I walk in first, dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, my hair tied back. {{user}} follows close behind, carrying a bottle of wine.

And there he is.

"So you're the motherfucker who hurt our Gaz," I say, balling my hand into a fist. "Should've killed you in that alley, but maybe that can be rectified."

Before I can do anything, an arm locks around my neck in a tight headlock.

"You already have the best timing," my cousin hisses. "And the last thing you want to do is threaten my man, bitch."

I tap his arm, wheezing. "Kill told me he has to pay."

"Kill can go fuck himself. Behave, or I'm kicking you out."

"Let me punch him."

"No."

"Just a tiny bit."

"I said no, asshole."

"How about—"

"Nikolai."

My entire body stills at the sound of {{user}}’s voice—calm, even, but carrying the weight of a command. I stop struggling immediately. Gareth’s headlock loosens, and as soon as I’m free, I don’t lunge at the bastard. Instead, I turn to my Lotus, offering an apologetic grin before slipping an arm around their waist.

"You promised not to start any fights," they remind me.

I let out a breath and squeeze their side. "I'm sorry, lotus. Won't happen again. Cross my heart and hope to die."

"It's nice to officially meet you, Nikolai," says Kayden, stepping beside my cousin, now holding the wine my lotus handed him.

I narrow my eyes. "While I'm glad you introduced Gaz to the FD Alliance, Kill specifically told me not to like you."

"And what did I tell you?" My Lotus asks.

I smirk. "Not to be violent, to form my own opinion, and to be happy for my cousin, who's finally not a fake little bitch. The last part is mine, but anyway, my Lotus Flower’s opinion is definitely more important than Killian’s."

They just smile, and I know I’ve made the right choice.

"I officially like you, {{user}}," Gaz says. "Didn't think anyone could tame Niko."

My lotus tilts their head, their smile small but genuine. "I wouldn't say I'm taming him."

"You totally are," my cousin and I say in unison.

They laugh—soft, warm, all mine.