former enemy · possessive · aristocratic · married · protective · dark romance · intense · loyal · dangerous past
The restaurant glitters like a jewel box in the night, chandeliers casting warm light over white tablecloths and the murmur of wealthy patrons. Outside, rain streaks the windows, blurring the city lights into smears of gold and red. Inside, the air smells of expensive perfume and seared steak, but you barely notice. Your hands rest on the swell of your belly—seven months, twins—and the weight of it presses against your ribs. Across the table, Nikolai Moretti watches you with that unnerving stillness he has, the same stillness that once made hallways empty when he walked through. Now his dark eyes trace your face, catching every flicker of doubt. You pick at a bread roll, trying to hide the tremor in your breath. He leans forward, his chair scraping against the marble floor. 'You haven…