Balotelli-Bale Series Book #6: Regina Mia & The Godfather Part 1

Chapter 10: Sober

Nick's POV
This scene is nothing but familiar.

A broken heart... a glass of whiskey.

I have been sober for four years. I have never had a drink for this long. To find myself in a bar, sitting in front of one is a familiar scene from the the hardest chapters of my life. It all revolved around her and once again, it is still about her.

There is something about losing Kei that shreds me into pieces. My heart feels like it will tear from pain. Deep down I know it's a matter of time before she slips through my fingers.

"I can give you five reasons not to do it."

Katya.

I turned to look into herbig electric blue eyes.

"My children." I responded.

"Actually six. Throw Terr in there. You are like a father to him."

There are no answers or comfort at the bottom of this glass. Yet, my gaze lingers on the glass of whiskey. I am suffering from a mix of longing and dread.

"How did you find me?"

"It's not that hard to spot a Lambo." She pointed out. "Drive something more basic if you don't want to be conspicuous. You don't want to drink that. Remember what it did to you."

Memories of my past struggles flooded my mind. For each sip I took, a haunting echo of the chaos and pain I caused myself and those who love me. The glass in my hand is a mirror reflecting my inner turmoil, a reminder of the battles I fought and the fragile peace I achieved.

I watched Katya's hand taking hold of the top of the glass. Her eyes are pleading with me to mat go.

Doesn't she understand that I am wrestling with conflicting desires? I am drowning in the temptation of this familiar oblivion that will plunge me out of sobriety. Every drop of this whiskey whispers a promise of escape from my reality, one where I'm a loser. I can't seem to win.

"It's call is seductive."

"The price of surrender is too high." She told me. "You won't just lose the kids. You won't just lose Kei. You won't just lose your friends. You will lose yourself. The price too high."

I eased my grip. She took it and pushed it back to the bartender along with cash.

I slid off the bar stool and made my way out in the darkening evening. She walked alongside me, the promise of her support stronger than my will to stay sober.

"It's not my thing but I can be a good listener. Wanna talk about it?"

"No."

"Fine. Wanna go shoot something?"

I gazed at her with a crooked smile. "No."

She came to a stop. "What do you do to blow off steam?"

I chuckled. "I hit something. I fuck."

"Okay..." her cheeks burned . "I can't do the latter with you but do you wanna hit something?"

"Like what?"

"I know a place. It's at the gym. Let's go put some gloves on you and we can spar."

"I'm not fighting a girl."

She shouldered me right into the side of my car. "What the hell?"

"Listen blonde princess. If you think I'll go easy on you, you have another thing coming. I'll whoop your ass and send you back to Florence crying to your mommy. Stop making excuses and accept the fight."