Chapter 8 New Protector

• ARIA
• “Nikolai? What are you doing here?” My breath caught as he stretched out his hand.
• “Came to join you on your adventure. “ He flashed me his beautiful smile and my heart skipped a beat.
• The man was covered in tattoos but when he smiled, he looked like a beautiful angel who wouldn't hurt a fly.
• “How did you-” Before I could even finish the sentence, my phone screen brightened up to signal an incoming call.
• I pressed ignore and stood up. I was just from signing my divorce papers, so more trouble is not what I'm looking for right now and this man looked a hell lot of it.
• As we walked out the train to the station, I pulled my phone out to call my sister when my screen flashed again.
• “What is it, Damien?” I snapped.
• “Watch your tone, Aria! I’m your husband!”
• In your fucking dreams.
• “Why are you calling me?” My patience was running thin, and the way this man towered over me wasn’t helping the situation.
• “Transfer me fifty thousand dollars; I’m short on cash here.” He said and I laughed.
• He was commanding me like I was his damn bank manager.
• “Why do you need that much?” I frowned.
• “It’s normal to spend money on a trip. Hurry up and send it over—I need it now!” he ordered.
• I was about to give him a piece of my mind when a huge hand grabbed my phone and cut the line. He looked at me and because he was so tall I had to arch my neck a little more to meet his gaze.
• “Don’t let that asshole ruin your mood, Princess.” His deep voice spoke smoothly and I swallowed.
• “Nikolai, I don’t need your help,” I said as we exited the station, trying to keep my voice steady.
• I had no business being here with him, no matter how much my heart thudded at the way he moved, the way his piercing gaze locked onto me like I was the only thing in his world.
• “Yes, you do,” he replied smoothly, his deep voice wrapping around me like silk.
• “No, I don’t,” I argued, turning to face him.
• His lips quirked into a small smirk, and he took a step closer, crowding me with his sheer presence. “Princess, you just left divorce papers in the house of a man who, weak or not, is still a crime lord. Damien Gavrilov isn’t someone you can just walk away from without consequences. He may be pathetic, but desperate men are dangerous.”
• “I can handle myself,” I snapped, though my voice wavered. The bastard was right. But I’d rather have a bullet in my skull than admit that to him!
• Nikolai arched a brow, the tattoo on his forearm flexing as he folded his arms. “I’ll be damned if I let you test that theory unprotected. You’ve got two choices, Princess, “ He stepped closer and I looked around, we were in public but no one dared to even look in our direction.
• Was this man’s power still as powerful even outside Russia?
• “Come with me or let me take you back home.” His deep voice pulled me back.
• I froze, glaring at him, but his gaze didn’t budge. He wasn’t asking for my permission—he was telling me how it was going to be.
• “I hate you,” I muttered, spinning on my heel to follow him toward the waiting SUV.
• “I can live with that, princess,” he said lightly, his smirk growing wider.
• As we reached the vehicle, I couldn’t help but wonder why he was doing this. Why Nikolai, the man I once knew as a shadow in my past, was suddenly here in my present, acting like my personal bodyguard?
• He had no influence growing up and his family was one of the weakest so I’d understand why we had a thing. We were compatible.
• When he left and I had to marry Damien, my heart ached for him but I never looked for him as I stayed true to my marriage even though it was an arrangement meant to save my father. But I was wrong because the bastard cheated on me more times than I could count.
• Katherine was my last stroll.
• But Nikolai?
• He was now a man of power, with the world in the palm of his hands. Why was he here?