Page 121 of Bound By Revenge

He shrugs, crossing his arms. “You’re scared.”

“Of course I am!” I snap, my voice breaking. “He acts like he’s invincible, but he’s not. And if something happens to him…” My throat tightens, and I have to pause, forcing myself to take a steadying breath. “That’s the problem. If I stay, this is my life. Today it’s McGuire; tomorrow, it’ll be someone else. There’s always going to be another fight, another enemy. And I don’t know if I can live like that—just waiting for the day it all catches up to him.”

He tilts his head, his expression softening, almost like he’s considering my words. “Yeah, but isn’t that how life works? None of us know how much time we’ve got.”

I sigh, my voice dropping as the words come out. “Sure, but if he were, I don’t know, a school teacher or something, the odds would feel a hell of a lot better. At least I wouldn’t have to wake up every day wondering if this is the one where he doesn’t come back.” I look away, my voice dropping. “And yeah, he’s right. I knew who he was and what he did when this started. But knowing it and living it are two completely different things.”

Dmitri exhales slowly, dragging a hand down his face. “Kat, I’ve known Nik a long time. And I’ve never seen him like this with anyone. If someone had told me he’d be acting this way, I’d have laughed in their face. But I’ve seen it myself. This version of him—this lovesick, infatuated guy you’ve been dealing with? That’s not normal for him. Not even close.”

I frown, confused. “What are you trying to say?”

He shrugs. “Just give him time. This is new for him—he’s figuring it out as he goes. Nik’s many things, but a disappointment isn’t one of them. You’ve seen that already. If you’re patient with him, if you let him figure this out, he’ll come through. He always does.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Oh, Dmitri… If only it were that simple. There’s just no way of knowing…”

“Listen,” he interrupts, his voice softer now. “I get it. It’s scary as hell. And hard, too. But trust me on this—you don’t want to lose your chance at something real, something life-changing, over something like this.”

His words stop me cold, and for a moment, I forget my frustrations with Nik. Dmitri’s sincerity has a weight to it, a gravity that draws me in. I can’t help but push. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”

As always, he remains maddeningly vague, offering only a cryptic smile. “We’ve all got our heartbreaks, don’t we?”

I roll my eyes. “Oh, come on. Don’t give me that. I’m baring my soul here—you owe me at least a little honesty in return.”

He hesitates, the familiar mischievous light in his eyes dimming. “Trust me, it’s not a story worth telling.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” I press.

For a moment, he looks like he might brush me off entirely. But then he sighs, biting the inside of his cheek. “Fine. There’s this girl.”

I raise an eyebrow. “No shit, Sherlock.”

He ignores me, his voice turning serious. “She’s always been important to me, but it took me too long to realize just how much. By the time I figured it out, I’d already lost her. And now… now there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t wish I could go back and do things differently. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to have her back.”

I lean forward, curiosity burning. “What happened?”

He lets out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “That’s a story for another time. If I make it that far.”

His attempt to deflect only makes me push harder. “Come on, Dmitri?—”

“The point,” he cuts me off, his tone sharper now, “is that finding somebody to love is rare. So if you do, don’t let it slip through your fingers, or you’ll regret it for the rest of your miserable life. I know that now. And so does Nik.”

One way or the other, everything comes back to Maxim.

“Nik hasn’t had much practice at loving someone,” Dmitri says, his voice quiet. “Or at being loved. He hasn’t had the kind of luck most people take for granted. But if you ask him for something—if you make it clear it’s what you need to be happy—he’ll move heaven and earth to give it to you. You know that, don’t you?”

I take a breath, but before I can answer, the sound of the bedroom door opening and closing startles me. Whatever I’d planned to say is instantly forgotten. My eyes flick toward the doorway, my pulse quickening.

Immediately straightening, Dmitri raises an eyebrow at me before glancing over his shoulder at the newcomer. Then he turns back to me. “Just think about what I told you,” he whispers. “Just give him time. Please.”

I scoff, narrowing my eyes at him, but he’s already walking away.

I don’t need to look to know who’s standing at the doorway. That’s why I turn my back and pretend to busy myself with the shopping bags.

I have no intention of making this easy for him. Frankly, I don’t even know what to say. So I stay silent, waiting for him to make the first move.

He watches me for what feels like forever, the silence stretching until it’s almost unbearable. Just as I’m about to break and say something outrageous just to get a reaction, he exhales deeply.

“Kat, I’m sorry.”

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