Our Flame

xxiv

NADIA

My breaths grow rapidly as my fists continue to hit the punching bag in now sloppy motions. It's been three days since I met Ezra.

Three days since I signed away my mafia shares for reasons I that haven't been told.

I still haven't remembered where I know him from and I don't know if I will. Yet there's a sense of comfort behind it.

Does that mean I accept this marriage? No.

I continue hitting the bag over and over trying to shake the image of those familiar, brown eyes.

"Fuck." I mumble after the bag breaks, sending sand across the gym floor. I'm not angry at all but my actions say otherwise.

I huff walking over to the other bag, "Is that really the best idea?"

"What do you want, Viktor?" I hit the new bag. "You know I've seen all of our brothers like this before." Viktor starts.

I finally turn to look at him, "Letting their anger out, then breaking things and soon lashing out. I don't want that for you."

"I'm not angry V." I take a seat on the floor. He sighs taking a seat next to me. "What are you then?" He questions.

I don't reply, "You gotta' let me help you Nadia."

"I'm confused and you wouldn't understand, no offense." I tell him. "I think I would and we have time." He looks at his watch.

"I like his eyes." I close my eyes right as the words leave my mouth.

"You like his eyes." Viktor repeats as if he heard me wrong. I nod, opening my eyes. I sigh, this is a topic to talk about with Gianna not my older brother who'd probably hate this conversation.

"Do you think I'll ever be the same?"

His eyes turn to mine as if the topic change surprised him. Nonetheless he responds, "In what way?"

I shrug, "Sometimes V, I just wish I could be that ten year old girl again." I curl my knees into my chest as I start to reminisce.

"That little girl who had no clue how much her life was about to change. The little girl who had no blood on her hands, I was so innocent then." I finish.

Viktor lets out a small chuckle, "You were innocent Nadia and part of you still is."

I raise my eyebrow at that, nothing about me is innocent anymore but I let him continue.

"You might've done bad things in the past seven years but that's how you survived. Innocent or not you're a survivor."

I let out a small smile taking in his words, "And compared to any of us Nadia, the blood on your hands is nonexistent." Viktor adds.

"Мама гордилась бы тобой." I tell my brother.

translation: mama would be proud of you

"All of us." He corrects. I nod my head in agreement. "I'm glad you aren't that ten year old girl anymore." Viktor says after a moment.

"You're now an amazing young women who I'm so proud to call my baby sister."

I hug my brother not having a response to his words, I'm glad to have Viktor as a brother. Even if this is one of the very few times he'll show emotion.

That's enough for me.

"Sorry about the bag." I point to it on the ground. "It's fine." He laughs. "Luka broke the toaster this morning, so I'll put it on our tab." He adds.

We're still in this hotel for the next two days- Viktor and Vadim are having their guns moved into the basement along with having new furniture shipped.

Not sure why the guns needed a whole day.

"Wait, how did he break the toaster?" I ask. Viktor rubs a hand down his face as if it frustrates him to remember.

"He put a fork in it and claimed to have forgotten it."

I bit my lip in attempt to silence my laughter but I fail as it escapes my lips. Viktor shakes his head getting up turning to leave.

Before he does he says something, "And I think Ezra likes your eyes too."

***

I lay in my bed just staring up at the ceiling, with Misha in my arms. This silence is almost peaceful. A knock at my door ruins my silence.

I rub my eyes walking to the door, pulling it open, "Hello." I say right as I'm wrapped into Gianna's arms almost like she doesn't see me every day.

Which she does.

"Let some light in here." Gianna rushes to open my blinds. "Such a beautiful day." She claps her hands together.

"Don't tell me you're pregnant with Aleksi's demon child."

"No-No! God no." Gianna quickly shakes her head causing me to let out a breath of relief. "I'm teaching you how to drive, тупой."

translation: stupid

I roll my eyes, "I know how to drive G." I cut her off as she opens her mouth to speak, "But a few lessons wouldn't hurt." I add.

"Come on then." She grabs Misha. "Did she get bigger?" She asks. "I don't think so." I pet the small dog.

I clear my throat as we stand in the elevator causing Gianna to look at me, "Have you ever liked someone's eyes?"

Gianna raises an eyebrow at me, "Yes." She skeptically nods. "But that doesn't mean you feel anything for that person, right?" I ask.

"Yeah- I mean it depends." She shrugs. I look at her for further explanation, "If I like their eyes in a 'I wish my eyes looked like that' way or in a 'Wow I'm fucked' way."

As the elevator doors open Gianna's words replay in my mind.

"Wow I'm fucked?" I question. Gianna lets out a laugh, "By that I mean, it would disappoint me if I never saw their eyes again." She clarifies.

I nod my head, still stuck with my same confusion. Am I 'fucked'?

"Lesson number one be on time."

My twin brother tells me as we enter the lobby, I roll my eyes. "Can we get this over with?" Both Niko and I say.

***

"Okay now drive slowly." Gianna tells me. I nod slightly pushing the gas a little bit. "Slower." Niko yells from the backseat.

"Why is he here Gigi?" I ask. "For fun." Gianna shrugs. I push down on the gas a little more, "See I didn't need lessons."

"I'm not convinced." Niko says. I open my mouth to speak, "You still don't know how to park or turn correctly." He adds.

"Get out." I unlock the door. Niko laughs, "Love you Nadia." I give him the middle finger causing his laughter to get louder.

"Why are you smiling?" I ask Gianna

"I think that the best is yet to come for you and it just makes me smile for you." She says. "Is that so bad?"

Not bad at all.

***
HI GUYS
word count: 1152
:)