Chapter <b>53 </b>


    ? What are you SM


    “He pol bustion, can’t you s


    rimean to shout, but it came out loud anyway. The fury bubbled up faster than I could stop it, burning hotter than the pain in my arms. My hands ched beneath the bandages, useless and mumb, but I wasn’t numb anywhere else. Especially not when it came to watching Niki get med, Kidne finch. He stood beside my hospital bed, silent and unmoving. He didn’t try to defend himself Not antil Label,


    But he held up a hand now, probly..


    “Elena, thalnight,” |


    Thowned. “You al


    he said qiretly, voice rough but calm. “She has a right to be angry”


    almost died, too. She can be mad and interrogabe youter it didn’t even register to me how, for the first time ever, I was siding against


    But hey looked at Beatrix now, his eyes steady. “She deserves to know the truth.”


    Baatria stood stift, arms crossed, her jaw tight, I could see the way she was holding herself back, ke it took everything not tosh out <b>again</b>. She was scared. That was all it was. But fear in my mother always wore the mask of fury.


    Niki took a breath,


    “We went on a road trip. That part was my idea. Elena had been studying <b>nonstop</b>, and I wanted to give her a break after the banquet. So I thought she might enjoy a road trip, she could drive half the way and we could <b>take </b>short breaks and talk”


    “But the car was new and turns out, it had been rigged.”


    Beatrix blinked, yes narrowing “What?”


    “There was a bomb in the vehicle. Whoever nted it knew we were going to be in that car. It had been timed to explode right before we were about to enter the city”


    The silence that followed was a vacuum. I felt it in my chest, pressing inward. Whoever had done this clearly wanted to ruin his reputation. Because if that car had exploded in the city, causing civilian casualties, even if we died, people <b>would </b>me Niki for not being careful. For buying such an expensive car when he couldn’t drive it properly. People always found a way to me the privileged, just to make themselves feel better.


    “She saved my lide,” Niki said, ncing down at me. His voice cracked at the edges. “The moment we realized something was wrong, she acted faster than I did. If she hadn’t been there, I’d be dead.”


    Hiche


    “She’s the reason I’m still standing <b>here</b>.”


    Beatre was staring at him now, something in her posture changing. The frost was still there, but it was melting slowly. The edges of her shoulders softened, and she uncrossed her arms.


    “And what she said ahir a moment, voice low are you nning to do about it? Are you going to just sit <b>here</b>? Or are you reporting it? To the police?


    ki shook his head will take care of it. In my own way


    Her eyes Nord. “That’s not good enough. Someone tried to kill you tried to kill my daughter. And you’re <b>saying </b>you’ll just <b>take </b>care of it?”


    “My assistant is already working on it, Niki said, his voice cooling “Security footage, the mechanic logs, personnel who had ess to the <b>car </b>


    1M


    That caught my attention,


    1chied


    scing at the pullin my back, but was watching him closely now


    “You think you know who it was asked.


    He nodded slowly but didn’t borate.


    Beotris seemed to recogne the change in energy too. Her gaze flicked from me to him. “Are you two hungry?”


    Tip got food


    “she interrupted, without looking at him. Her voice wasn’t cold this time. If anything, it was almost… sheepish “Wait here with her.”


    he turned to leave, but not before I saw her nce back at Niki. Her eyes lingered, and for a <b>second</b>, she looked guilty. She know he wasn’t to me. She just hadn’t knowhere else to put all that feat


    The moment the door clicked shot. I turned to Niki


    “You said you had a suspicion. Who?”


    Head saw it in his ey


    “Niko,” I pressed. “Tell me ”


    He looked at me, thoughtful. If I didn’t know the person then he wouldn’t be hiding it like this. Who…would benefit from the death of Niki Vetrov? Many would. His business rivals especially. But death in such a horrible way? it would have to be a crime of <b>passion </b>


    And suddenly, out of nowhere, I remembered Phillipe. The


    The way he looked at me <b>that </b>morning. Greasy. Possessive. Predatory. Something about it stuck to


    1uptighter.


    o you think it w


    _Phillipe?”


    There were a handful of people famous enough to rival Niki’s business empire. Amongst them, I knew of one Philipe. Philipe Sullivan. The CEO of Lumiere. A fashion brand only second to SIRROCCO.


    Was he thurt Phillips?


    Niki’s brows shot up. “How did you….?” He shook his head, “Nevermind, you shouldn’t worry about this,”


    Trolled my eyes at his surpce, “Come on, Niko. I never thought marrying you was going to be a fairy tale. I know power attracts enemies. I know people want your ce. Or your life. I read the papers. The reporters or people try to cover it all up as “bad luck, but I know better.”


    I remembered seeing pictures of him, half<b>–</b>conscious being taken into ambnces, and the story always changes–gas leak, faulty wiring, <b>bodyguards </b>screwing up. And I was exactly a believer of luck. Whether good or bad.


    He just looked at me, stunned. Like he didn’t <b>expect </b>that


    “People are selfish,” I said softly. “Greedy. They smell money and blood, and theye crawling


    Niki stepped <b>closer</b><b>. </b>


    214


    “Damn it, Clena” be monnued, his volve rini


    My heart stopped Shipped.


    like this, and I might actually end up falling in love with you.”


    (looked away, heat cranding up my deck. “Don’t be stupid “Why did he suddenly change the subject to this?


    But he wasn’t done 10% hand caught my chin gently, turning my face toward him.


    Then he kee


    Had Deep There was no prelude, no warning. One moment he was staring at me like I was something rate, and the next, his mouth was on mine, steaeg all the all in the room.


    gasped into it, my body instinctively trying to push him back, but his hands were firm, holding me without hurting. And the longer he kissed me,


    fought melted. Fully, recklessly. The butterflies in my stomach turned into something else something wild and starved.


    the


    lis kiss grew more dominant. More possessive. My hands were useless, bandaged and heavy, so I just sat there and <b>took </b>it, my heart thrashing against


    We broke apart like teenagers caught under the bleachers.


    Beatrixstood in the doorway, her eyebrow raised <b>and </b>her phone in hand.


    “jent came back to ask if you guys wanted something specific,” she <b>said</b>, tone far too casual. “Sorry to disturb.”


    She didn’t look sorry at all.


    “Pasta” I croaked. “Anything pasta.”


    “And grilled chicken, if possible, Nl <b>added</b>.


    She nodded, lips twinching, and disappeared again


    wanted to bury myself under the hospital nket.


    on the rolling table, and


    When she returned twenty minutester, the food was steaming in two paper bags. She unpacked the containers, set them up on without a word, sat next to me and began feeding me bite by bite. I tried not to look at <b>Niki</b><b>, </b>who <b>had </b>taken his own container to the corner chair, looking sheepisht


    Ateral minutes, Beatrix turned to him.


    “your fathering to see you?”


    He clinked. “I didn’t tell Hm.


    She frowned. “He should know. You were <b>nearly </b>killed”


    “I already contacted my secretary He’s handling everything I’ll be back to work soon.”


    Beato scowled “I want acking at


    about work. I meant someone should be taking care of you<b>” </b>


    Niki nced up, something soft in his eyes. “Wen’t you here thought You’re also my mother, not


    13:13 Fri, <b>25 </b>Jul


    15 the inside of my cheek to keep themughing.


    Beatonoveyes widened. Then the cleared her threat, nodding stiffly “Wh, yes of course. You’re right.”


    That did thunt estughing.


    ex trying his best. You got mad at the poor guy for no reason.”


    “He’x fi ham poos, Bestly,” she said, narrowing his eyes. “And…I do apologize. I was startled.”


    “Tx alright” Niki said, wwing a hod. “Don’t worry Lunderstand.


    Bagri nodded once, and a kind of peace settled into the mom


    We were dischargedter that day. No internal injuries, no concussion. Just scrapes and burns. My hands were the worst. Everything else would fade.


    Weed home in a tax, and the ride was quiet


    that night, after we cleaned up and gotfortable, wey on the bed. The mattress dipped beneath our weight, the familiar softness of our bedroom


    ihed beside him, eyes on the ceiling


    I turned my head tock at him


    “How are we supposed to have sex if I can’t even use my hands<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    HE


    ys flow to mine.