Page 15 of Root

He raises a brow, then goes to the fridge and pulls out a juice, tossing me a beer.

“Losing your touch,” I say. “You’re going soft in your old age. Always knew it would happen.”

“I can prove you wrong. I could kill you.”

I point at the cat. “In front of the child?”

“I can take a kitten that size out.” He shrugs.

“Nikolai.”

“I’m kidding. I’m not that evil.” Suddenly, he puts down the juice, opens the cupboard, and pulls out a bottle of cooking bourbon. It’s better than what most people drink, but that’s Nikolai. He pulls off the top and takes a deep swallow. “You don’t think she wants a kid, do you?”

“She’s your wife.”

He acts like I didn’t say anything. “Rose says she doesn’t, but she brings home a cat.”

I think about it. “Don’t know what to tell you, man. It’s a cat.”

“Fuck.” He takes another swig. “I can see that. I meant…does it have another meaning?”

“Meaning? Like what?”

We both stare at the cat, and it starts cleaning itself. What’s he thinking? Like… kids?

Snorting, I shake my head and look at him. I love Nikolai, but he really does look like he barely escaped with his life. I point at his singed suit. “You gonna tell me?”

“It…it wasn’t good. I knew something was going down, but not that. Everyone’s safe, and old Bernie went and burned millions in product that wasn’t mine. I wasn’t there to steal or shake him down. Just wanted to see if he wanted to deal with us.”

“The Smith family side?”

Nikolai nods. “Yeah, but not with them. Cuts deals to be on their land, but…something had him twitchy.”

“Rose can see right through your lies.”

He glares and swigs from the bottle. “I never lie to you or Rose. I don’t lie to people in general, but never you two. She saw through my downplay of events. That’s my Rose.”

The pride and love shines through. For Nikolai Wilder, it’s equal to screaming declarations from rooftops. He’s never as soft and human as he is with her. More than with me, which is how it should be. They’re married, and he sacrificed everything to finally find the happiness he deserves. It’s been almost five years of bliss for them.

“Damn, old man—”

He makes a face. “Stop calling me that.”

“You are. You’re pushing it in years. Your forties. Old. Man.” Mind you, he’s in the best damn shape I’ve seen him, even fitter than he got after he was shot.

“You’re not too old for me to give you a beating.”

I laugh, but it fades. “I’m glad she makes you happy. She loves you, Nikolai.”

“I know. It’s the most frightening and thrilling thing in the world. I guess…” He sets down the bottle. “I guess I better go see her, find out about her day.”

“Wait. Dante?”

“Who?” he asks.

“The cat. Dante. What about him?”

Nikolai winces. “Fuck no. She didn’t.”

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