Chapter 51 Chapter 51
Isla
After she left, I stayed in the living room. A few minutes later, Maria handed me a glass of wine just as Jules walked in with Ares. I set the glass down and jumped up. He limped towards me.
“I’m sorry you got hurt," I said quietly, rubbing his head, and he whined. One of his feet was bandaged.
“His foot is sprained; he’ll be okay," Jules said, and I nodded. I got Ares comfortable on the couch and went and got my iPad. I sat down with a glass of wine and started planning. Sophia will become Blair’s best friend.
I knew Blaire was probably being affected by the drug at this point. I opened the social media account for Isla Valerius. There were over thirty new messages, and they were all from Alistair. Of course they were; he was panicking now because I was coming back for everything he stole from my father.
I sat there reading through the message; some were him ranting, some were him saying he was just protecting what my father had built until I returned for it, and that one made me scoff.
I was still sitting there going over the messages and what I planned to do when Nikolai walked in, and he paused. I stood up so fast the tablet fell to the ground.
“Nikolai”—his name came out in a whisper. I stood rooted to the spot. He was covered in blood, not a little blood like he got hurt but like he had taken a shower in it. Blood had splattered onto his face; both of his hands were red, his suit jacket was gone, and his white shirt was now red.
“Are you hurt?” I asked, my voice coming out steadier than I thought it would.
"No," he said, his eyes locked on mine. I guess he was waiting for me to run or do something. I took a deep breath before I asked the next question; I could make a rough guess, but I needed to hear it from him.
“Who?”
“He decided to kidnap you. Now he has no mother or father.” He said it in that cold, detached voice; I closed my eyes.
“Go shower and get some sleep."
“Come to bed," he said before walking away and heading up the stairs. I sank onto the couch. He killed Lucas and Lorenzo Moretti’s parents all because Lorenzo decided to kidnap me. I knew Nikolai was crazy but not to this extent.
I went to the kitchen and finished the bottle of wine because my mind couldn't wrap itself around what he had just done. I headed up the stairs, about to go to my room, and he was standing at the top of the stairs. He was wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, his hair wet. He grabbed my hand and led me to his room.
He got into bed and pulled me in beside him, my back to his chest; he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me in closer.
“Nikolai?” I said softly; he squeezed my waist, showing he was listening.
“You can’t go around murdering peo…" I didn't get to finish. He moved and pulled me under him, his face inches away from mine.
“I will paint the entire fucking Riverside in blood if anyone thinks touching you is a good idea," he said with a growl. He leaned forward and took my mouth, kissing me hard and deep. I didn't resist him; I let it happen. When he realized I wasn't going to resist, his hand cupped my breast, and I moaned into his mouth. He pulled back and looked at me.
“Go to sleep, princess, you’re hurt," he said, kissing my forehead. He lay beside me and pulled me back into him. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to sleep.
When I woke up, I was alone in bed. After a quick shower, I headed down. He was in the living room reading something; Sophia was at the dining table having breakfast.
"Morning, Mrs. Ferro," she said, and I nodded. I looked at Nikolia; he was waiting for me. I headed over to the dining table, and he followed me and sat down.
“Nikolai, the doctor for Sophia.”
“Already handled. Leo will accompany her; she leaves at nine," he said.
“Thank you.”
After breakfast, he went to his office. I was sitting in the living room with Sophia when Damarcus walked in, followed by Brax.
“Good morning, Madam," the both said.
“Good morning, gents. To what do I owe this visit?”
“Well, Alistair is scrambling; he was served this morning at seven, and from what I heard, he is losing his composure," Damarcus said with a smile.
“That is interesting; he sent a few messages.”
“Madam, last night there was an issue at the Rhodes manor.” Brax said, and I looked at him. “What Issue?”
“Ms. Rhodes ran out of the house naked, screaming that someone was chasing her. Quite a few people saw her," he said.
"Well, they better get her checked before she is actually losing her sanity," I said casually.
“Well, doubled in with Alistair dealing with a lawsuit, then his daughter’s sanity might not be the first thing that comes to his mind.” Brax said.
Just then Leo walked in; I remember him. “Good morning, Madam, I am here for the young lady," he said. I looked at Sophia. She stood up and grabbed the small suitcase.
"I’ll see you in a few weeks. And remember our deal," I said pointedly.
“I remember Mrs. Ferro," she said quietly before walking out with Leo. I looked at Damarcus.
“You might want to be prepared; your boss did something stupid," I said with a sigh.
“I already cleaned the videos," Brax said casually.
“We know; we’re already prepared for any outcome," Damarcus said, and I nodded.
We were still sitting there, discussing how we planned to go forward with the Rhodes when Nikolai came out and sat down beside me.
“I’m heading to the company. Have you found out what Gia and Stefan are up to?” He asked, looking at Brax.
“As a matter of fact, I have," he said, handling his tablet to Nikolai. Nikolai read it, and I felt his entire body go stiff.
"This motherfucker," he said, handing the tablet to me. I read the documents on the screen; Stefan was embezzling money from the construction company. Over five million dollars, and not only that, he was buying guns and funding Lucas Moretti. Jesus, so much for family.
“You deal with it," he said, standing up. “I’m going to work," he said before walking out. I guess I was going to pay the Ferro family a visit.