The car sped along the quiet road, but the car was filled with tense silence. Leonardo sat on one side of the back seat, jaw tight, staring out at the blurred scenery. Across from him, Nikolai’s eyes were fixed forward, his expression unreadable.
“I’m sorry, man,” Leonardo finally said, his voice low but heavy. “I shouldn’t have brought you into this in the first place… and now I couldn’t even protect Violet.”
Nikolai turned his head, his gaze sharp despite the shadows under his eyes. “No, Leo. Don't blame yourself. Violet isn’t yours to protect. She’s mine. I should have rushed the wedding and taken her with me.”
“She’s family,” Leonardo replied firmly. “And you are too. When you’re not around, I protect her like I would my own.”
The two men sat in silence for a moment, the weight of
