Page 78 of Captured Obsession

“Needy doesn’t suit you,” I say to him.

“You are safest when you’re closest to me,” he states matter-of-factly. But I can hear the irritation in his tone. He doesn’t like it here. Probably because there are too many variables he can’t control.

I place my hand on his chest, looking deeply into his green eyes. “These are my friends. I’m safe with them.”

His expression doesn’t soften. In fact, he looks even more determined as he says, “Doesn’t mean they’re themost suited to protect you. If they were, they would’ve already attempted to pry you from my fingers.”

“A rather bold statement,” Luca comments from beside us, drawing our attention. Nikolai’s hold on me never wavers. It might look like a casual grip, but it’s ironclad.

The ladies look on, cautiously curious. I’m not uncomfortable at their assumptions about my relationship with Nikolai, but I hate the wall between us. That they see him as the enemy, when my heart has started to think otherwise. I feel like a fool for believing in a fantasy that maybe they’d actually get along. Then again, I doubt Nikolai gets along with many people.

Why, of all the men who could have stolen my attention, did it end up being a man I can’t be with? The knowledge that I will lose him someday soon makes me cling to him that little bit more.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome,” a man announces from the ring.

I lean toward Lily, and ask, “Have you been to one of these before?”

Lily shakes her head. “No, I didn’t even know this place existed until I landed yesterday, and Romi told me you’d be here. I doubt Lorenzo will be impressed to know I’m here.” Then a small smile stretches her lips as a blush infuses her cheeks. “You have to make sure these types of men don’t push you around, you know?” she whispers as the announcer calls two fighters into the ring.

The first man looks young, probably in his early twenties, but he’s built like he’s been carved from stone. He’s not as big as Nikolai—I don’t think anyone is—but he’s easily six foot three with green eyes that are ablaze, ready for the fight. He doesn’t wear a shirt, and my gaze catches on the strange scarring around his throat. It almost looks like a burn.

The second man looks easily ten years his senior. He’s bulkier in frame, like he lives in the gym, and I wonder how practical those huge muscles are. I imagine if caught in his grip, the first fighter will be in trouble.

I look back at Nikolai and Luca, both of whom are focused on the ring. I bite my bottom lip, worried. What will happen between them? Nikolai is the messenger, and him being here puts him in danger since he’s outnumbered.

Why is Nikolai willing to risk his life?

“It’ll be all right,mishka. No one will die. Maybe,” Nikolai says, assuming my anxiety is for the staged fight, instead of his safety. Then again, he might’ve understood clearly, and a sense of comfort rolls over me. I didn’t realize he knew I was watching. “Not quickly anyway.”

“That’s not funny,” I grumble, and the corners of his lips tilt up.

I glance over at Luca and Ara, and it’s unnerving to see them in this light. They’re both intimidating intheir own right, but I’ve also seen pictures of them with their baby, their love and joy obvious.

They’re not at all who I thought they were, but at the same time, they are.

I turn back to the fighting ring, my gaze pulled to the man who is announced as Luca’s champion. He naturally draws attention to himself because of that half-cocked smile and the unnerving way he paces back and forth like a predator.

The second the bell rings to start the fight, Luca’s champion lunges and tackles his opponent into the ropes surrounding the ring.

I jump, shocked by the intensity, as he throws him over his shoulder headfirst into the ground. But somehow, the second man, although dazed, stumbles to his feet, only to be greeted with Luca’s champion kicking him in the jaw.

He drops to the ground, knocked out cold, and the announcer begins counting down.

The crowd cheers as money exchanges hands.

“Does it usually go that quickly?” I ask Nikolai, surprised.

“Only if they have such an uncontrollable temperament that they don’t know how to put on a show,” he says, the comment made more for Luca.

Luca shrugs. “Perhaps the next challenger won’t be so slow.”

Luca’s champion looks to him for approval, and I notice Luca signal something to the fighter. The fighterdoesn’t seem pleased about it but nods. Luca probably told him to put on a longer show.

It dawns on me then that these men don’t even flinch at the violence. Had it been little more than a month ago, I most likely would’ve vomited at the sight of blood. I don’t like it, but I now understand this is what Nikolai’s boss wants in on. And if he has it, if they agree to this, could Nikolai stay?

Is that what I want?

My heart twists at the naive notion that maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to keep him. But then what?