Page 199 of Nemesync
His eyes widened even further, and he gasped dramatically. “Eto velikolepno! You’re turning soft on us! Now you got to ink me up too.”
Now with Zanae laughing beside me, I couldn’t hide a faint smile, I know how much he wanted us to do that, “I’m not getting soft, Niko. Just let me enjoy my moment, would you?”
Nikolai chuckled and threw his head back. “Never thought I’d see that day. Elijah, man you’re the Pakhan of the Bratva and you have my initials on you, I feel like dreaming right now.”
Zanae, still recovering from being tossed aside, chimed in, “Well, he did it for me, so I don’t want to be the one telling you that Niko, but maybe you need to calm down.”
Finally standing up straight, Niko looked at us with a dramatic gaze. “I need a moment to let this sink in. My best friend, getting all mushy with tattoos. I may get a tattoo of that day too, just under our initials.”
I shook my head, chuckling, “You’re stupid, Niko.”
Zanae couldn’t stop looking at the tattoo on my arm, “This is too beautiful.”
Not one to stay quiet when he felt left out, Niko added in a really offended voice, “Quite the dedication, having HER eyes on your arm, Elijah Volkov, don’t you think?”
I decided to stoke the flames of Nikolai’s jealousy, because fuck it amused me. “Well, you never asked me to get your eyes tattooed, Niko. I guess Zanae is just more persuasive.”
Nikolai placed a hand over his heart dramatically, “So, I see how it is. You get her eyes, she didn’t even ask you to do it, and I get a letter on your heart? After all these years of friendship? Even Benny got his own quote on your chest.”
Zanae sitting on my lap again, decided to join the fun, “Maybe you should’ve asked. Elijah is a man of many talents, but mind-reading isn’t one of them unfortunately. This one is mine.”
I added with a smirk, my hand on her arm, “Exactly. If you want something, speak up.”
Nikolai couldn’t help but smile looking at my chest again, “Fine, next time, I’ll send you a formal request in writing and all that shit.”
Zanae laughed, “Perfect, there you go, Niko.”
“Alright, I’m going to leave now. I think I may get the same tattoo tomorrow.” He gave Zanae a squeeze on the shoulder and a sarcastic flying kiss to me. “Bye, Brother.”
I chuckled before throwing him an amused side-eye. “Leave, Nikolai.”
“Drive safe, Niko!”
Once again alone in the house that had become our world, the unique place where we felt at home, where we found each other despite destiny’s attempts to keep us apart.
Zanae looked at me, her eyes curious and filled with warmth. “Why this?” she asked, tracing her fingers gently over the tattoo on her skin.
I took a moment, my gaze softening as I caressed her cheek. “I know how much this flower means to you,” I began, “When the dahlia fades, the petals are still magnificent, the color remain vivid for such a long time, they can bloom even in the worst conditions and still be the most beautiful flower, just like you flourish in this world who’s unworthy of you,Milaya. And each scar,” I continued, tracing the scars on her wrists, “these beautiful scars, that I love so much, tell a part of your story, of your life, a reminder of the strong soul you are. The prettiest and strongest soul my eyes have ever seen.”
Her beautiful amber eyes softened with understanding, and she leaned in to kiss me. “Thank you for everything, Elijah.” she said gently, snuggling against me. In that simple moment, I realized that while I might have a tattoo of her and her of me, she already carved her name on my heart and soul long before that.
Zanae
My phone buzzed as Elijah fetched dinner from the kitchen. A picture of shirtless Niko popped up in our group chat with Ben, Eli, and me, accompanied by the text:
Niko
I have my own now.
I giggled at the sight of the new tattoo on his heart, ‘E; Z; B’. Niko sported a grin in the photo, proud and happy.
Me
You’re insane.
A few seconds later, Ben’s text appeared,
Ben
