Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
She comes out of the kitchen with two coffee cups and sets mine on the table before she hands the other one to Alexei.
“Thank you, little one,” he murmurs, his eyes scanning over her face.
“Will you be staying for dinner?” she asks.
“Yes,” I answer before Alexei can decline.
“It’s nothing special.” She looks nervous as hell. “Just mac and cheese.”
“And hotdogs,” Vincent demands. “Cut them into tiny pieces, Mommy.”
“Say please,” I murmur.
“Please, Mommy.”
I press a kiss to his head. “Good boy.”
It hits me square in the chest that I have a son, and overwhelmed, I hug him.
It’s surreal how quickly you can love someone. This morning I didn’t know he existed, and now I’ll do everything in my power to keep him safe.
“I love you, little man,” I say with my heart in my voice.
A grin spreads over his face, and he leans his cheek against my chest. “Can I watch Donkey now?”
Everleigh presses play so the movie can continue, and while she fixes dinner, I watch Shrek with my son and Alexei.
Christ, my life has done an entire one-eighty. In a matter of hours, I’ve become a father and found the love of my life.
Soon the aroma of grilled cheese and hotdogs fill the air, and a smile curves my lips.
This is all I ever wanted. It almost feels like we’re a family.
While Vincent watches his movie, my eyes are locked on him. I take in every strand of hair, the healthy color of his cheeks, his little hands, and how he smiles when he chuckles.
Christ, how did we make something so perfect in the middle of hell?
Everleigh carries two plates into the room, handing one to Alexei before she places the other one on the table where my coffee is getting cold.
I forgot about the beverage.
“Come eat, baby,” she tells Vincent.
He slides off my lap and goes to kneel by the table. I watch him pick the hotdogs out, popping them into his mouth.
After returning to the kitchen, Everleigh comes back with two more plates and holds one out to me.
When I take the food, I murmur, “Thank you, moya malen'kaya lyubov'.”
She sits beside me, and we all watch Shrek as we eat.
I scoop mac and cheese onto my fork, and taking a bite, my eyes drift closed as emotion wells in my chest.
It’s the first time she’s made me a meal.
I savor the moment, then whisper, “It’s delicious.”
“Yeah? You don’t think I added too much cheese?”
“There’s no such thing as too much cheese,” Alexei mutters before shoveling a huge bite into his mouth.
A cautious smile curves Everleigh’s lips. “I’m glad you like it.”
When Everleigh takes a bite of her food, my eyes lock on her face, and I’m hit with a wave of emotion I didn’t expect to feel.
Relief.
She’s no longer starving.
It’s the first time I’m seeing her enjoy a meal, and she’s not trying to share it with me.
To this day, I can’t eat bread and chicken breasts.
She glances at me, and seeing the expression on my face, her free hand grips mine and gives me a comforting squeeze.
Taking advantage of the situation, I link our fingers. When my thumb rubs over her soft skin, she lowers her head, swallowing hard on the memory it brings to light.
I used to hold her hand like this during the long days before pulling her onto my lap so we could keep each other warm while we tried to sleep.
“I’m done,” Vincent suddenly exclaims excitedly, yanking me out of my thoughts.
Reluctantly, I let go of Everleigh’s hand and eat my food.
I want this more than anything. A family.
Nothing will stop me from having it.
Everleigh and Vincent belong to me.
Forever and always.
Chapter 32
Everleigh
After I’ve taken the dishes to the kitchen and tidied up, I take a moment to clear my head.
Getting to spend some time with us has calmed Alek down. It was very emotional watching him with Vincent, but at least that went well.
Now I just have to figure out how to handle Alek so he doesn’t go all crazy on me again.
That’s one thing about him that’s changed completely. When we were held captive, he was always the calm one, but now he’s borderline insane.
I understand why, though. After suffering for months in that hellhole, he lost Vincent and me. That would drive anyone over the edge.
And now that he’s found me again, he’s like a man on a mission.
It’s not that I don’t want to get romantically involved with him. It’s the bratva and all the violence and danger that comes with the world he lives in that has me running for the hills.
I have to think of Vincent.
And I’m no longer a naïve eighteen-year-old. I have to think with my head and not my heart.
But still…
Whether we pick up where we left off or just remain friends for Vincent’s sake, we’re still tied to the bratva.