Page 170 of Wicked Proposal
“Not gonna be a problem,” she grins. “Lucky for you, my schedule’s wide open. Text me the details.”
“I will.”
“Thanks.”
She hovers at the door for a moment, undecided. Then, as if gathering up all her courage, she stands on her tiptoes.
It’s the shortest kiss of my life. The lightest, gentlest kiss.
It hurts like a thousand cuts.
“Goodnight, Yulian.”
“… Goodnight, Mia.”
Then she’s gone.
The second she disappears behind my front door, I stride back to my bedroom, stopping only to pick up a bottle of ice water from the fridge.
Then I dump the contents on Nikita’s face.
“FUCK!” She jolts upright, gasping for breath. “What the—?! Oh. It’s just you.”
Not many people on this Earth would react like that upon seeing me. For most criminals in this city, I’m the Grim Reaper incarnate.
But Nikita’s different. Nikita knows what binds us. She knows it’s sacred.
She also knows how to tell my moods. And right now, even through the haze of her situation, she can tell I’m in my darkest one yet.
“Start talking,” I snarl. “Now.”
53
YULIAN
As apakhan,I’m used to giving orders. More than anything, I’m used to them being executed swiftly and flawlessly. Without questions—without hesitation.
That all goes to shit when Nikita’s involved.
“I want a milkshake,” she yawns, still fighting the anesthetic in her system. “With whipped cream. Then I’ll talk.”
I could fight her on this. Pull rank, remind her who’s in charge. Or better yet, I could simplymake hertalk. She’s too weak to fight back, let alone win.
Soft,the beast in me mocks as I turn on the blender.You’ve gone too fucking soft, Yulian.
Maybe so. But I’ve sworn an oath. On Kira’s grave, the day of her funeral.
That I’d always look out for her little sister.
She drags herself to the kitchen counter, IV in tow. I don’t try to help her walk, and she doesn’t ask. Wounded or not, Nikita’s still one of my top lieutenants. A soldier.
Her pride needs healing, too.
“Ew!” She pulls a face at her first sip. “Is there protein powder in this?”
“According to your nurse, you’ve been eating your muscles.”
“My nurse?” Her brow knits, then realization dawns on her face. “Oh! The one with the shitty car and balls of steel.”
