Page 82 of Cruel Promise

He smiles slightly. “You don’t hold back, do you?”

“I’ve learned I don’t need to be afraid of you. You could have hurt me many times by now, and you haven’t. Now, that doesn’t win you any medals. It’s just an observation. But it means I knowI can say what’s on my mind. And I’m going to. I won’t let you take away my agency either.”

“Fair enough,” he grunts.

“But if I’m being honest …” I take in a large breath. “I just don’t hate you. I’m not sure why. But I want to help you, so let me help you.”

He stares at me for a long moment before sliding his arm over my shoulders. I can tell he’s not setting much of his weight onto me, but I appreciate the little bit that he gives. Maybe this means we can start to trust each other. Both of us.

Nikolai and I hobble to the subway where people give us strange looks. Everyone keeps their distance—whether it’s because of the blood dripping off Nikolai or his glares, I don’t know.

After a long journey back to the house, we finally make it.

“Where are your guards?” I ask, remembering they didn’t follow me when I first left.

“Probably out looking for me right now. I’ll have to let them know I’m all right.”

“First, sleep.”

“I can’t sleep.”

We stumble through the front door. Edmund rushes to Nikolai’s side. “What happened? What can I do?”

“He needs his wounds looked at. And he needs rest. Help me upstairs with him.”

“I’m not a complete invalid,” Nikolai grumbles. “I can walk.” He pulls away from me and tries heading up the stairs … and them promptly trips on one of the steps and lands on his knees.

“Help him,” I whisper to Edmund. He nods and doesn’t ask any questions. It’s part of his job, after all.

Nikolai doesn’t put up a fight as Edmund helps him upstairs. Mrs. Brown meets us on the landing, frantically flittering around Nikolai.

“Oh, dear. What happened?”

“Grab towels,” I instruct. “And a first aid kit.” I stop Mrs. Brown before she can leave as Edmund walks Nikolai down the hallway. “And call for a doctor. Nikolai doesn’t think he needs one, but he does.”

“Understood,” she whispers back then hurries away.

When I turn around, I don’t see Edmund or Nikolai. What I do see is the door to Nikolai’s bedroom. It’s open.

I hesitate for a minute outside of it. He didn’t want me coming in before. Well, I don’t think it fully matters what Nikolai wants. I’m tired of bending to his rules. If it weren’t for me, he’d be dead. He owes me.

I walk with confidence into the room and then stop. It’s just a normal bedroom. A bed with black sheets. Gray walls. A walk-in closet full of suits. An ensuite bathroom that looks a lot like the one in my room. It’s all so … plain.

So why didn’t Nikolai want me coming in here?

He’s on his bed, bent over, his elbows on his knees. Edmund is cutting the bloody shirt off him. Once it’s removed, I see everything Maxim did to him. All the cuts. All the scars that will be left behind. I wonder if all the scars will just remain physical or if Nikolai will face any trauma from this. He hasn’t opened up to me about any hardships he’s faced.

I’m starting to realize I want him to.

Mrs. Brown arrives with the first aid kit and a couple of towels. “Here you go.” She gasps when she sees Nikolai. “Oh … Mr. Petrov …”

“Get out,” he says, his head still tucked. “Just get out.”

The three of us head for the door, but I stop even as Edmund and Mrs. Brown leave.

“No,” I say, turning back to Nikolai. “I won’t leave. You need help. You need to clean your wounds. You won’t be able to reach them all by yourself.”

He slowly lifts his head and gives me such an intense look that I almost lose my nerve.

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