The Billionaire Mafia’s Slave

CHAPTER 65: NOT READY FOR MARRIAGE

LILY’S POV:

After dinner, everyone retired to their respective rooms including Nikolai and I.

“I need to take care of something, I will be back in 30 minutes”, Nikolai said once we both freshen up, separately of course.

“Where are you going to?”, I asked in concern, the look and vibe he had on was serious, like he was preparing to go murder someone. I shivered at my own thoughts.

He put on his shirt and gave me a forehead kiss.

“Don’t wait up for me okay?”, He said and I nodded. Nikolai left the room to God knows where, since he didn’t tell me where he was headed, I didn’t pressure him for answers.

I’m still not completely over the fact that he is a mafia and I sometimes shudder with the thought that he has killed people before. He tells me that they are all bad people but I can’t rule out that they are still human beings.

I shook my head to get rid of those thoughts and tried to get something to keep me busy, Nikolai said not to wait for him but I couldn’t sleep, I decided to

read a book to keep me awake till he gets back.

‘He said 30 minutes after all’.

Tomorrow is the ball and the mansion has been quite busy. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was going to happen at the ball.

‘Maybe it’s just my nerves’, I told myself.

I checked the time, it was a few minutes to 6pm, I sighed and continued reading the book.

It was 10:30 and Nikolai is still not back, I was now getting worried.

‘What if he has gotten into trouble? What if he got shot like before and won’t come back for days? What if he is de–‘.

“SHUT UP!”, I said to myself.

I was getting dizzy and I couldn’t hold back the sleep anymore. Still on the bed with the book in my hand, the words were becoming blurry and just when I was about to doze off, the door slowly opened and my eyes came wide open.

“Who’s there?”, I asked. The room was not entirely dark as the light from the lamp I was using to read was lit.

The figure came into the light and I gasped.

“Nikolai!”, I said and rushed to his side, he had bruises on his forehead and the side of his lips. I felt a sharp pang of pain when he suddenly hugged me and sighed.

“What happened?”, I asked him, trying to break from the hug but he didn’t let go of me.

“Just let me hold you for a little while”, He said and I nodded, patting his large back.

***

We both were on the bed, cuddling and Nikolai fell asleep in my arms after many failed attempts in helping him dress his wounds.

I sighed as I played with his silky hair, thinking about what might have happened for him to get such bruises. I know Nikolai to be strong and powerful, for him to get such injuries only mean the person or people he fought with got even more serious wounds.

I gently took his head and laid on the pillow, slowly sliding my hand from under his neck. It was difficult to not wake him up with my movement but also surprising that he was fast asleep.

I finally got out of bed and Nikolai was laying on the bed with his belly and his back to the ceiling. I sat by the side of the bed and gently raised his shirt, careful not to wake him, I gasped and covered my mouth at the sight of a large bruise on his lower back.

My eyes got teary and my lips trembled, I felt so bad for him and I just wanted all his pains to go away, I couldn’t do anything for him.

I got back on bed and covered him with the blanket, then I went to sleep too.

***

I felt something touching my face and I woke up, my eyes locked with that of Nikolai, he was tracing something on my face. He had a stressed smile on his face, I sat up and check the time, it was pass three in the morning.

“I’m sorry I woke you up”, He said and I was immediately greeted with the smell of alcohol and tobacco. He has been up for a while and he went drinking and smoking.

“When did you wake up?”, I asked.

“Just an hour ago or more”.

“Were you drinking?”, I asked the obvious.

“Just a sip”, he replied. Nikolai wasn’t drunk at all but he did look tired.

“But I can smell the alcohol on you… even cigarettes”, I said and he chuckled but immediately stopped when he felt pains on his jaw.

“Are you alright?”, I tried touching his face but he seized my hands and kissed them.

“I am more than alright. You are here with me and that’s all that matters”, He said and I smiled, but I feel there is more to his words.

“You need to get your wounds checked”, I told him.

“I will”, He responded. I knew he wouldn’t but just didn’t want me to worry anymore.

“Promise?”, I asked and he nodded. I didn’t push any further.

We went back to bed with our own thoughts, I wished I could read his thoughts and know how he got his wounds but if wishes were horses right?.

***

I woke up but Nikolai wasn’t by my side, it was 7 am so I got up, freshen up and went downstairs for breakfast.

The mansion was busier than yesterday, all the maids and workers were moving about, either carrying something or helping with something. All for the fundraiser ball today.

I was excited but also nervous for the ball, this was going to be my very first big event. I wasn’t sure of how to feel because I was Nikolai’s girlfriend, so obviously I would have lot of eyes on me.

‘What if I mess things and end up embarrassing Nikolai and The Vladimir family? What if those rich and influential folks don’t like me? What if I trip and fall on the stairs in front of everyone?’.

“Oh God no!”, I shudder at my own thoughts, Mr Vladimir will hate me the more, Mrs Vladimir would be disappointed in me, Anastasia would laugh at me and Nikolai?… I don’t want to know what he will think of me.

I got to the dinning room and everyone were already seated, including Nikolai. He looked at me and I flashed him a surprise look, he smiled at me.

“Come sit with me”, He said, pointing at the vacant seat next to him, I bowed my head and walked towards Nikolai as everyone had their eyes on me.

I sat down and a maid brought a clean plate for me.

“Good morning everyone”, I said shyly.

“And here I thought you didn’t want to join us for breakfast”, Mr Vladimir said without looking at me and I felt really embarrassed. I kicked Nikolai under the table but he didn’t move.

“It is my fault father, I overworked her last night”, Nikolai commented and I almost spat out the food in my mouth, I shot dagger eyes at him and he winked at me.

“So should I be expecting a little nephew or niece soon?”, Galina asked and I choked on the water I was drinking.

“Not yet baby sister”, Nikolai replied.

“Yes, they need to register their marriage first before babies start coming in”, Mrs Vladimir said and my eyes almost popped out from it socket.

“M-mom uh– we are n-not ready for marriage”, I managed to say and the whole table turned awkward.

“What do you mean?”, Nikolai quietly asked.

“I mean– Come on, we are not in that stage to be thinking about marriage… right?”, I said. A dark cloud suddenly appeared over Nikolai’s head and I shivered.

‘What is his deal?’, I wondered.

“Let’s eat”, Nikolai said and I continued eating, not realizing the damage I had cause.

It was the truth after all, Nikolai and I just started dating and are still getting to know each other, marriage is a big deal and not something we should rush into.

I like Nikolai, heck I love him! but I was not really for marriage or babies, not yet.

Nikolai didn’t look at me through out the breakfast but occasionally put food in my plate and poured juice for me.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Mr Vladimir talked a bit about the ball and some of the elites who will be present, the hosts, the food and some other stuffs I didn’t know. The ball is to start at 10pm.

Anastasia looked very happy about the ball, Galina was quiet and I know what was the cause. Mrs Vladimir and her sister, Maria were all smiles and Roman… he kept a neutral expression.

After breakfast, everyone went their different way and I could sense Nikolai still was not himself.

We got into our room and Nikolai immediately pinned me to the wall, breathing heavily like he was trying to control himself, his eyes were like an abyss making me shiver.

“Lily…”, He called and I gulped.