N I K O L A I
For the next few days, I watched her from a distance, hiding in the shadows as I'd done all my life. It was torture. Every time I told myself I'd leave the next day, I couldn't. Something kept pulling me back.
I told myself I just needed one more day. Just one more look to make sure she was okay.
But she was more than okay. She thrived here, surrounded by her quiet little world. She woke up early every morning, riding her bike to the farmers' market. She chatted with the locals, smiling at them in a way she never smiled at me. Then she'd come home, spend time in her garden, cook meals that filled her house with the scents of fresh herbs and vegetables. She spent afternoons by the lake, reading or just lying under the sun, basking in the life she had chosen for herself.
She had no idea I was here. Watching. Longing.
I tried to tell myself it was enough, that seeing her happy was enough. But the truth was, it wasn't. Not even close.
The worst part was seeing her with other people. Especially at the lake, where she wore a bikini top and wrapped a sheer scarf around her waist. She looked so carefree, her body moving with a grace that left me breathless. But then there were the men. She was friendly with them, laughing at their jokes, letting them get too close. Too damn close.
There was one in particular—a guy who always seemed to be around her. Watching them together made my blood boil. It took everything in me not to storm down there and rip him apart.
But I couldn't. I wouldn't.
I had to let her have this. Even if it was killing me.
YOU ARE READING
The Edge of Light ✔️
RomanceIn a world built on lies, violence, and power, there's no room for softness-especially not in the hearts of those who rule. Nikolai, a ruthless mafia kingpin hardened by betrayal and tragedy, has never questioned his grip on control. That is until E...
