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Going over to him, I looked at what he pointed at. “Everyone! Find the entrance to the basement!” I could see the wires for the second thermostat winding down below the floor, indicating a sublevel.
What the hell are you hiding Ivan?
CHAPTER 38
Nikolai
It was late by thetime I came home with Lev and Stepan. All of us were exhausted after finding the basement and freeing the females who were being held prisoner under there. That wasn’t the exhausting part though. The ambush that jumped us was what took away the last of our energy for the night.
“Hilda, please make sure the ladies are comfortable and fed in the housings outback. I will deal with them in the morning.” My housekeeper had been waiting for me at the entrance just as I had instructed in the phone call on the way home.
“Of course sir.” She replied respectfully with a slight bow of her head. “Miss Volkov is home, and I am slightly worried about her. She has been shut in the bathroom after coming home bloodied from head to toe.” Hilda’s subtle way of telling me to go check on my wife and work out whatever beef we have between us. “I swear, both of you are too stubborn for your own good.” She sighed with a shake of her head.
If it was anyone else then I’d say something, but Hilda was a close family friend who has helped us out ever since we moved to the states. She was also old enough to be my grandma, so it felt too disrespectful to talk back to an elder.
Sighing heavily, I could feel the weight of everything slowly creep its way back onto me as I ascended the stairs to our room. It was quiet besides the sound of the shower running from our adjoined bathroom. I couldn’t help but wonder how long she’d been in there as I slowly approached the door and let my hand linger around the doorknob.
I was about to leave her to finish, but my mind quickly changed when I heard a faint sob cut through the sound of pelting water. She could be mad at me all she wanted, but I wasn’t about to let her sit and cry alone in the shower. I created this mess, so I would damn well clean it up.
So, without knocking, I opened the unlocked the bathroom door. I don’t know if she chose to ignore me or didn’t notice me, but she didn’t make any indication to acknowledge my presence.
I didn’t want to spend a second longer from her, so I didn’t bother stripping. Without a word, I entered the shower and looked down at Angel who still sat under the rain shower heads while hugging her knees to her chest. Her head barely lopped over to the side to look up at me for a split second before going back to staring down at the floor. “Just leave me alone.” I could barely hear her whimpering voice over the sound of the rushing water.
“I cannot leave you alone, and I am not going to.” I reply with a sigh, bending down to grab her by her arms and drag her up into my own. “Listen, I am sorry for not thinking about how stupid bringing Michael to you was. I was running too high on the idea that you’d feel a lot better if you wrung the life out of him or dealt him the same hand, even the score. I didn’t think it’d upset you this much. I am sorry for being a complete ass, really, I am.”
Honestly, I should have used my brain, the one that’s been so successful at keeping my family’s bratva running smooth and high. The prospect of making Angel happy ate up whatever logic floated around in my head.
“Why am I such a mess? I hate being this stupid and weak. I don’t want to be upset with you to the point that I am, but I feel like things are just spinning out of control, especially after tonight.” Her actions reflected her inner turmoil by how her body twisted into and away from me, as if she wanted me to hold her but at the same time wanted to shove me away.
Tightening my arms around her, I held her squirming body close and upright to prevent her from wiggling away. I wasn’t going to let her go, she would have to deal with me because that’s what a good husband was supposed to do, right? Bug the shit out of their wife and be there for them even in their shittiest moments? I’m pretty sure if I let her shove me away now then she’d just close herself off more then get pissed with me later.
On the other hand, I have no idea how to even be a decent husband, let alone a good one. What do I even say to her right now without sounding like an ass? I know there’s no right thing to say really, but there sure as hell a shit ton of wrong things to say.
Sighing softly, I rubbed her arm soothingly. “You’ve just got a lot going on right now,lisichka. You’ve every right to be upset with me, and if you need to take things out on me then go for it, I can take it.”
Leaning down, I placed a loving kiss on her forehead. “And don’t you ever say that you are weak and stupid because you are not, and you won’t ever be.” What else was there to say? If I let my mouth run then I’d dig my own grave.
