Page 23 of Tarnished Vow

“I can’t do it. I can’t handle failing again.”

“If you do. Which you won’t. I’ve failed you. This one is on me, alright?”

How had this slipped through the cracks? I swore Nikolai had this covered.

Crossing her legs, she still didn’t look sure. “Maybe I don’t need a license. I’ll just use a driver.”

I pointed my cigarette at her, “Like fuck you will. My job is to make sure you are as independent as possible. You’re getting your license.”

“What if you have a heart attack?”

I paused. Right, I had forgotten Nik had his second heart attack after taking her on a lesson. So this was our fault.

“That won’t happen, pea. Nik’s heart attack and you learning to drive wasn’t connected.”

It might have had something to do with the rage he refuses to express.

“But how do you know that? Huh? Our whole family is dependent on you. We can’t risk you or Nik dying just so I can drive.”

The stories she tells herself.

“Trust me, if anyone is giving Nik a third heart attack, it is me,” I winked, “And I’m healthy, no heart problems. Nothing to worry about.”

“Are you sure about that?” she wiped her eyes. “you don’t look healthy.” Her concern made me uneasy.

“I just can’t sleep lately. It’s nothing.” I shrugged.

“Because of Maddy?”

Running my hand over my head. Deep down, I knew it was about everything changing.

“I always thought you two would end up together.” Sofia moved to the couch to sit beside me. “It is sort of hard to think she’s just gone.”

“She’s not dead Sofia. She’s getting married.” My stomach twisted, just saying death and Madeline in the same sentence.

“Sure, but she will eventually be gone. She will get busy with her in-laws, probably working with Noah expanding their business together and then maybe kids.”

I stared at her. I had forgotten how much Madeline had impacted their lives as well.

We got lucky she came into my life, at the same time as the girls were teenagers.

I pushed back against the couch. She was right. Madeline would eventually disappear from our lives and mine.

I couldn’t think of one way to get her out of that marriage without Damius finding out. I’d rather her with Noah than whatever sick fucked up plan my grandfather would create to hurt her.

“Alright, bedtime. Big day tomorrow. I want to see if this driving is really heart attack worthy.”

“That’s not funny.”

“Sort of is.”

Nikolai's heart attack being caused by her driving. She gave herself way too much credit.

“Sofia, calm down.”

Stalling the car at a stop sign, she went into an immediate panic.

I also learned my sister struggles with left and right, because I said turn right. To keep her away from the traffic. She turned left. Probably just nerves. Fuck. I hoped it was just nerves.

---