Page 87 of Sins He Taught Me (Bratva Crime Syndicate 3)

I see it instantly, and it damn near breaks my heart. To Nikolas, this is just another woman in his life that he’s going to lose. Another woman that loved him and looked after him, snatched away from him Nikolas loves her.

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to see the other truth: I love her, too.

She wouldn’t have left him here alone—not after what happened with the burns he gave himself—if she had a choice. Brahim would’ve taken Nikolas, I’m sure of it, but he didn’t know because she didn’t give him away. She risked her own life for his.

How could I not love the woman willing to sacrifice everything for my family?

“You’re not going to lose her, Niko,” I tell him, setting my jaw. “I swear.”

I call in Miron, who shows up five minutes later, the tires of his car smoking, and instruct him to guard Niko. “Kill anyone who tries to come in,” I warn him as he races into the mansion.

“Yes, sir,” he says, his eyes set hard. “If anyone comes, I’ll take Nikolas to the safe room.”

“Good,” I reply. I clap him on the shoulder. “Trust no one.”

I’m just about to leave, but before I can go, Nikolas comes running back with something in his hand. He gives it to me, and when I flip it over, I see what it is.

It’s his father’s switchblade.

I squeeze my hand around it and look up at him. I don’t know how he got it again, but it doesn’t matter right now. I pull him close and hug him tight, my eyes never once leaving Miron’s. He needs to understand the severity of this. He has to know that Nikolas must be guarded with his life. Miron nods once, and I know that he understands exactly what he has to do.

I kneel down in front of Niko, take him by the shoulders, and look deep into his eyes. “I’m going to get Victoria, and both of us are going to come back. Do you understand me, Niko?”

He hesitates. I can see tears beading up in the corners of his eyes.

I squeeze tighter and say it one more time. “We’re coming back, Niko. I promise. You have my word.”

He looks like he doesn’t believe me still, even though he’s nodding slightly.

“Do you know why?” I ask him. The question confuses him. He shakes his head. I continue, “Because I’m a Morozov. Just like you. Just like your father. And when monsters come, what do Morozovs do?”

He looks up at me, curious, with something like a faint smile on his face. “We fight them,” he says in the tiniest voice I’ve ever heard.

“Yes, Niko. We fight them,” I say. “Because we are strong, and we are brave, and when we have that, then we can conquer anything.”

I kiss him on the top of the head, then rise to my feet. It’s time to go.

It takes all my strength to leave Nikolas behind, but I do. As I clamber into my car, I’m reminded of that night of Oleg’s wedding when Dmitry called. I didn’t get it then, but I do now. Dmitry didn’t care that it was a suicide mission. All he knew was that he had to save his woman. The rest of it didn’t matter.

That’s all I know as well.

I have to save Victoria.

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