Page 71 of Avenging Azalea
“Because Ronan and Nathaniel wouldn’t. Not that I’m upset about you and Nathaniel. I did it to keep everyone from shooting each other.”
“And why don’t you want to?”
“My heart belongs to another,” I said and instantly read the sadness in Savannah’s eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. The marriage is only half the issue. The other half…I’m no good for her.”
Savannah snorted. “Okay, well, that’s bullshit.”
“No, it’s not. Look at you…you were shot because of this family. I don’t want anyone I care about put in a situation like that. I just…I want her to be happy, and now that there is this marriage contract…I can’t change my mind anyway.”
“I’m not sure what to say. This is quite the problem, but you should know that I wouldn’t change meeting Nathaniel. Yes, I was shot. Yes, we butt heads. Yes, it’s not easy, and there are always guards and dangerous situations, but…I lived that as an agent, and look what I gained.”
Savannah ran her fingers through Nathaniel’s hair. I hadn’t seen him so relaxed and not on edge since we were children.
“I could never regret a single moment shared, our children, or joining this crazy family. You, Helena, Kaylani, and Goran are our family, not just Dimitri. However, I would regret not hanging on to this love now that I have it. I know you said the marriage contract is unbreakable, but don’t let fear hold you back. Let her decide what she wants. That is how you respect and love her.”
“She has beautiful wings, untarnished by time. While mine are jaded and tattered by the darkness in this world,” I said.
“Who knows, maybe that is exactly why you work,” Savannah said.
“Maybe.”
I stood when Savannah yawned, but she grabbed my hand before I could walk away. Her eyes spoke to me, but she didn’t push.
“Thank you for stopping by and for standing by Nathaniel. It means a lot to both of us.”
I squeezed her hand. “Like you said, we’re family, and family doesn’t do what our father did. Get some rest so you can continue to kick my brother’s ass.”
“I heard that,” Nathaniel mumbled, making me and Savannah laugh.
Walking out, I made my way back over to Steph’s exam room and spotted Fawn sitting in a chair. Her head was back against the wall, and her eyes were closed. I stopped and soaked in her beauty. I’d always been the person who knew exactly what to do, but now…I’d never felt so lost.
My phone rang before I could take another step.
“Did you find them,” I asked Naji, answering the phone.
“Of course.”
“Are they still breathing,” I asked, never taking my eyes off of Fawn’s resting face.
“Barely.”
I licked my lips and said words that further darkened the shadows that painted my wings, but I would say them a million times to keep Fawn safe.
“Make an example of them,” I ordered.
“You got it,” Naji said.
“Oh and Naji…lets make sure the manager of, Club VYCE, understands he will be next if we hear of anything like this happening again.”
“With pleasure, boss.”
No one hurt my family. That was one Mikhailov trait I would proudly keep.
Chapter
Twenty-One
TITUS
