My heart clenched hard.
In this moment, I suddenly realized with perfect clarity—Mia was right.
This man loved me.
He'd maybe never said it, maybe hadn't even realized it himself, but he loved me.
In the only way he knew—the most extreme, most violent way—he loved me.
I reached up, gently touching his tense face. "I'm alive, Nikolai. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
He suddenly bent down and kissed me fiercely.
It was a kiss filled with fear, possessiveness, and survival. Like he wanted to swallow me whole so I could never leave.
I kissed him back with equal intensity, telling him I was here too. I wouldn't leave.
Outside, Sasha was directing other members to secure the scene and pull surveillance. The sun still shone brightly, but the air hung heavy with pre-storm pressure.
On the drive back to the estate, Nikolai gripped my hand tightly the entire time, as if loosening for even a second would make me vanish.
When the car pulled through the estate gates, Sophia and several servants were already waiting at the entrance, worry on their faces. When Mary saw the bandages on my elbow, her eyes immediately reddened.
"Ms. Cole, are you all right? I'll prepare hot water and ointment—"
"Not necessary, Mary." Nikolai cut her off, voice still edged with undissipated violence. "I'll take care of her myself. Everyone go."
He carried me straight upstairs, pushed open the bedroom door, and gently set me on the bed.
"Take a bath." He leaned down and kissed my forehead, voice unusually gentle. "I've had the water temperatureadjusted. Your pajamas are in the bathroom. If anything feels wrong, call me immediately."
I nodded, almost floating into the bathroom.
The bathroom was filled with steam, the air carrying a faint lavender scent. I soaked in the warm water, looking at the alarming scrapes on my elbow, my mind replaying that black SUV charging toward me over and over.
If Sasha hadn't reacted fast enough...
I shook my head hard, not letting myself continue that thought.
After bathing, I changed into soft silk pajamas and walked out of the bathroom toweling my half-dry hair. Nikolai wasn't in the room, but a warm glass of milk and a plate of cut fruit sat on the nightstand.
My heart softened.
This man who seemed so cold on the surface remembered I liked drinking milk before bed and personally instructed the kitchen to prepare my favorite strawberries.
But I had no appetite now.
I sat on the bed wrapped in my robe, picked up my phone to message Mia and reassure her. She must be terrified.
As soon as I unlocked my phone, I saw Mia had already sent over a dozen messages.
"Vivienne are you okay? Message me back now!"
"If I don't hear from you in five minutes I'm calling the police!"
"Fuck, I'm coming to the estate right now!"
I quickly dialed her number.
