35. Nikhil

35

NIKHIL

T he moonlight bathes the twins’ room in a soft, ethereal glow, casting delicate shadows on their sleeping faces. I’m sitting in a chair between their beds, my mind wandering as I watch them sleep so peacefully. My heart aches for them, knowing the dark world they were born into, yet there’s an undeniable sense of pride and love that wells up inside me.

Footsteps approach the door, and before I have a chance to react, Annalise steps into the room. Her eyes widen as she catches sight of me, and she hesitates for a moment before crossing the threshold. She looks stunning, even in her casual clothes—long, wavy brown hair cascading down her back and those emerald-green eyes that seem to pierce right through me.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize you were in here,” she says quietly, taking care not to disturb the girls.

A pang of guilt hits me for intruding on her personal space, but I can’t bring myself to leave just yet. “It’s fine,” I reply, my voice low and gravelly. “I was just watching them sleep.”

She smiles, her eyes softening as she gazes at our daughters. “They look so innocent, don’t they? It’s hard to believe they’re part of this dangerous world.” There’s a sadness in her tone that resonates with me, and for a moment, we share the same unspoken fear.

I nod, unable to tear my gaze away from her. The tension in the room is palpable, but I have no desire to break it. Instead, I find myself drawn to her even more, wanting to understand the woman who brought my children into this world and how she came to be entangled in the web of the bratva.

“Annalise…” My voice cracks as I say her name, and the moment hangs heavy between us. I know I have no right to ask for her trust or forgiveness, but the weight of our shared past is too much to bear alone.

“Please,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “Don’t make this harder than it already is.”

“Harder?” I scoff, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “You think I want to make things harder? I didn’t ask for any of this, Annalise. I didn’t ask for you to come into my life and turn everything upside down.”

A strange sense of peace washes over me as I watch the steady rise and fall of my daughters’ chests, their soft breaths a soothing melody in the dimly lit room. The weight of our reality can’t be ignored, but for a fleeting moment, it fades into the background.

“Who would’ve thought you’d be such a natural with them?” Annalise’s voice cuts through the silence like a warm and unexpected breeze.

I glance at her, trying to gauge her sincerity. Her emerald eyes are filled with genuine surprise, and I feel a flicker of pride deep within my chest. “Well, I don’t really have a choice, do I? They’re my daughters, after all.”

Her eyes widen, shock rippling across her face. “But…I thought Cassius was their father,” she stammers. “He’s always been so attentive and caring toward them.”

“Attentive, yes. Caring, undoubtedly. But they’re his nieces.” I lean back against the wall, my gaze never leaving hers. “They’re mine, Annalise. The DNA test confirmed it. I’m their biological father.”

A thousand unspoken questions flash through her eyes, and I brace myself for the storm that’s about to unfold. Yet, despite the chaos swirling around us, there’s something undeniable between us—an electric current that’s impossible to ignore.

“Are you sure?” she asks hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. “How… how did this happen?”

“Does it matter?” I say, running a hand through my hair. “What matters now is that we’re responsible for these two beautiful girls, and we need to find a way to make this work.”

The air in the room crackles with tension as I push myself up out of the chair, my blue eyes locked on hers. “You know, ever since we first met, you’ve been nothing but trouble,” I accuse, the words cutting through the stillness.

Annalise’s eyes widen, and she takes a step back, her hands coming up defensively. “I never wanted to cause any problems, Nikhil. I’m just trying to do what’s best for our daughters.”

“Your apologies won’t fix anything,” I snap, feeling my anger rising like a tidal wave. The truth is, I don’t want to be angry at her—but the emotions are too raw, too intense to keep at bay.

“Please,” she pleads, her voice laced with desperation. “I just want to make things right. Tell me what I can do to help.”

Help? I snort at the thought. As if anything can truly fix the mess we’ve found ourselves in. My thoughts race, images of Cassius and Damian flashing through my mind. How did it come to this?

“Nothing can change what’s already happened,” I say coldly, stepping closer to her. “We have to live with the consequences of our actions, Annalise.”

Her green eyes brim with unshed tears, and I feel a pang of guilt deep within my chest. But it’s too late to turn back now—too late to undo the tangled web we’ve woven.

The silence stretches between us, heavy and tense, as if a single word could shatter the fragile balance we’re desperately clinging to. Annalise’s face is a mixture of hurt and determination, her vulnerability laid bare before me.

“Maybe I should just leave,” she whispers, her voice quivering with emotion. “I don’t want to tear your family apart.”

Her words hit me like a gut punch, forcing me to confront the reality of what her departure would mean. Losing her—losing our daughters—is not an option. Not when I’ve only just begun to understand my role in their lives.

“Leaving won’t solve anything,” I tell her, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within me. “It would hurt Cassius, and it would hurt me too…and possibly Damian.”

The mention of my brothers seems to affect her, and I can see the resolve forming behind her emerald eyes. She doesn’t want to come between us—that much is clear.

“Please, Nikhil, I don’t want to be the cause of any more pain,” she says softly, her gaze locked on mine. “I care about all of you, and if there’s a way for us to coexist, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

My heart thuds in my chest at the sincerity in her words, at the hope that flickers in her eyes. Can we truly find a way to navigate this uncharted territory, or are we doomed to repeat the mistakes of our past?

“I will too,” I admit, taking a step closer to her. The air crackles with electricity as the distance between us lessens, and I can feel the pull of our shared connection—a connection that has only grown stronger since the revelation of my paternity.

“Let’s try to make this work, then,” she agrees, her voice barely above a whisper. “For our daughters, for your brothers…for all of us.”

As our eyes remain locked, I can’t help but feel a glimmer of hope—the possibility that, despite everything, we might find a way to move forward together. It’s a long shot, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take.

“Alright,” I agree, my voice rough with emotion. “We’ll make it work. Together.”

The heat of her body permeates the scant space between us, sending a shiver down my spine. I know I should keep my distance, but the pull is too strong to resist.

“Annalise,” I breathe, unable to tear my gaze from hers. My hands reach out and grab her arms, pulling her against my chest. She gasps, her eyes widening as our bodies collide. “I can’t deny it anymore…I’m entranced by you.”

“Wh-what are you saying?” she stammers, her cheeks flushing with a mix of surprise and vulnerability. But she doesn’t push me away—if anything, she leans in closer, as if seeking solace in my embrace.

“Ever since I saw you again—” I pause, swallowing the lump in my throat. “And our children…I knew I couldn’t let any of you go.” The words pour out of me, raw and unfiltered, leaving me exposed in a way I’ve never experienced before.

Her eyes search mine, looking for some hint of deception or insincerity. But all she finds is the truth—the undeniable connection that binds us together, despite the chaos that surrounds us.

“Is this really what you want, Nikhil?” she asks hesitantly, her voice trembling with emotion.

“I don’t know what the future holds,” I admit, my grip on her tightening as if I could somehow anchor us both amidst the storm of uncertainty we face. “But I know one thing—I can’t walk away from you, Annalise. Not now, not ever.”

As I speak, I can see the weight of my words settling upon her shoulders, and I silently pray that she’ll find the strength to bear them. We’re standing at a precipice, teetering on the edge of something terrifying and exhilarating. And I know, without a doubt, that I want her by my side as we take the plunge.

My heart races as I lean in, capturing her lips with mine. The kiss is fierce and desperate, our emotions colliding like a whirlwind, leaving us breathless. Annalise’s hands find my chest, gripping the fabric of my shirt as if holding on for dear life.

As we break apart, I release her and take a step back, my chest heaving. My gaze never leaves hers, even as I feel the pain of separation clawing at my insides. “I have to go,” I say, my voice hoarse and barely audible. “But this isn’t over, Annalise. Not by a long shot.”

“Wait, Nikhil—” she starts, but I’m already turning away, pushing the door open and stepping out into the dark hallway. I can’t bear to look at her any longer, not when every fiber of my being screams for me to stay, to claim what I’ve wanted since that fateful night at the masquerade ball.

“Goodnight, Annalise,” I whisper, closing the door behind me. The sound echoes through the empty corridor, sealing the rift between us—for now.

As I walk away, I can’t help but feel the weight of our unresolved emotions pressing down on me. There’s something brewing beneath the surface, a storm of desire and longing that threatens to tear us apart if we’re not careful. We’re playing a dangerous game, and only time will tell who ends up burned.

Still, as I return to my own room, my thoughts are consumed by Annalise. Her touch, her scent, the way her eyes sparkle with defiance and vulnerability all at once—she haunts me. She’s become an obsession, one that I can’t escape no matter how hard I try.

And with each passing moment, I know that resisting her will become harder and harder. But for the sake of my family—for the sake of my brothers, Cassius and Damian—I must try.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this life, it’s that love can be the most dangerous game of all.