Part 1: Chapter 37

Nikolai

After leaving Nova’s room, I head straight downstairs to grab a beer and drown out my thoughts with some gaming. It worked for a few hours, and then my thoughts drifted back to Nova.

I wanted to be there for her, wanted her to know that she could count on me through this, that I won’t fuck up again. But she wanted to be left alone; she always wanted to be left alone lately. Does that mean I’m too much? Does she need space from me?

Fuck, have I become a needy boyfriend?

/“Are you at the penthouse? Kon, Dimitri and I have a few things to discuss after meeting with Alder,”/ Kai’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

/“I am,”/ is all I answer before switching off the console and TV, then moving to the foyer to wait for my brothers. It can’t be good news, given the fact that all three of them will be here, but I guess I’ll see.

Twenty minutes later, they file into my penthouse, all looking grim; not only that but there’s dried blood on Kai’s hands and forearms.

“What the fuck happened?”