Page 104 of Born into Chaos

“I see my little bee still has her stinger ready to go.” Cupping her ass, I keep her pressed tightly against me and say, “Have I ever let you down, sweetheart?”

“No, never,” she admits.

“Then don’t start doubting me now.”

She grins. “I just like to keep you on your toes. Plus, a guy as good looking as you needs to be kept humble.”

I laugh and pull her into the living room so we can take care of Samantha. We don’t have much time before we need to leave, but we spend it playing with our daughter. It never ceases to amaze me how fast she’s growing. I watch as she rolls from her back to her tummy, and it may not be the most graceful thing in the world, but it’s cute as hell, especially when she kicks her legs and lifts her head, giving us both a big, gummy smile.

“She’s growing up way too fast,” I tell Sveta. “She’s going to be walking soon, and I’m not ready for that.”

Sveta laughs when Samantha grabs a toy and immediately puts it in her mouth, slobbering all over the thing. “She’s only five months old,” she reminds me.

“She’s still growing too fast.” I reach out and run my hand over her tiny head, brushing back the soft, silky strands of baby hair. “Stop growing, little one,” I tell her, pulling another belly laugh from her small body.

Sveta lays down next to her and kisses one of her chubby hands. “Are you ready to see your Uncle Val and Grandma and Grandpa?”

Samantha smiles and lets out a string of gibberish.

“I’m going to take that as a yes,” Sveta tells her.

“I’ll start gathering up the supplies,” I say, standing and heading for the kitchen for some bottles of formula. Taking her upstairs doesn’t involve packing a bunch of stuff because Vitaly and Katya insisted on buying just about everything she could possibly need. I’m only bringing the formula just in case, but I’m guessing Katya already has a bunch stocked in their pantry. It’s nice having grandparents right above us. I’d been worried about living so close, but knowing they’re there if we need them has been a huge comfort.

Sveta takes Samantha into her nursery for one last diaper change and then quickly returns with a smiling baby on her hip. I grab her favorite pink blanket and the stuffed unicorn she likes best and then disappear into our room so I can grab my gun. Even though it’s just a short walk down the hall to the elevator, I’m not taking any chances with my family.

When I come back out, Sveta eyes me, knowing exactly what I’ve gone and done, but she doesn’t try to convince me that it’s not necessary. Being kidnapped will do that to a person. She’s always going to be more cautious now, and as much as I hate that she had to go through that, I’m so proud of her for not letting it consume her with fear. She may be more cautious, but the memories don’t control her.

We were damn lucky that Shane’s motive was greed. Things could’ve gone in a very different direction, and it would’ve broken the strong woman I see standing before me. It would’ve killed something inside her, and it would’ve destroyed me to see it happen. I shake my head, ridding my mind of the thought as I thread my fingers through hers and kiss the back of her hand.

“Ready to spend the evening with your crazy family?”

“I think my dad is really starting to warm up to you,” she says, making me laugh.

“Do you know he has me listed as Fucker in his contacts? That’s it, just Fucker.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Sveta says with a laugh.

I lock the door behind us and say, “He showed it to me. He’s even using a photo of a horse’s ass for myprofile pic.”

Sveta laughs all the way to the elevator, and then doesn’t stop while we go up one floor. When the doors open and she steps into her family’s apartment, the first thing she does is yell, “Dad, you’ve got to change Vitya’s contact info.”

I hear his laughter coming from the other room right before he and Katya walk over. Sveta’s mom quickly grabs Samantha, covering her in kisses while Vitaly hugs Sveta and says, “Why would I change it? It’s perfect.”

“A horse butt? Seriously?” Sveta asks, but they’re both laughing, and it’s obvious I’m going to be known as Fucker with the photo of a horse’s ass for the foreseeable future.

I raise a brow at the two of them, letting them know I’m not amused when Val comes in and smacks me on the back.

“Hey, Fucker,” he says, making them all bust out laughing again. When he sees the look I give him, he laughs and holds up his hands. “I’m just kidding. When he’s not paying attention, I’ll go in and change it,” he promises.

“Like hell you will,” Vitaly tells him. “You can’t go snooping on my phone. I have nudes of your mom.”

“Dad,” Sveta groans while Val sighs and mutters, “Could’ve gone my whole life without knowing that.”

Vitaly just laughs and gives his wife a wink. Katya shakes her head at him, not looking surprised at all by what he’s just said. Samantha watches everything with wide, curious eyes. I have no idea how much she understands, or if she even understands a word of the Russian that she’s now constantly exposed to, but she smiles and laughs along with everyone else. Vitaly grabs her, lifting her into the air while she squeals in happiness before he brings her back down to kiss the cheeks that are now adorably chubby instead of how sunken they once were.

“How’s my perfect little granddaughter?” He asks her. “Are you giving daddy lots of dirty diapers?” He laughs when she smiles even bigger. “That’s my girl.”

Vitaly and I may have a playful feud going on, but he’s the bestgrandfather I could’ve ever asked for. That alone makes me love the old bastard, not that I’ll ever tell him that.

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