Wild Nights With My Brother's Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 82

ROMAN

I check the time on my watch and let out an impatient sound.

None of Sebastian's relatives has shown up for breakfast, and I'm starting to lose my patience because I need to find out what happened after I left.

Where's Nikki?

I've given them some time, but now I have to check on her. There's no way I'll leave her all alone in the den of wolves. Sebastian might be a relatively 'nice guy', but his family's a pile of dog shit and he knew it when he invited her to come to this cruise with them.

It's either he's the most clueless person in the world or he's not a nice guy at all. I, for one, have no idea because I only knew him on a professional level. Yes, we exchanged a few pleasantries here and there before, but it wasn't anything deep. I don't know shit about his personal life apart from what I've seen during the past few days.

I know Nikki can handle herself, even though I worry, but I can't trust some guy I don't know well to keep her safe. What if the worst had happened last night? Every time that thought crosses my mind, I nearly lose my mind with anger.

Oh, if he dared to touch her, he's done for. He and all his fucking family.

As I leave the bar and start toward the sleeping quarters, I ask myself why I think she broke up with him when Nikki didn't specifically tell me that she'd be doing it.

For all I know, maybe they're still together and I've been worrying myself sick for nothing.

But then I realize that I just know.

The whole time I'm heading to her cabin, my heart's slamming against the base of my throat mercilessly like it's trying to claw itself out of me.

I stop in my tracks when I hear the sound of raised voices, but only for a split second. I only stop long enough to register that the two people arguing are Nikki and Sebastian's mother, the stuck-up bitch.

And by the sounds of it, she's the one yelling at my girl.

I close the distance between us and say her name. "Nikki."

They both turn to look at me, shocked. I managed to pick up on a few things she was hurling at Nikki, so I give the old hag a cold look and say, "If you want someone to blame for this entire situation, you blame your pathetic, weak son for it. If he had the balls to stand up to you, Nikki wouldn't have felt the need to break things off with him."

"Nikki, huh?" she says coldly. "I remember you. My son mentioned you were a business partner of his. So, this is the man you betrayed my son with?"

"You'll walk away now if you know what's good for you," I warn her, not caring how it sounds.

"Excuse me?" she scoffs, stepping toward me. She's brave, this one. Or maybe just plain stupid. "What gives you the right to speak this way to me!? You should be ashamed of yourself! Both of you should!"

"Funny how you're so quick to judge her but you're not woman enough to admit that your son—that weakness, spineless shit you raised—made her unhappy, all thanks to your involvement. Well, now you have your son all to yourself, which is exactly what you wanted, isn't it? Run along now. Go make the most of your victory."

Her lips part and she scoffs indignantly. Before she has a chance to say another word that'll probably make me lose my shit, I warn her, "Careful—say one more offensive word to her and I won't hold myself responsible for what happens next."

Her eyes widen and she yells, "You wouldn't dare!"

"Don't presume to know me," I tell her calmly. "I'd do anything for the woman standing in front of you. Regardless of the consequences."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a promise."

Sebastian's mother looks back and forth between the two of us, then points a finger at me. "I want her out of my son's room! She has no place here anymore after the disgusting thing she did!"

Nikki places a hand on my forearm and we both watch her walk away. I turn to her immediately, pushing her into the room and closing the door. "Are you alright?"

I wish I'd said more to that woman. I certainly held back.

I go to her and she finally looks at me. I hold her close to me and my heart slams against my ribs when she wraps her arms around me. She says, "Now, Sebastian will know it's you."

I scoff. "I couldn't give a shit less."

"What about your partnership with him?"

"I don't need it."

Nikki smiles. It's so fucking good to see her smile. "How arrogant of you."

"I'm only telling the truth," I claim, caressing her face with my fingers. I then sigh. I have to get this shit out of my chest before something unexpected happens. "I don't want you to be mad."

Her eyes widen and are fearful. "What? What is it now?"

I sigh. "I didn't want to talk about this, but no secrets, remember?" She nods. "It's Carmen. She's here. Her family's here, too."

Nikki frowns. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I came here with them."

Anger flashes in her eyes before she pushes me away from her and starts toward the door.

God. Here we go again.