Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven
Nikolai's POV
"Do you hate me, Nikolai?" For a heartbeat, I forgot how to breathe.
The light turned green, and I pressed the accelerator harder than necessary, hiding behind silence. Because if I opened my mouth, I might tell her the truth, that she wasn’t supposed to matter, and yet, somehow, she already did. And that she was messing with my mind.
Still battling with my thoughts, I heard the sound of Matteo's phone buzzing with a message, I wondered what it was but he didn't say anything but I noticed he was staring at me, like he was told to keep an eye on me, I wouldn't be guessing wrong if the message was from father or that arrogant fool, Rafael.
But I really do not need that reminder.
As if I didn’t already know that being near her was dangerous, for both of us.
I shoved the thought aside, stepped out of the car, and pulled my jacket tighter against the cool afternoon air. “Let’s make this quick,” I muttered, slamming the door shut.
Elena followed, her sneakers tapping lightly on the pavement, her soft laughter blending with the hum of the city. I rarely see someone who wears a gown with sneakers. “C'mon loosen up, you don't have to always look like a child someone forced to exist,” she teased lightly.
I glanced at her. “That’s because someone did.”
She laughed again, and the sound was too delicate for this brutal world and something twisted deep in my chest. She shouldn’t be here, in this city of wolves. Not with people who knew my name. Not with me.
Matteo walked a step behind, hands in his pockets, scanning the crowd like always. “There is a café across the street, boss. Quiet enough, decent espresso.”
“Fine.”
We crossed the street. Elena walked between us, taking in everything, the architecture, the street vendors, the smell of roasted chestnuts drifting from the corner. I caught the faint smile on her lips and, for a moment, forgot that she wasn’t mine to protect.
When we reached the café, I held the door open automatically. She blinked in surprise, murmuring a soft thank you, and walked past me. My hand brushed the edge of her sleeve, just barely and the contact sent a strange current through my veins.
Matteo caught it, of course. The bastard smirked as we sat down.
The waitress came over, and Elena ordered something light, a cappuccino with too much sugar. I asked for black coffee. Matteo ordered something ridiculous with whipped cream, just to annoy me.
He leaned back, eyes darting between us. “So, princess, how is the engagement treating you? I heard Rafael is pretty… distracted lately.”
I almost wanted to hit his head against the wall. Does he have to bring Rafael up?
Her smile faltered, just a fraction. “He is busy. The family business, you know.”
I watched her fingers tighten slightly around her cup. Probably remembering the incident last night and this morning, yet she still wants to protect him. She didn’t know half of what my brother was capable of. And I couldn’t be the one to tell her.
Matteo noticed it too, but he didn’t push. Instead, he turned the conversation to lighter topics, talking about cars and travel, making her laugh again. He was good at that drawing smiles out of people who were breaking inside.
I stayed silent, pretending to scroll through my phone, but in reality, I was watching her reflection in the window.
She caught me once, her gaze meeting mine in the glass. I looked away first.
Then the moment was shattered literally.
A loud crash erupted from the street. Tires screeched. A black SUV swerved too close to the sidewalk, hitting a street pole. People screamed.
Matteo was on his feet instantly. “Boss..."
“I see it,” I said, pulling Elena back from the window just as shards of glass cracked outward.
Her gasp hit my chest. I shielded her automatically, my arm wrapping around her waist as we ducked. The smell of smoke filled the air. Somewhere outside, a man shouted in Italian.
Matteo’s eyes met mine. “That wasn’t an accident.”
“Go check it out,” I ordered. He nodded once and disappeared through the door.
I turned to Elena, who was trembling slightly, her wide eyes fixed on the smoke outside. “You okay?”
She nodded shakily. “Yes. What was that?”
I hesitated, still crouched beside her. My pulse was steady, but my heart wasn’t. “Probably nothing you need to worry about.”
“Probably nothing?” she echoed, voice rising slightly. “Nikolai, that car almost hit..."
“Elena.” I caught her gaze, my tone softer now. “You’re safe. I promise, an accident happens every day here in Italy.”
Her lips parted, and for a heartbeat, she seemed to believe me. Then she looked down, realizing how close I was, how my hand was still around her waist.
I released her immediately, stepping back. “Sorry.”
She shook her head quickly. “No… It’s fine. I just…”
Before she could finish, Matteo returned, breathless. “It’s handled. Just a couple of idiots with too much vodka.”
I didn’t believe that for a second, but I nodded anyway. Elena didn’t need to know what kind of people followed my family.
She exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself. “You’re all so calm about it. Do things like this happen often?” she asked again after I had told her, It happens every day.
I looked at her then, really looked into those trusting eyes that didn’t belong in my world. “More often than you think.” We left the café soon after. I let Matteo take the lead again, but Elena walked closer to me now, her shoulder brushing my arms every so often. Each accidental touch burned.
When we finally reached the car, she turned to me, her voice barely above a whisper. “You knew something might happen, didn’t you?” I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Because she was right. And because admitting it would mean admitting something else too. That I cared enough to worry.
She sighed softly, shaking her head. “You’re impossible, Nikolai. You could have just given me a simple answer, then kept mute."
I allowed myself the smallest smile. “One simple answer to you leads to another question, and yet another."
She frowns, crossing her arms around her chest, like a child wanting to throw tantrums, but wants to show she is serious, "So you are calling me a curious child?" My gaze went to her, and I found myself ruffling her hair and chuckled.
"Get into the car," I said softly.
As she climbed into the car, Matteo leaned close and muttered, “You’re playing with fire, brother. The more time you spend with her, the less you’ll want to give her back. I don't know what game Don Alessandro is playing with you and Rafael, but I think it's a dangerous one.”
I didn't reply, I just stepped into the driver's seat and closed my door, eyes still on her through the glass. Maybe he was right.
But what he didn’t understand was that I had already crossed that line, the moment I caught her when she fell, the moment I swore I would protect her even from my own blood. And somehow, I already knew, this wasn’t going to end clean
As I drove away, my phone buzzed again. A new message. This time, from an unknown number:
\[Is that Don Valkor Moretti's daughter? If she is, you can’t protect her forever. Some debts can only be paid in blood.\]