NIKOLAI
His lips parted slightly, like he had something to say but wasn't sure how to say it. His fists clenched at his sides before he finally spoke. "I heard."
Andrei, still standing beside me, hesitated before taking a step forward. "Boss, should I get the doctor? It looks-"
"No," I cut in before he could finish, my eyes never leaving Claude. "Andrei, you can leave."
I knew he wanted to argue, could feel it in the way he tensed beside me, but he knew better. Without another word, he turned and left, walking past Claude. I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to breathe through the pain clawing up my spine.
Claude was still watching me.
I could see the way his fingers twitched slightly, the way his shoulders were tense, like he was waiting for something, though I couldn't t
