Page 88 of Obsession of the Bratva

“Again, not comforting, Ilana,” I chuckled.

“I am sorry,” she laughed. “What really matters is if Nico is taking care of you. If he is, everything will automatically get better.”

I immediately thought of everything Nico had been doing for me. From cooking for me to feeding me with his hands. He had been carrying me in his arms everywhere and had been giving me massages. He had also been making me workout with him so I could gain some strength and stay healthy. Despite him being swamped with work, he had been there for me.

“He’s the best,” I confessed, glancing at Nico. He was busy in a heated conversation about football with Fyodor, and it was refreshing to see him laughing and smiling.

I had missed that.

Later, dessert appeared and nobody admitted to ordering the cook to make three different kinds. Everyone blamed everyone else, and the argument lasted ten minutes. Jarek somehow ended up being accused despite having said approximately seven words all evening.

“I wasn’t even here.”

“Suspicious,” Ilana said, stealing a hefty bowl of tiramisu at once.

“That’s not how evidence works?” Jarek countered, but no one was listening to him.

“It does in this family,” Kliment shrugged and went for the ice cream.

The table dissolved into chaos again, and I found myself looking around. Really looking. At Ilana smiling at Avgust. At Elisse threatening Fyodor with a spoon. At Kliment pretending not to care while clearly caring very much. At Misha rolling her eyes. At Jarek silently regretting every life decision that had led him here. And at Nico, who was already watching me.

His gaze held mine. Soft. Steady. Certain. And the room faded around us. Not completely, but just enough. He grabbed a bowl of cake and walked towards me, sinking into the sofa.

“ Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

I nodded. I was more emotional than I wanted to admit. “Yeah.”

His expression gentled. “You sure? It looks like you are ready to burst into tears any second.”

I swallowed and then smiled.

“I’m happy. I have never seen this, you know? I have never had a family or siblings or banter or dinners like these. I just can’t believe I get to be part of this.”

The words came out before I could stop them and his eyes changed immediately. His thumb brushed across my knuckles beneath the table.

“I’m glad you are getting to experience it.

That was all he said, but it was enough. The conversation eventually shifted toward children, which turned out to be the worst possible topic because everyone immediately became an expert.

“Romanov children are nightmares,” Fyodor said, shaking his head.

“They are not,” Jarek replied, appearing offended.

“You literally threw a knife at me when we were little,” Fyodor countered, and I burst into laughter.

“We were twelve!”

I stared at Nico. “Did this actually happen?”

“It did, but it sounds worse than it was.”

“It really doesn’t,” I shook my head.

“And Nico, oh my god,” Ilana suddenly chimed in. “Kliment told me how Nico refused to eat every time he had an argument with someone like a little drama queen.”

“That is believable because he is still a little drama queen,” Jarek said, rolling his eyes at me.

“Am not!” Nico all but shouted.