”
“If you kill me, then you’ll bring a war down on your head. My men will be angry.”
“I’m sure they will but it’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before. I’ll deal with it again.”
“But what about your precious wife? Are you really going to plunge her into a war where she could get hurt?”
Nik hesitates before he grits his teeth and glares down at Alexei. “She’s already in danger because of you. She’ll always be in danger because of me and my enemies. But I will fight until the day I die to protect her. And I will kill you right now, Alexei, to keep her safe.”
“My men will come after you.”
“Then I’ll kill them too. I’m Nikolai Volkov. I run this fucking city. I will not have anyone taking it from me. I will not have anyone taking my wife from me again.”
And with those words, Nik shoots Alexei right in the head.
The only thing I feel is relief.
Nik took another life to save mine. I know we’re embroiled in this darkness forever. But right now, I don’t care.
He turns to me with an uncertain expression, like he’s worried of what I’ll think of him. I don’t hesitate to run into his arms.
Nik goes still for a moment before he wraps his arms around me, holding me close. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I didn’t get hurt.”
“I’m glad,” he breathes out, kissing the top of my head. “We should get out of here in case any of Alexei’s friends show up.”
“Nik.” I pull back. “Just answer me this. Will we have a war on our hands over this?” I nod at Alexei’s body.
“Yes,” he answers honestly. “It’s going to be a problem. There’s a reason I never killed Alexei in the past, even though he caused problems for me. He has contacts. Powerful ones. They won’t like it that Alexei is dead.”
“And yet, you killed him.”
He cups my face. “I will always protect you. I made that promise and I intend to keep it.”
I don’t even think about it. I only act. My lips are on his and Nik kisses me back so hard, it leaves me breathless.
“Thank you,” I whisper against his lips. “For fighting so hard for me. For helping me feel safe. For giving me a home.”
“Always. Now, let me get you home. I’ll deal with the fallout of this tomorrow. Right now, I just want you in my arms where I know you’ll be safe.”
I follow Nik out of the warehouse, leaving Alexei’s dead body behind. The darkness is still there but for right now, it’s replaced by the love I feel for my husband.