Page 20 of Twisted Vows

The hours that followed were a blur of gunfire, explosions, and the incessant tapping of keys from Valentina as I stood guard. Malachi remained by my side. Both Valentina and the data were too valuable to lose.

Finally, the sounds of battle began to fade. The Armenian forces had been routed, they had withdrawn, at least for now.

After getting the all clear via the radio, Malachi let out a weary sigh, his shoulders sagging. “It’s over,” he said, his voice tinged with relief. “We held the line.”

I nodded, turning my attention to the surveillance cameras to survey the aftermath of the battle. The other levels showed signs of an intense battle, but the server room remained secure.

Valentina stretched and yawned. She spoke for the first time in hours. “I need a pizza, flannel pajamas, and a comfortable bed.” She yawned and stretched again as she stood up. “Thanks for keeping me safe.”

“Of course,” said Malachi, clearly stifling his own yawn.

Exhaustion was catching up with me too, as was hunger. I was tempted to go straight home to bed after we finished cleaning up as much as we could for the time being, but a half-hour later, I ended up accepting Malachi’s invitation to breakfast instead.

We went to our usual diner, and I collapsed into a booth across from him. As the adrenaline began to fade, I realized there was more on his mind than the battle that had just occurred. “What troubles you, brat?”

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

I arched an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued by the uncharacteristic hesitation in his tone. “What is it?”

His jaw tightened, and he averted his gaze, as if steeling himself for the words that were to follow. “It’s about Nika,” he said finally. “She asked me out, and I said yes.”

A wave of anger washed over me, hot and visceral, as the implications of his words sank in. I leaned forward, glaring at him. “You were supposed to distance yourself from her, to protect her from the dangers of our world.”

Malachi’s expression hardened. “I couldn’t stay away. She’s... different. Special, and I...” He trailed off, his words hanging in the air like a confession left unspoken.

I shook my head, my jaw clenched with barely contained fury. “You’ve put us all at risk, Malachi. You know the sacrifices we have to make for the bratva, and for her, to keep her safe.”

He didn't look away, his expression a mixture of defiance and something else—something deeper. “I know,” he said, his voice low and gravelly. “I’m willing to face the consequences, whatever they might be, but I can't give her up.”

As he spoke those words, a wave of jealousy washed over me, threatening to consume me from the inside out. The thought of Malachi sharing intimate moments with Nika, of him experiencing the warmth and tenderness that had been denied to us for so long, was like a dagger to my heart.

I wanted to lash out, to unleash the torrent of emotions that raged within, but I knew better than to let my feelings cloud my judgment. The bratva demanded loyalty and was a commitment that superseded all else—even the bonds of brotherhood that had sustained us through countless battles and hardships. It wasn't just loyalty that was making me angry. It was pure jealousy.

With a herculean effort, I reined in my emotions, my expression hardening into a mask of cold indifference. “Then you know what must be done,” I said, my voice devoid of inflection. “We’ll discuss this with Viktor and determine the appropriate course of action.”

He nodded tersely, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. Our food came, and we ate mostly in silence. There was an unaccustomed distance between us, making me feel a pang of regret, and a sense of loss that threatened to overwhelm me.

Our bond had been tested time and again, but this was different. This was a betrayal that struck at the very core of our brotherhood, a breach of trust that could never be fully mended. I wasn't protective of our bond as brothers in the bratva. The brutal truth was, I wanted Nika for myself, though I had never been against sharing a woman with Malachi before. When breakfast ended, I put my hand on Malachi’s forearm as he started to leave. “I'm going to go see Nika.” I didn't need to spell out why, and he clearly understood the reason I was so upset as well.

His expression softened slightly, he nodded. “Da. I expected as much. Our tastes are very similar, and it's obvious she's drawn to you as well.”

I nodded, trying not to grin like a fool at his words. They infused me with hope that maybe I had a chance with her as well. As I drove the brief distance to her apartment, the jealousy I'd been feeling started to fade, at least slightly. If there was a chance for both of us to be with her, I'd have no anger toward Malachi. Like him, I'd withstand any consequence Viktor wanted to impose to have her.

I parked my car a block away from Nika’s apartment, my heart pounding in my chest. The decision to come here had been a difficult one, but I was tired of fighting my feelings. I wanted to see her, to talk to her, and maybe even to let myself be vulnerable for once.

As I approached her building, I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass, and steeled myself for what was to come.

When I reached her door, I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the doorbell. What if she didn’t want to see me? What if I was making a mistake? But then I remembered the way she had looked at me the last time we had seen each other, the way her eyes had sparkled with curiosity and excitement, and knew that I couldn’t turn back now.

I pressed the doorbell and waited, heart thumping. After a few moments, I heard footsteps approaching, and then the door swung open to reveal Nika, her white-blonde hair cascading over her shoulders in loose waves. She looked surprised to see me, but a smile spread across her face.

“Rurik,” she said, her voice soft and welcoming, “What are you doing here?”

I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “I wanted to see you. To talk to you.”

She stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter. “Of course. Please, come in.”

I followed her into the apartment, taking in the cozy living room with its overstuffed couch and colorful throw pillows. The scent of vanilla candles filled the air, making me feel instantly at ease.

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