Page 83 of Runaway Queen

I drove us through downtown. The fall light was fading earlier and earlier these days, and a cold wind promised that we were on the cusp of winter. A new season, a fresh, white slate.

“More rooms?”

Nikolai smirked. He was leaning an arm along the window, and the warm sunlight cut slices over his tattooed skin. I didn’t want to stop looking at him.

“Leo needs siblings, don’t you think?”

I stopped at a light and finally got to look at him. “Are you serious? We’ve been… back together… for a week, and you’re talking kids?”

“Exactly, it’s already been a week, and you’re not pregnant yet. We aren’t trying hard enough. We have seven years to make up for, prom queen.”

“Niko,” I trailed off, unsure what I wanted to say next. I couldn’t pretend I didn’t want to have another child. I had dreamed of giving Leo a sibling, but I’d given up hope that it would happen. Now, the future felt wide open and dauntingly full of hope. It made me anxious to feel so light. Something bad was surely on its way to balance the feeling.

“Hmm?” His voice was lazy. He had settled a hand on my knee and slid it up my leg, under my skirt.

“You’re distracting me.”

“If you think this is distracting, you’ve not seen anything yet,” he murmured, his gray eyes dancing with wicked amusement.

“Stop. We’ve got to go and get Leo. He’ll be tired after his first day back at school.”

“It’s already done.”

“It is? By who?”

“Bran.”

“Oh, okay. Well, in that case, put your hand right back where it was.”

Nikolai chuckled. “Just try and stop me.”

* * *

The next day,while Leo was having his routine dialysis, I met with Dr. Evans.

“So far, not to get ahead of ourselves, but the preliminary tests look good for a match between Leo’s father and him.”

I gripped the edge of my chair so hard it creaked. “Really?”

“Really. Same blood type, tissue type. Now we have to check on Mr. Chernov’s overall health and ability to recover from an organ extraction, though something tells me he wouldn’t let an operation slow him down.”

“You’ve got that right. He’s determined, as long as he’s a match.”

Dr. Evans nodded. “If we get the green light, then I want to do it as soon as possible. Mr. Chernov has assured me that insurance isn’t an issue and he’s willing to pay out of pocket for a quick surgery date. Given Leo’s age and the severity of his condition, there’s a good chance that we could be doing this first thing in the new year, maybe even before.”

“Before?” I was dumbstruck. It was November. In a year, we could be going skating together out on the pond at the edge of town, a simple pleasure that Leo had been longing to partake in for years.

Dr. Evans nodded. “Now, the aftercare is important, as you know. Mr. Chernov mentioned getting nurses at home to help out.”

“I guess. I can probably handle it.”

“You also have a job, and Mr. Chernov himself will be incapacitated. Don’t underestimate how hard all of this is, Miss Rossi. We don’t need any heroes here. Take the help, and take care of yourself.”

That night,Chiara came over for dinner and ended up falling asleep with Leo, in his bed, while reading endless bedtime stories.

When I went downstairs, Nikolai was putting a jacket on. I still couldn’t get used to the sight of him in my little house. It was like seeing a dangerous wild animal in a cozy, domestic setting, without even a leash to keep the people in the house safe. Bran was lounging on the sofa, watching TV. With the two of them in such a small space, it felt a little much. There was a lethal quality in the air that was vaguely unsettling. I hadn’t asked Nikolai exactly why he had his friend watching over me and Leo whenever he couldn’t. I didn’t want to know right now. I wanted to keep my head firmly in the sand and ignore the world for a little more.

“Come on. We’re going out for a bit.”

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