Page 46 of Scarred (Russian Sinners 2)

“Now you know how I feel about Nik and Nikolai,” I replied jokingly. The conversation with him felt so easy; I wondered why I avoided calling him for the last few days. “How’s your week going?”

“This week has been frustrating. Things are not moving along as fast as I want them to.”

I could understand that. He seemed like a ‘get it done right away’ type of guy.

“I’m sure you’ll nudge them your way sooner or later,” I teased him, surprised with how at ease I felt. Maybe it was jogging for an hour and a half that brought on some inner calmness.

“You are right about that, malysh,” he spoke softly. I mentally filed away the word so I could look it up later. No idea what that meant but I wouldn’t ask him. “Don’t go jogging unless Andrey confirms security outside is in full effect, and please avoid getting too close to the edge of the property. Can you do that for me?”

“Sure.” He was asking me to be safe, like it was a big favor to him. When in fact, he was doing me a favor. “Should we stay in today? I told Tasha I’d take her to the park, and I’m meeting Katja tonight.”

I knew he wanted to keep her under lock and key till he was sure it was all safe. But truthfully, there are unknown threats out there at any time of day or night.

“If it is who I think it is, he was there for me, not for you,” he commented. “Will you go to the same park?” he asked.

It didn’t surprise me he knew exactly which park we went to. He probably knew every minute of our days but it didn’t bother me. It showed how seriously he took his responsibility of protecting his niece… and me, if I was honest.

“Yes.”

“I’ll have Andrey send men ahead to surveillance the park and then he’ll have his regular security escort.”

He struggled between the right thing to do and the safe thing to do. I didn’t envy him on the predicament at all.

“We won’t stay long,” I told him. “I’ll tempt her back by having her help me paint. Andrey is letting me use his mother’s old paint stuff so we’ll mess around with that.”

“Thank you, Olivia,” he sounded tired. “I’ll order you painting supplies.”

“No need, really.” I didn’t want to feel like I owed him one more thing.

When he didn’t respond, I knew he paid me no heed. He’d do what he set his mind to. Hell, he might be ordering it right now.

“Okay,” I added in a sigh. “You’ll get it anyhow, I can tell. But I will pay you back.”

“There is no need,” his reply was instant.

“Yes, there is,” I claimed. I didn’t want to owe him.

“Olivia,” he started in a serious tone. “Whatever you get from me, it is given with no strings attached. You are helping me with Tasha and there is no price tag for it in my book.”

Well, when he put it that way but it still didn’t sit well with me.

“And you are helping me and my mother stay away from my fiancé and my father. There is no price tag in my book for it either.”

“Oh, are we competing?” His voice held a challenge and I gave in.

“Fine, Nikolai,” I told him. “You win.”

“I always do, malysh,” he replied with the chuckle.

I smiled at hearing him chuckle, loving the sound. It had been four miserable years since Malcome Schmidt entered my life. Initially, our paths barely crossed and he kept his distance, much to my happiness. But his cruelty really intensified about two years ago. He had made my world darker and more painful, but it wasn’t till our engagement that it finally sank in, I was stuck.

Nikolai was the first man to make me feel the need for a man’s touch. I still recalled his lips against my cheek, it was engraved into my memory giving room for light. He gave me my hope back, and for that I would forever be grateful.

“Okay,” I wanted to end the conversation. Hope was sometimes a dangerous thing. “I have to get ready before Tasha wakes up. Have a good day.”

“See you soon, Olivia,” his words were a promise, and my heart pumped faster.

Chapter Seventeen

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