Page 15 of Cage the Storm
I know he doesn’t trust me. And I know he’s not wrong to feel that way. Our families have always been rivals. But trust isn’t what I need from him, not yet. What I need is time. Time to prove to him that together, we could rewrite the rules of this world. Time to find the cracks in his armor and show him that his strength isn’t in isolation but in unity. Time to remind myself why I chose him in the first place. Even if he couldn’t pick me at the time.
I know he had a restless night, so I quietly slide out of bed, afraid to wake him. Sneaking into my bathroom, I do my morning routine and then slip on my bathing suit to do laps after my walk. After throwing on my leggings and a light sweater, I slip into my shoes, head downstairs, and close the door behind me.
The first rays of sunlight spill across the sky as I step into the gardens, and the air is filled with the faint scent of flowers. Thisis my sanctuary. It’s the only place where the world disappears long enough so I can breathe. I love taking walks to quiet the turmoil running through my mind. There’s no judgment among the topiaries and blossoms here, and I can just be me.
The stillness of the pool greets me next, its surface like glass. The cool embrace wakes my body and clears my mind as I slide into the water. Each lap feels like a quiet rebellion against the madness around me. Nico would never understand the solace I find in my routine. But maybe, just maybe, it’s what sets us apart. All I know is it was my saving grace while I was married to Gio.
While the warmth from the gardens and the chill from the pool still cling to me, I step inside the house. And the faint aroma of coffee has me heading toward the kitchen. For the first time in days, I feel centered. Today, I’m ready to face whatever lies ahead with a calm that I haven’t felt in a very long time.
I’m not surprised when I walk in to find Nicolai, dressed in his usual suit and tie, with one hand wrapped around his mug. He looks rested, but there’s still something that stalls in his posture.
“Good morning,” he says, with a hint of a smile. I take my mug, letting the heat seep into my hands as I glance up at him.
“Morning. Coffee tastes better shared, wouldn’t you agree?”
With slow deliberation, he meets my eyes. Nico squares his shoulders like always, but his eyes betray him. Like even a man who loves and kills without pause wasn’t prepared for what happened the other night. “It depends on who you’re sharing it with,” he replies.
I don’t miss the slight edge in his tone. “Then I’ll consider myself fortunate,” I say lightly, lifting my mug to take a sip. “You could’ve chosen solitude, but here we are. Sharing a cup of coffee.”
Nicolai doesn’t respond right away. There’s something in the way he watches me take a sip, but whatever it is flashes and disappears. “A curious choice, isn’t it?” Like he’s not sure whether he’s talking about me or the coffee.
I let his words sink in for a moment before I step closer. “I’m full of curious choices, Nicolai. Maybe you should take that as a threat or a promise.”
His gaze lingers. Then, without a word, he touches my damp hair. It’s so unexpected that it takes me by surprise, and I freeze.
“Still wet from your swim.” It’s just a quiet observation that feels far more intimate than it should.
I don’t pull away, but I don’t lean into his touch either. Instead, I meet his gaze, searching for something in those dark eyes that might explain his intention. But Nicolai, as always, remains a mystery. And maybe that’s what piques my curiosity.
His fingers hover for a moment before slipping through my hair. “You’re consistent,” he says. “Walking, swimming, every morning like clockwork.”
I tilt my head, studying him. “Routine keeps me grounded,” I reply. “In a world like ours, it’s one of the few things I can control.”
“Right,” he murmurs, gaze falling to his coffee. “Control,” he murmurs, almost to himself. “It’s a dangerous thing to rely on.” The words hang in the air for a moment, and then he continues. “Finish your coffee.”
I step toward the sink, and Nicolai does the same. For a split second, our movements align, unintentional yet perfectly timed.
Our hands brush. It’s barely a touch, but I felt a spark. I look up and catch a glint of something in his smoldering gaze, like maybe he felt it too. “Excuse me,” he says quietly and then walks away.
I stand there for a moment, gliding my fingers through my hair, remembering his touch. I tell myself it was nothing, thatit shouldn’t matter. That it shouldn’t mean anything. And yet I can’t shake the way his gaze held mine, or the tone in his voice.
Maybe there’s more to him than the cold, calculated man I’ve come to know. This feeling is dangerous; this pull toward someone I should be keeping at arm’s length. But the more I try to push it away, the more it takes root.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself as I approach the hallway. Whatever this is, whatever I’m feeling, it’s a distraction. And distractions have no place in a world like ours. But as I walk away, the ghost of his touch follows me, refusing to let me go.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
NICOLAI
I sitbehind my mahogany desk, and for whatever reason, my office feels smaller today. Like the walls are closing in around me. Even the flurry of activity in the main house, which usually calms me, is of no comfort today. It’s just another reminder of the world I’ve inherited, and the responsibilities I can’t escape.
The morning drags into early afternoon, marked only by unanswered messages and the growing ache behind my eyes.
And then there’s Luna with her smart mouth and unwavering stubbornness. She’s dangerous, that much I know. Her father’s world is closely woven into mine, and her intentions are a puzzle I need to solve. Sooner, rather than later.
I reach for my glass, but the amber liquid doesn’t offer me a moment of peace. Not even the warmth that spreads through my chest can stop the war raging inside of me. I’ve always kept my emotions locked away in a box. But Luna, she’s prying them loose, piece by piece, without even trying.
“Enough,” I mutter, but it falls flat. No one’s here to hear it. This distraction will pass. It has to because there’s no room for weakness—not here, not ever.
