Page 119 of Nikola
A smile twitched on Dad’s lips. “She’s actually standing outside now. Probably eavesdropping as we speak.”
And sure as shit, the door opened and Mom sauntered in, wearing a simple cream dress while carrying a tray of sandwiches and cookies. She looked like she’d just stepped out of a homemaking magazine.
I groaned, but before I could utter a single word, she said, “I promise I didn’t make these.”
My mom was a brilliant doctor, but we all knew she couldn’t cook for shit. She used to get Bianca Morrelli to come over when we were children and give her lessons. It was a complete waste of time.
After she placed the tray on the desk, not bothering to keep my carefully arranged files in order, she sat on my father’s lap. My dad had always been the protective shield that my mom could count on to shelter her from every threat in the world. He’d lay his life down for her. They had the kind of love that fairy tales were written about.
I’d never wanted it for myself, but now that I got a taste of something similar with Skye, I couldn’t help but feel envious. It was so damn stupid.
“Like Vasili was saying, we’re so proud of you, Nikola.” Her chin and bottom lip trembled, tears glistening in her dark eyes. “We love you and want to see you happy.”
“I’m happy.”Enough. “I’m fine.”
I’d said those words so many times, I hoped I would eventually believe them. The stupid organ in my chest wasn’t fine; in fact, it was in worse condition than my legs.
“Son, we have to talk about Skye.”
“God, not you too.”
I put my head between my hands and held it when I felt a soft stroke of my mom’s hand, offering her support.
“Sweetheart, she loves you. It’s obvious you love her too. Why are you resisting it?”
“I can’t protect her, Mom. How can I protect her like this?” I lifted my head and pointed to my legs. At this point, I sounded like a broken record. “I’d be more of a liability than anything.”
“Slowly but surely, your leg is healing,” Dad claimed. “You’ll regain some use of it.”
“But we don’t know how much,” I said. “Crutches could be my best-case scenario.”
“Or cane,” Dad corrected.
“We’re talking about at least six months of physical therapy,” I pointed out. “Probably longer. Whether it’s a cane or crutches,I’d still be useless when it comes to protecting Skye or our family.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it, Nikola,” Dad argued.
“I don’t need her pity, or anyone’s for that matter,” I spat. “I won’t marry her and risk failing to protect her. Dad, you’ve pounded into me since I was a kid that dangers lurk everywhere.”
“Hasn’t your therapist explained to you that there are different kinds of protection?” Mom tried.
Truthfully, Dr. MaryAnn made me feel worse, not fucking better.
“Fuck the therapist and her enlightening words right now,” Dad grumbled. “Dante is going ahead with the wedding plans for fuck’s sake, and he’s running out of patience.”
“That man really doesn’t understand the meaning of a canceled wedding.” And he dared to call me stubborn. My parents shared a glance and an alarm shot up my spine.
“What?” I questioned, and when they both remained silent, I asked again, “What is it?”
Mom shifted uncomfortably and Dad avoided looking at me as he uttered the next words.
“If you don’t marry her, Kostya will.”
48
NIKOLA
It was my uncle Alexei who opened the door when I showed up at their penthouse. Unlike Uncle Sasha and his family, they preferred the privacy of their own penthouse.
