Lucian refused. He shook his head at him. "I can't. I can't watch you like this. I—"
"Have you lost your mind?" Nikolas asked, but his voice had considerably gone weaker from exhaustion enduring the pain he was in. "You have your family, your little girl. What do you think will happen when she learns that her father died? Who do you want to leave her for? Francesca?"
He lifted his head to lock gazes with him. "Don't you dare, Lucian. You roped her into your life. You gave her your heart and she turned for you. She loved you right back and gave you a life. So don't you dare abandon her. If you hurt her, doesn't matter that I'm dying, but I will make you pay for myself one way or another. You don't have the right to hurt her. So back off, and don't come here."
Lucian's legs grew weak. He dropped to the floor on his knees, shoulders slumped as his gaze cast downward in absolute helplessness.
