Our Flame

xviii

kinda nervous for this one 🪱

NIKOLAI

I wait by Nadia's bedside just watching her, this is how it's been for the past four hours. I've been switching between her, Luka, Gianna and Aleksi.

It's not ideal but it's what we do for family.

Aleksi tore a muscle in his shoulder while Gianna's leg is broken in multiple areas. And Nadia just passed out due to stress.

Still though I don't want her to be alone when she awakes.

As for Luka time will tell, the doctors say he'll wake when he's ready, there's not a set date for it.

Whenever it is, I hope it's soon. I'll never admit it to him but I look up to him, more than anyone else.

One of the reasons why I can't lose him, I need my brother. Our family is finally complete again, this would break us all.

Viktor and Vadim are in Luka's room watching him while attempting to find a new house. Occasionally, they'll send me a picture asking if I like it or what I think.

But I don't respond, I know a house is essential but why are they acting like we all didn't almost lose our lives.

I sit up straight as Nadia's eyes flutter open, she groans rubbing her head, she did fall pretty hard. "Luka?" She questions as she looks at me. "Not totally good, but not the worst."

I don't want to go into detail about how our brother has a punctured lung along with the fact that he's in a coma.

I point to the clothes laid out seeing she's still in the ones covered in dirt. "We have a lot to discuss after this, Niko." She tells me before she enters the bathroom.

That we do.

Nadia is the only person who won't shut down my dangerous or bad ideas, we'll achieve them together.

She'll have my back and I'll have hers.

After about what felt like multiple hours, she exits the bathroom in the black hoodie and sweat pants. "What's the plan Niko?" She asks as she puts her damp hair up.

I shrug, "No one else gets hurt."

NADIA

I smile at my twin brother, his words have a double meaning, clearly. We could either kill him or kindly ask our father to not hurt anyone.

Killing him is the only way, it's too late for kindness. Not when Luka is probably fighting for his life.

I won't lose anyone else especially at my fathers hand, First my mother, then Vera and now Luka. It ends there, here and now.

"Viktor and Vadim just left to get lunch for Aleksi. They don't know your awake yet so we should go." Niko tells me.

I nod following him out of the hospital room, "We can't do anything with one gun Niko."

"Relax, we'll make a pit stop. Do you even know where we're going?" He questions. I hum in response then ignore his curious look.

When he wasn't at the house I would go through his things which is where I found an address.

I've only seen it a few times and from my knowledge it's a warehouse, one where he does his illegal things.

"Where's Gianna?" I speak up. "Surgery, she just went in." Niko answers. I nod. "Luka?" I quietly question. "We can go see him Nadia."