Chapter 34 DEBTS
Nikolai:
Matthew and I were by the entrance that evening, with our jackets on. I was adjusting my cuffs when I felt it, that quiet, suspicious stare. I lifted my head, and Jasmine stood halfway down the staircase, leaning slightly against the railing. Her arms were folded, and her expression said she already knew exactly what I was about to do.
I sighed internally. Her gaze moved slowly from me… to Matthew… then back to me again. She had this “You’re going to destroy someone,” look on.
So, I raised a brow at her.
“Everything’s calm,” I said.
She bit her lip, not convinced. But she nodded anyway.
Matthew cleared his throat beside me, trying very hard not to smile.
“Ready, boss?”
I nodded once. Then we stepped outside. And the moment the doors shut behind us, I looked at him.
“You’re sure he’ll be there?”
Matthew pulled out his phone and turned the screen toward me. On it was a photo of David leaning over a table snorting cocaine like a man with nothing left to lose.
My jaw tightened.
“Wasted bastard.”
Matthew shrugged.
“He’s been there all afternoon.”
“Good.”
We got into the car, and headed to the casino. By the time we arrived, the casino was alone. Lights, music, money changing hands every second.
David was easy to find. He was exactly where Matthew said he would be, at a roulette table, laughing loudly with a stack of chips in front of him.
“Again!” he shouted as the ball dropped.
The wheel spun, and it stopped. The table erupted then David threw his arms up.
“Back to back!” he yelled. “Nobody here can beat me tonight!”
A few men laughed nervously. One of them slid more chips forward.
“I’ll try.”
“Good!” David said, grinning.
I stepped closer. “I’ll play.”
He looked up. For a second his expression faltered.
“You look familiar,” he said slowly.
I sat down across from him.
“Are you playing,” I asked calmly, “or not?”
David smirked. “Oh I’m playing.”
I slid a stack of chips onto the table. Then added more. The pile doubled, and the table went quiet.
David whistled. “Well now it’s interesting.”
The wheel spun again. And again. Three rounds later, I won.
The table fell silent. One by one, the players pushed their chips toward me while David stared at the wheel in disbelief.
“Lucky bastard,” he muttered. Then he slid his share forward.
The moment his hand touched the table, my switchblade went straight through the back of his palm. The blade pinned his hand to the felt, and David screamed.
The men present scraped their chairs back. But no one moved to help him.
He looked around wildly. “Why is nobody doing anything?!”
That’s when realisation hit him. His eyes snapped back to me.
“You…”
His face twisted in pain.
“You’re the guy Jasmine kissed.”
I tilted my head slightly.
“Now you remember.”
Blood was already pooling around the blade.
David winced. “What do you want?”
I leaned forward slightly.
“I don’t want you near her again.”
His breathing turned ragged.
“If you even think about touching her,” I continued calmly, “I will come for your life.”
“I didn’t—”
Several men around the table pulled back their jackets, revealing knives, guns even. The message was clear. So, David swallowed.
“Who the hell are you?” he asked hoarsely.
A familiar voice answered behind me.
“Someone you don’t want to mess with.”
Francesca. Of course.
She stepped into the light, elegant as always, her gaze sliding over the scene. Then she looked at me.
“Nikolai,” she said quietly, “remove the knife.”
Her tone was almost pleading.
“I’m sure this handsome man understands your point.”
For a moment the room was silent. Then I pulled the blade out. David groaned, clutching his bleeding hand. I wiped the knife clean with a napkin. Then I grabbed Francesca’s arm and pulled her toward a quiet corner.
She didn’t resist. In fact, she looked almost amused, almost as if she was expecting it.
“Following me now?” I asked.
She leaned closer, too close for comfort, our faces inches apart.
“If I were,” she murmured, “would that bother you?”
Her lips brushed mine briefly. Then her hand slid down my chest. It went lower till I could feel her hands clutching my bulge. That was when I stepped back immediately.
She sighed dramatically. “Still so disciplined.”
Her eyes then searched my face. “Tell me something, Nikolai.”
“What.”
“Are you truly in love with her?”
I didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
Her smile faded slightly.
“That won’t last.”
I said nothing. She stepped closer again, lowering her voice.
“And when it ends,” she said softly, “I’ll be there.”
Her eyes gleamed.
“I’ll make sure of it.”
I scoffed. “Is that supposed to be a threat?”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Nikky poo.” She teased, as I watched her retreating figure from behind. Whatever this woman was up to, I hoped it wouldn’t see the light of day.
After that, I found Matthew.
“We’re done here. Let’s go.”
During the drive home, Matthew glanced at me once.
“Do you feel better?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
By the time we reached the estate, I headed straight upstairs to my room. I pushed open my bedroom door and flicked on the light.
My heart skipped a beat.
Jasmine was sitting on my bed. She stood slowly when she saw me.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Her eyes were dark, hurt even. Without a word she held out her phone. On it were photos. Several of them. Francesca and me from the casino.
At the angle they were taken, it looked like we were kissing. One even showed her hand grabbing my bulge.
Jasmine’s voice was quiet. “Looks like you had enough fun tonight.”
She shoved past me, walking out the door when I pulled her close. Then she sparked.
“Don’t!”
She yanked her hands away from mine. “Don’t,” she warned, quietly this time. Then she walked out of my sight.
Then I realised, this was exactly what Francesca meant when she said “she’d make sure of it”.