Page 58 of The Bratva's Bride
CHAPTER 27
Angel
My. Fucking. Head.
The bed dipped slightly as Nikolai sat down next to me. “Lisichka.” Even Nikolai's typical deep and soothing voice sounded like hammers to my skull because of this hangover.
“No, leave me alone to wallow in my self-pity and embarrassment.” The memories of last night hit me like a freight train after I had woken up and laid there staring at the ceiling for a good while.
Can’t believe I didn’t even recognize my own husband because I was so wasted. Then the fact that I tried—and failed—to seduce him had me reeling with embarrassment.
I can’t believe I threw myself at him like that, and got rejected!
Granted, in hindsight, it was sweet of him to not take advantage of me. Then the fact he took care of me and prepared me for bed was sweet enough to take some of the edge off my embarrassment.
Last night was a fuck fest I now started to regret. Maybe I should have listened to him and gone to our room instead of sticking around, but if I did, then how much worse could things have gotten? Pretty sure Nikolai would have continued to pummel Lev into a necessary hospital trip.
Speaking of Lev, “Is Lev okay?”
A pathetic and dry chuckle was heard from Nikolai. “Drink some water and your meds first, then we can talk.” He bargained, nudging the arm I had thrown over my eyes to keep the light out.
Groaning, I sat up slowly while holding my heavy head. A black hole to swallow me up sounded grand right about now.
Sighing, I took the glass of water and the pills from Nikolai with a small ‘thanks’ before downing everything and laying back down in the bed, bundling myself up with the covers. I could barely face Nikolai right now as last night kept playing on repeat in my brain.
“Lev’s fine, just a busted lip, black eye, and a broken nose.” He sounded like a psychopath with how nonchalant he sounded. “Alexei patched him up. You probably wouldn’t even be asking about him if you knew all he said last night.” Nikolai got pissed again, which made me wonder what was exchanged before I showed up.
“Anh, I don’t care if he called me all the ugliest shit on God’s green earth, unless he put a bullet through my dad’s brain, he shouldn’t have deserved to be beaten by his own brother.” Maybe I was too nice. Maybe it was hungover Angel talking too.
“I mean, I don’t have the full story, not sure if I want to at this point, but I still think you went too far, even if Lev dug at a rotten grave and fell in. I mean, we all know how Lev is, even I know he’s an asshole with anger issues who needs to get laid.” Maybe I forgave people too easily—with a few exceptions.
His eyes narrowed as his face scrunched up with a scowl. “He insinuated that you and Alexei were going to end up together once you were through with me and annulled the marriage.” Nikolai’s irritation showed through his tone, and I don’t fault him for it.
“Okay, and? You know he was probably just spewing utter bullshit. I already told you, I am not annulling the marriage unless you want to, but I really hope you don’t. Also, me and Alexei? Really? I mean, Alexei is great and we get along the best out of all your brothers, but there’s no chemistry between us. At best we’re just two best friends who never found each other until now, but I see him more like a brother than a friend. He reminds me a bit of Greg with how protective he can get and how he’s always there.” I might spend more time with Alexei than I do with Nikolai, but my heart only calls to one person.
“Do you regret this marriage?” His blue eyes were broken with uncertainty and insecurity, a look that made my heart ache.
With all the sincerity I could muster, I smiled and looked at him deeply. “I didn’t exactly have a choice when she threatened my father’s life, but no, I don’t regret it, and I never will. But only because it’s you.” It was the honest truth.
Again, if my stepmother forced a marriage between me and anyone else who wasn’t Nikolai then I’d be long gone with my father, or my husband would have unfortunately disappeared under mysterious circumstances and never to be found.
“Anh, I probably sound like a stupid and pathetic idiot, but I felt some kind of spark the night of the crash. I chalked it up to my hormones reacting to an insanely sexy beast of a man, but clearly that’s been fucked out of my system by now. You’re an amazing man, and there’s no denying the chemistry between us now. I always believed in fate and miracles, that things happen for a reason, and I like to think that the crash was a way of the world throwing you at my face.”
If it weren't for the crash, I never would have crossed paths with Nikolai. Him and I ran in different circles, mostly, so the chances of us bumping into each other outside of otherworldly intervention would have been slim to none. So, in a way, the crash introduction was necessary for both of us.
Smiling a small, sad smile, I sighed softly. “The only regret I have is not trying to seek you out because of my own self-esteem. I kept thinking about how there’s no way a man like you would give me a second look, that I’m not worth it because I’m so broken. And how I would never be that blonde bombshell arm candy. That’s all before the fact that I wanted nothing to do with the mafia life, especially since I was actively avoiding it.”
Not a night went by where I didn’t open the nightstand drawer and picked up the card, debating on whether I should send a message and bother him boldly for a date. I always chickened out at the last moment, thinking about how our worlds would be better off without each other in it. Oh how wrong I was.