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She raised her brows. “Don’t try to betray Nikolai, you can’t escape him. He’ll find you regardless of where you hide.”
Chapter 14 - Giselle
Nikolai's brothers and Lilianna stayed over until dinner, and surprisingly, I adapted to their presence faster than I had expected. Vlad's jokes—once a source of irritation—had begun to amuse me. I’d learned from Lilianna to stand up for myself when Vlad crossed the line, and Maxim was always there to intervene when things got out of hand. Despite the tension that came with being around the Vadim family, I was slowly starting to feel like I belonged.
However, one thing that hadn't changed was the fear that washed over me whenever I was near Sergey. His cold demeanor and the way he looked at me sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't shake the feeling that he saw right through me, that he knew I was hiding something.
After our guests left, Nikolai and I retreated to our room. I had to admit that sharing a space with him, even as my husband, was still a daunting prospect. Lilianna's words echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of the danger I was in.
"Don't try to betray Nikolai," she had warned me. "You can't escape him. He'll find you regardless of where you hide."
The thought of Nikolai's rage, his relentless pursuit if I ever dared to run, haunted my nightmares. I pictured him searching every corner of Chicago, his eyes burning with fury and his voice thunderous. It was a terrifying image, one I desperately wanted to avoid.
Nikolai's deep voice interrupted my thoughts. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern evident in his eyes.
I gasped softly, realizing I had drifted into a nightmarish daydream. I quickly composed myself and nodded. "Yeah. I—uh—I was just thinking about something."
We both sat on the edge of the bed, and Nikolai's intense gaze remained fixed on me. "Is it something I should know about?" he inquired.
My muscles tensed, and I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth—that I was plotting my escape. I needed to think of a plausible excuse and fast.
"I'm two months pregnant now," I began, my voice shaky. "And I need to start my prenatal care."
Nikolai ran his fingers through his hair and let out an audible sigh, his shoulders slumping. "Fuck. I can't believe I've been so caught up in sorting out the Italian situation that I forgot about something so important."
I reached out to reassure him. "It's not your fault."
He looked at me with warmth in his eyes, a stark contrast to his usual cold demeanor. He cupped my cheeks gently, and the touch sent shivers down my spine. "It is," he said, his voice soft and filled with regret. "To me, you and our baby take priority. I should always put you first."
Guilt gnawed at my insides. How could I be plotting my escape when he was being this caring and considerate? Despite everything, Nikolai hadn't treated me poorly. In fact, he had been surprisingly kind for a man who had kidnapped me and grown up in the mafia.
I turned my gaze away, unable to meet his eyes. I couldn't bear to look into those depths when I was constantly looking for ways to escape him.
Nikolai's footsteps resonated in the room as he moved across the monochrome rug to the nightstand. He retrieved something and then returned it to me. "Have this," he said, placing a credit card in my hand.
I stared at the card, disbelief coursing through me. It was a credit card, and he had mentioned that his were always limitless. I had never imagined such a thing before, let alone held one in my hand.
"What's this for?" I asked, bewildered.
"A credit card," he explained. "It's limitless."
I shuddered at the thought of limitless wealth. While I hadn't grown up in complete poverty, my mom had always struggled financially. I had never dreamed of having access to such resources.
"What for?" I repeated my voice barely above a whisper.
Nikolai's expression softened as he leaned in closer. "Prenatal care. You can go shopping afterward."
I couldn't help but wonder about his intentions. "And you?"
He seemed taken aback by the question, his brows furrowing. "What do you mean?"
"It's your baby too," I said, finding the courage to voice my concerns. "Don't you want to come with me to the appointments? Most men would want to be there."
The calm facade that had briefly replaced his usual cold demeanor crumbled, and darkness clouded his handsome features. "I have business to take care of, Giselle."
I clenched my jaw, my frustration building. "Fine," I retorted, trying to control my emotions.
He walked over to the closet and began rummaging through his extensive black and dark gray suit collection. "You'll have your bodyguards with you," he stated, his voice a touch colder. "And Vlad. They'll keep you safe."
