Mafia Men: Nikolai's Inferno - Chapter 119: Chapter 119

-Evangeline.
Nikolai has been walking on eggshells around me, it was surprising because I have never seen him act like that before.
He hadn't brought up what happened the day I was shot, whenever I asked about it, he turns the conversation toward my health, and whenever I try to talk about divorce; he completely bails on me, and he runs from the scene.
I sighed and looked around the bedroom, being cramped up in here was messing with my sanity. I slowly scooted to the edge of the bed and placed my foot down on the ground.
With the help of the nightstand, I stood up and slowly and steadily walked to the bathroom. I had started taking a shower by myself and doing little activities by my own self. My limbs were slowly getting their strength back but eating was another story. Nikolai forced fed me most of the time, he had hired a nutritionist to prepare a special diet for me, and a physiotherapist, so, my body can get its power back and exercises that improve the blood flow to my legs.
After a long hot shower, I stepped out of the bathroom in a towel and padded slowly barefoot to the ceiling-to-floor length mirror.
I stood in front of it, my legs were shaking a bit I forced myself to stand. I dropped my towel and looked at my body.
I tugged the ends of my short hair, they were reaching the lower part of my neck now. There was a bullet scar over my upper arm-the one Grace Russell's henchman gave me. The other one was over my shoulder, it was still a little red, the stitch marks were still in place and the most despicable one was on my stomach. It was big, red, bumpy and the ugliest mark on my body.
I turned my back to the mirror and saw another same mark on the back, the bullet went through my body leaving behind an ugly scar on both sides.
I sighed before facing the mirror again. The bedroom door opened and I immediately pulled up the towel over my body.
Nikolai entered and I heaved a sigh, "Oh, it's you..."
He frowned, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Were you expecting someone else, my love?"
"My Love"
The endearment sent a shiver down my spine. I don't know where our relationship stood, I vividly remember him accepting his love for me, and the next second the strange look in his eyes scared me to death. It wasn't easy to let go of the feelings I have for him. You can not turn them off in an instant, it will take time but I think I will be fine. I let out a sigh, If only there was a switch to turn it on and off whenever I wanted to.
I dropped my towel again, I was always comfortable with my nakedness in front of him but today I wanted to see if the scars on my body will bother him or not.
I heard him inhale a sharp breath before walking over to me, our eyes met in the mirror and he gave me a gentle smile.
"Do you think I look ugly?" I asked, it was a genuine question. My hair was my armor and it was just gone, I felt exposed like anyone could peer into my soul and the thought scared me.
The smile wavered before a frown appeared, he looked confused, out of words, "What the actual fuck?"
I looked at him from over my shoulder, "I feel ugly with all the scars on my body and I don't like this hair on me..."
He sighed before taking a step closer. His hands appeared on my upper arms as he softly rubbed them up and down. "You are the most beautiful and astonishing woman in my life," he kissed the side of my head, "Just fucking look at yourself..."
And I did and instinctively I again touched the scar on my stomach, "I don't like it..."
He placed a kiss on my cheek, "You should like them because they are as beautiful as you are..."
I rolled my eyes, "You are probably saying that just so I won't ask for a divorce."
"Evangeline..." he breathed out.
I looked to my side, "What?"
"These scars show who you are."
I laughed humorlessly, "And who am I?"
He swatted my hand away from the scar I kept on touching and he touched it instead, his finger slowly glided along the shape of the scars, he looked mesmerized by it like he actually loved it. My cheeks heated up at the intensity of his gaze, and I could feel my heart beating a little faster like it always does whenever he is close. I inhaled sharply, and my lips parted as I slowly exhaled.
"This one is a reminder, Evangeline. The reminder that when people tried to break you; when they thought of you as a weak person and thought they could just end you with a single measly bullet; they failed. They are the ones cold, six feet under the ground and here you are, still standing, still beautiful, still strong," he whispered all the while looking into my eyes through the mirror, his lips slowly moved against my earlobe. His hand caressed the scar while the other rested over my waist, "Wear your scars with pride, Vita mia, they show who you are and the thought makes me even crazier for you. You're not a princess, you're my warrior."
His voice, his words, and his touch sent a tantalizing bolt of pleasure through my body, I trembled in his hold, and my knees weakened, I don't know if it was because of my condition or just his word but my knees buckled and I fell. I would have dropped to the floor if he hadn't been there to hold me, to pick me up.
He took me to our bed and softly dropped me on the mattress, "Are you okay?" he asked with concern-filled eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine..." I managed to say but it came out more as a breathy whisper.
"Do you want me to get you clothes?"
I nodded. "Yes, a simple dress..."
"Okay," he went into the closet and came out a few minutes later with a bright blue summer dress in his hands, he handed it to me.
He helped me wear it, and then crouched down before me and slipped some comfortable sandals under my feet, so, my heels won't hurt when I'd walk.
He glanced at the wall clock and turned to me. "Come on, I'll make you breakfast."
I slowly got up and he was beside me in a flash, wrapping an arm around my waist. He led me out of the room, occasionally kissing the side of my head as we stepped down the stairs.
"Do you remember the time, you said you wanted to get a tattoo?" he asked and I suddenly got reminded of the time, when he told me about all of his tattoos and scars.
I nodded. "I do..."
"If you don't like it," he said referring to the scars on my body, "We can turn them into something even more beautiful."
A soft smile stretched over my lips. "Really? I'd love that, Nikolai."