Chapter 138

Nikolai POV

“I’m sorry...we’re doing what?” I nearly choke on my coffee, the hot liquid scalding the top of my mouth.

It’s five in the damn morning, and Alyssa, in all her sweet but chaotic glory, waited until the coffee hit my bloodstream to drop this bomb on us. Even so, I must’ve misheard her because there’s no way in hell we’re actually helping Christine with anything.

Not only because I can’t stand her and every time I see her face, I have very violent thoughts—but because she’s blackmailing us. Holding our relationship with Alyssa over our heads like a loaded gun. And that’s a level of manipulation I don’t tolerate, no matter what the reason is.

Mason, sitting beside me, doesn’t say a word. He’s cradling Zuri in one arm as she drinks her bottle, his free hand resting on her tiny foot in a protective way. I know he’s either mentally dissecting the situation or trying to figure out how to gently tell Alyssa she’s out of her damn mind without making