Page 25 of Stolen Seconds

“That’s not what I asked, Irina.”

The silence was near suffocating as I stared at him, feeling the blood drain from my face. “It’s the same answer, Roman. I’m fine.”

“If you’re not, you can tell me.” He leaned forward, his face hardening. “You’re Aurora’s family, which means you’re my family too.”

This was the moment our dynamic changed. He had become more than my best friend’s husband. More than aDon.He’d become a. . . friend.

The click of the door sounded before Aurora walked back in. “I brought refreshments!”

There was beauty in the darkness.

As I sat in the gazebo, gazing up at the starry night, I savored the stillnessthat came with it.

My mind had always been a racing, raging mess, constantly overthinking and sent me reeling.

It never made sense to me, but sometimes I needed my old friend—that stillness, that soundless nothing to focus on my thoughts.

If I was alone, then no one could see the turmoil unfolding.

“The winters here are probably nothing compared to the winters in Russia.”

Nicolai walked toward me, holding two mugs.

I cocked my head to the side at his sudden presence.

“You looked lonely.” He handed me the mug and sat down on the chair next to me, the warmth of his gray coat radiating toward me. “Thought you might want some company.”

“That sounds. . . sad.” I huffed out a light chuckle.

My brother smiled at me, the dimple on his cheek appearing. “That’s because it is.”

My own smile crept across my face. He was quick-witted and knew how to lighten a conversation without being callous.

“Are you lonely too?”

He pushed his glasses up with the tip of his middle finger and peered up at the dark sky.

I basked in the silence as I waited for his answer. He had interrupted my quiet, but it didn’t feel unwelcome as I expected. It felt almost normal, as if my body knew he was a part of me.

“I think loneliness is subjective.” He took a sip of his drink. “To answer your question, no, I’m not lonely anymore.”

My heart squeezed, pulling at the strings that were barely hanging together from this interaction.

“Anymore?” I whispered.

He pursed his lips before staring at me, his blond hair pale stark in the night.

I knew I was prying. I knew I probably came off as strange. I knew I shouldn’t be emotionally invested when he had no idea who I was, but I couldn’t help it.

I might’ve not known of his past, but I saw pain swimming in his brown eyes, dimming the spark they held moments ago.

Goosebumps arose on my skin. It almost felt like I was staring at my reflection.

“I’m being invasive.” I shook my head. “You don’t need to answer.”

His eyes roamed over my face, a frown appearing on his sharp features. “Roman saved me when I was on the edge of losing myself.” He broke eye contact, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared ahead. “He took me in and gave my life purpose.” Then, in a tone barely above a whisper, he said, “He was the father I’d always wanted.”

A bitter taste settled on my tongue as I digested his words.

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