Chapter 28 Nikolai
I woke up in Anya's bed feeling like a new man.
The exhaustion was gone. The headache was gone. The fog in my mind had cleared.
I had slept really peacefully for the first time in what felt like forever.
Anya was still in my arms. Her head was on my chest. Her breathing was soft and steady.
I looked down at her. Her face was peaceful and her hair was spread across the pillow. It was black and silky.
She was beautiful.
I carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake her. She stirred slightly but did not open her eyes.
I left her room quietly and walked back to my own chambers to change and prepare for the day.
As I walked down the hallway, I could not stop smiling. I could not stop feeling light and happy.
I was happy she forgave me and allowed me spend the night with her.
The guards I walked past stared at me. Their eyes widened. The look of surprise etched on their faces.
When was the last time I smiled?
That was twenty years ago. When my mother was still alive, when she was still with me.
But after her death, after I had killed my own father, stabbing him seventeen times.
I buried all emotions.
Until this morning.
"Good morning, Pakhan," one of them said nervously.
"Good morning," I replied cheerfully, with a smile on my face.
The guard blinked. Like he could not believe what he was hearing.
I got to my room and changed into fresh clothes. I looked at myself in the mirror and I was still smiling.
Like an idiot.
Like a child.
But I did not care.
I didn't bother going for breakfast, I wasn't hungry.
I went to my study and sat at my desk.
I started going through papers.
But I could not focus. I could not stop thinking about Anya. About how good it felt to sleep beside her. It felt right somehow, like it was where I was supposed to be.
I know I was a fool for thinking like this. For allowing my emotions cloud my judgement.
As a mafia, you aren't allowed to attach your emotions to anything. Not even to your money. Not even to your empire. Talk less, a woman. A slave.
Just when I was starting to rejoice that Mikhail hadn't come to pester me, the door opened and he walked in without knocking. As usual.
"Good morning," he said. Then he stopped and stared at me for a moment. His face was scrunched up in surprise. "Why are you smiling?"
"Am I not allowed to smile?" My smile widened.
"You never smile. Not like this." He stepped closer. "What happened?"
"Nothing." I shrugged.
"Did you sleep well at Katya's estate?" He smiled, eyeing me.
"Do not talk about Katya." I said, my smile suddenly faded a little.
"Why not? She is your fiancée. The woman you are supposed to marry. You should be glad she has eyes for you. Other mafias would kill to spend a second with her. That woman is way hotter than some slave." He grinned.
I threw a glass of wine at him. But he caught it mid-air.
My face darkened. "Get out." I ordered.
"What? I am just stating facts." He chuckled.
"If Katya is so hot, why don't you marry her yourself?" I glared at him.
Mikhail opened his mouth to respond but the door burst open.
Katya stormed in. Her face was red with fury.
"Nikolai!" She shouted.
"Katya. What a pleasant surprise." I said flatly.
"Pleasant?" She marched up to my desk. "You came to my estate last night and you did not even bother to check on me! Your fiancée!"
Mikhail's eyes widened. "What? I thought you two…"
"You spent the entire night in my father's study! You did not even come to my room. You did not even say hello!" Katya's voice was shrill.
Mikhail turned to me slowly. "You stayed at her estate all night?"
"Hmm," I nodded.
"In her father's study?" Mikhail's eyes were dark already. I could tell he was angry.
"Yes."
"Not in her room?!"
"Correct." I whispered.
Mikhail's face went pale. Then red. Then purple. "You mean I mocked Anya for nothing?! You mean I told her you were with your fiancée when you were just sitting in a study?!"
I didn't say anything. I just stared at him.
"You bastard!" Mikhail slammed his fist on the desk. "You’ve just made me look like a fool! Anya would never respect me again!"
"You deserved it. For mocking my mistress."
"Your mistress?! She is just a slave! A tool! Nothing more!"
I stood up. My hand moved before I could think. I grabbed Mikhail by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
"Say that again," I said quietly. "I dare you!"
Mikhail's eyes widened. "Nikolai..."
"Say it. Call her a slave one more time and see what happens."
"She is just..."
I threw him against the wall. He hit it hard and slid to the floor.
"Guards!" I shouted.
Two guards rushed in immediately.
"Take Mikhail to the dungeon. And lock him up."
"What?!" Mikhail struggled to his feet. "You cannot be serious!"
"I am very serious. You insulted what is mine. You mocked her. You hurt her. That is unacceptable!" My rage was uncontrollable.
"Nikolai, please!" His eyes were wide with shock. He wasn't expecting that, neither was I.
Mikhail was my closest person. He has been with me for years, faithful and loyal. I have never had to punish him for anything. Not when I caught him fucking one of the maids, not when he got too drunk and told me off to an enemy. Not for the countless errors he had committed.
But today was different. Today he had called Anya a whore.
"Take him away." I ordered coldly.
The guards grabbed Mikhail and dragged him out.
His protests echoed down the hallway.
Katya stared at me with wide eyes. "You are insane."
"Perhaps." I shrugged.
"You locked up your best friend. Your advisor. Your right hand. All because of a slave girl?"
"She is not a slave."
"What is she then?"
"She's mine." I sat back down at my desk. "Is there anything else you need, Katya?"
"Yes. I need you to stop this madness. Stop obsessing over that girl and focus on our wedding. On our future."
"There will be no wedding if you don't leave now, Katya."
Katya froze. "What?"
"I will break off our engagement if you're not careful."
"You cannot do that!"
"I will."
"My father will not allow it. The alliance..."
"I do not care about the alliance." I looked up at her. "Leave, Katya. Before I have you thrown out."
Katya's face twisted with rage. "Fine. But you will regret this. You will regret choosing that worthless girl over me."
"I doubt it."
She stormed towards the door, then stopped and turned back.
"I will take her out of the way," she said coldly. "One way or another. That girl will not come between us."
"If you touch her," I said quietly, "I will kill you myself."
Katya's eyes widened. Then she laughed. "You would not dare."
"Try me." I said coldly, my eyes dark.