When two worlds collide Mafia romance

Chapter 38 - Nikolai

I hadn't planned to see her.

Coming to the base was about settling accounts—checking on the men stationed here, making sure everything was running smoothly, and leaving again. In and out, no distractions.

But distractions had a way of finding me, no matter how hard I tried to avoid them.

And Lena was a distraction I couldn't seem to shake.

For the last week, I'd thrown myself into taking down Cardenas, using the fight as a way to silence the thoughts that had been gnawing at me since I left her in my room that night. Every night, every raid, every skirmish was a way to bury the flicker of something I couldn't name—something she'd stirred in me.

We'd hit him hard and fast. His stash houses burned, his shipments intercepted, his men scattered. His empire was crumbling, and he knew it. The last few attacks had been sloppy on his part—desperate attempts to regain control. But desperation made people weak, and weakness was something I had no problem exploiting.

I should've enjoyed it.

And part of me did. The fight was familiar, the violence sharp and unrelenting. It reminded me of who I was, what I was built for. But it wasn't enough to drown her out.

So when she walked into the main room, her small frame clutching that damn dog, my resolve crumbled like paper under fire.

She hesitated, meeting my eyes with that mix of defiance and caution.

"Lena."

"Nikolai." Her voice a quiet tremor. She was nervous.

Good.

She shifted on her feet uncomfortably, glancing around. She wanted to say something, that much was clear.

"I wanted to talk to you." she said finally, her voice uncertain.

The guards glanced at me, waiting for my reaction. I could feel their confusion—no one approached me like that, while I was occupied with business, much less a girl who wasn't a part of my world.

But something inside me found the innocence of the approach amusing. She didn't run by our rules.

"Go ahead." I said.

She hesitated again, her eyes glancing to the guards. Long silence. I knew what she wanted—the guards to leave. But I didn't want to grant her that wish just yet. There was a small part of me—something dark, maybe a little twisted—that enjoyed her discomfort.

Deciding she'd suffered enough, I flicked my chin sharply, "Out,"

They left without a word, the room falling silent as the door clicked shut.

She took a few steps towards me, but stopped when she was still a good distance away. Deceptively out of reach.

"Are there... any updates? About me leaving? Going home?"

I crossed my arms, watching her. That was all she wanted. To go home. To forget this ever happened. Whereas, I...

I silenced the thought before it could fully surface. "A few more days, the situation is almost handled. When it's done, you'll be free to go."

Her eyes widened with disbelief, "Only a few days?"

"Yes," I responded, "you'll be back to your normal life soon enough."

Her lips pressed together, and she nodded slowly. "Thank you," she said after a pause, her voice quieter now.

I let out a low chuckle, the sound devoid of warmth. "Don't thank me yet. You're not out of here."

Her expression faltered, but she didn't argue. Her dog shifted in her arms, I glanced down at the animal. Her fingers brushed his fur nervously.

"I—I was taking her to the courtyard," she said quickly, like she had to explain her presence to me, "She likes the courtyard. Surprisingly."

"Surprisingly?" I raised an eyebrow,

"Um... I mean surprisingly because she's normally wary of strangers... but... but somehow, she's been feeling safe." She explained quickly,

"The dog feels safe, huh?" I leaned back slightly, crossing my arms. "What about you?"

Her gaze snapped up to meet mine, and for a moment, she looked startled. "What?"

"Do you feel safe here?" I asked, my tone flat.

Her mouth opened, then closed again, as if she wasn't sure how to answer. Finally, she said, "I don't know. I guess... safe enough."

I saw something flicker in her eyes. Trust? No, not trust. She didn't trust me. But something close.

I didn't like how it made me feel.

"Good," I said curtly.

The conversation drifted into silence, but the air between us still felt charged, like there were words left unsaid.

"I'll come back for you soon, to take you home" I said finally, my voice sharp. "Be ready."

She nodded again, her arms tightening around the dog. "Thank you," she said softly, her tone sincere.

I didn't respond, just watched as she turned and walked away, the sound of her footsteps fading down the hall.

The silence she left behind was suffocating.

I leaned against the wall, staring at the empty room, the ghost of her voice still echoing in my ears.

What the hell was I doing?

I wasn't someone who made attachments. I didn't let people into my life, not like this. And yet, she was there, lodged in my thoughts like a thorn I couldn't pull out.

The worst part? I wasn't sure I wanted to.