Page 45

Serena: Anton just said there will be other people watching over Zoe. I need to be sure we can trust them. I need to hear it from you.

That shouldn’t even be enough. But I do trust him. I remember how he stood up for me last night, the rage and protectiveness spilling out of him. And the reverence when Anton talked about the Bratva. It really was like Nikolai was some fiery figure of legend.

Nikolai: You can trust them. They’re like us, inked with the same code. They would never let anybody hurt an innocent girl.

Serena: But how can I be sure?

Nikolai: Do you want to meet them? They’re at the club now.

Of course, I want to meet them if they’re going to be watching my baby girl. As I drive, I think about how I left Rosa and Pico, sleeping on the corner chair, Pico curled up in her lap. If Rafael is really dangerous, they’re not safe now, are they? There are too many of us, too many targets. Now I really am thinking like a spy.

I pull up outside Vanta. Celeste is sitting at the front, looking tired. She brightens when I approach… with a visible effort. I can’t blame her.

“Hey.” I give her a quick hug. “Crazy night, right?”

“I’ve never seen anything like that. Or felt it. That atmosphere…” She shudders.

“I know,” I reply. “Listen, this is going to sound weird. But Anton. You and him…”

She smiles, rolling her eyes. “Yes… maybe…”

“And he’s a good guy, right?”

She tilts her head at me. “Yeah. Why do you ask?”

“He’s watching Zoe. Making sure she’s safe after this Cordero stuff. He basically said I was a target.”

“Hey.” She places her hand on my shoulder. “She’ll be safe.”

But he’s been awake all night. That’s why I need to figure out how this is going to work.

I move to the main part of the club. As usual, it looks strange with all the lights switched on and empty. Nikolai approaches me, wearing a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his top two buttons undone. He looks tired as well, but adrenaline seems to flood him when he sees me.

He strides over and pulls me into a hug. I’m shocked by the force of it. I wrap my arms around him and squeeze onto his back.

“Where are these bodyguards?” I clutch Nikolai’s shirt. “I know I said I don’t want help. And I mean it… but not when it comes to my girl. Or Rosa. Or Pico. Rosa’s at the new place right now, alone, and⁠—”

He hugs me again, kissing my forehead. “I promise everything’s going to be okay.”

“That ass,” I hiss. “Cordero. Who does he think he is?”

“Good,” Nikolai says, nodding at me. “It’s easier like that. Don’t be afraid. Be fucking angry.”

I take his hand. It feels all too natural, slipping my hand into his. “I should be mad at you for putting me in this position,” I say. I’ve got to say this to make him understand I can’t just accept this. Except… I’m holding his hand, hugging him, letting him kiss me. He’s so confusing. Or am I the confusing one? “Rosa, Pico, Zoe⁠—”

“Nothing is going to happen to them,” Nikolai says. “I swear.”

“Anton said these were Bratva men. He said it like I should be impressed.”

“He’s getting comfortable with our women,” Nikolai mutters.

“Did you just say our women?”

He looks at me intently, seriously. “Yes.” A pause, and he smirks, looking away. Was that a joke? Or is he just trying to play it off as one?

I let go of his hand as he leads me into the meeting room at the back. Three men are waiting for us.

One is tall and wide, with dark black hair and the face of a fighter. He’s covered in the same style of tattoos as Nikolai.