Page 119 of Born into Chaos

Val raises a brow at me and bites back a laugh, getting in the driver’s seat and filling the parking garage with the beautiful sound of his engine purring to life. It’s a really fucking gorgeous car.

“I’m riding back here with her,” Vitaly says, already shutting the door in my face.

I get in the passenger side, looking back to make sure Samantha’s happy and secure. She doesn’t seem even slightly upset by the car’s loud noise. She’s too busy laughing at the silly faces her grandpa is making at her.

When we get to Dominic’s, everyone else is already there. Val parks next to Matvey’s black Camaro, and I’m not at all surprised to see Vitaly cover Samantha in her pink, fuzzy blanket before getting her car seat out of the back. He carries her while we head inside, and before I can even knock, Lucia is opening the door and ushering us in.

“Come in, come in,” she says in her fast, Italian accent. “Samantha must be freezing.”

“She’s all bundled up,” Vitaly tells her, but Lucia is having none of it. She waves him off with a smile and reaches down to unbuckle Samantha’s car seat and lift her out of it. Samantha must remember her from when she stayed here while I was getting better, because I swear my daughter lights up when she sees her.

Lucia walks off, speaking rapid Italian to a smiling Samantha in between calling out for us to follow her.

“Italians are so bossy,” Vitaly mutters.

“Yeah,” Val says with a laugh. “They’rethe bossy ones.”

Vitaly looks offended when he turns to his son. “Everyone knows their tempers run hot.”

“And you’re laid-back?” Val asks, teasing him.

“You bet your ass I am,” Vitaly counters and then turns his gaze to me.

“Don’t bring me into this,” I say, but he ignores me.

“He’s still standing, isn’t he? And he’s doing it with his dick still attached. I’d say I’m the most laid-back son-of-a-bitch on the planet.”

“Are you still talking about Vitya’s dick?”

We all look over to see Roman walking towards us. He grins and shakes his head at his brother.

“For what it’s worth, I really wish he’d stop,” I say, earning me a scowl from Vitaly.

“I’m not talking about his dick,” he says. “I was just telling my son that I’m laid-back. Vitya still having a dick is proof of that.”

“No,” Roman says. “It’s proof that you love your daughter.” He gives a soft laugh. “I mean, it is her favorite toy.”

“Fucker,” Vitaly mutters on his way past, making Roman laugh even harder.

“I’m never going to let him forget that,” Roman says, turning back to us. “I still watch that video when I want a good laugh.”

I groan and follow after Vitaly, leaving Roman and Val to laugh about the drug-induced show I’d put on. Everyone is already in the sunroom, and Dominic is making trips in and out of the house to watch the grill while Isabella tags along after him. Judging by the small spatula in her hand and the pink, toy grill next to his on the veranda, she’s on a mission to be just like her daddy.

As soon as she sees us walk in, she runs over to give everyone hugs. Vitaly scoops her up, and then Val does the same when he walks in. I’m all set to hang back, but she surprises me by yelling, “Uncle Vitya,” before running over and squeezing my leg in a tight hug.

“Hey, Isabella,” I tell her, bending down so I can get a real hug. She throws her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek. She’s seen me her whole life, but she’s never greeted me like this, and I can’t help butbe touched by it. Her mom and dad have obviously explained to her that I’m now married to her aunt, and she’s just given me her two-year-old stamp of approval.

When Lucia hands Samantha over to Matvey, Isabella lets me go and runs over to give her cousin a kiss. I stand back up and walk over to where Luka and Max are. They’re both snacking on the food that Lucia has loaded the table with.

“Hey, Vitya,” Max says, handing me one of the bowls of chips.

Luka points at the wedding band that’s now on my left, ring finger. “How’s married life treating you?”

I can’t help but grin. “It’s pretty damn good.”

He smiles back, because he gets it. Lara came in and knocked him on his ass, and I know he couldn’t be happier about it. Max is still single, so instead of gushing about family life with him, I ask, “Everything still look good with the Dempsey woman?”

I hate mentioning the name of the woman who tried to buy my daughter, but just because her name leaves a bad taste in my mouth doesn’t mean I get the luxury of not asking. I have to know, even if that means bringing up things I’d rather forget.

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