Page 120 of Born into Chaos

“Niki said everything is still looking good. She’s already moved, went back to California where her parents are. Her husband was the corrupt one. She was actually a rule follower until she hooked up with him at nineteen. Her life went to shit after that. I did her a favor by shooting that prick.”

She may have just been a very lonely woman who got caught up with the wrong man and thought having a baby would bring some happiness into her life, but I really don’t give a shit what her reasoning was. She tried to steal my daughter from me, so she can go fuck herself for all I care. Knowing it’s not Max’s fault, I skip all that and say, “Thanks for letting me know. I don’t see her ever being a threat, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

“For sure,” Max agrees, “that’s why Niki will keep watching her, and if we need to, we can take her out.”

“Hey, he finally fell asleep,” Luka says, smiling as hisbrother walks over. Damien’s holding a sleeping Roma. The little boy is sprawled out across Damien’s chest with his head on his uncle’s shoulder. Damien’s softly rocking his weight from side to side and patting his nephew’s back. I glance around the room and bite back a laugh. The city’s most notorious men are all gathered together, and what are we doing? Loving on two babies and watching the cutest little toddler pretend to grill next to her daddy.

Dario and Alessandro walk in, and when Dominic sees his cousins, he waves them over. Isabella notices them and drops her spatula as she runs over. She’s bundled in a pink snowsuit, and her movements are anything but graceful. It’s ridiculously cute to watch. Alessandro laughs and scoops her up before handing her off to his brother. Dario tells her something in Italian and she throws her head back and laughs.

Lev and Sasha arrive a few minutes later, and I watch as Isabella runs to her grandpa and uncle. I still vividly remember how Sasha had looked in his bloody skull mask while he eviscerated a man, and to see him kneeling down and hugging on his niece is absolutely fucking surreal.

“I know, right?” Luka murmurs next to me, watching the same interaction between Sasha and Isabella. He gives a soft laugh, “Fucking eerie, isn’t it?”

“Have you seen his skull mask yet?” I ask him.

Max looks over and grins. “We were with him when he bought it. Fucking psycho.”

As if sensing we’re talking about him, Sasha looks over at us. For just a brief second, he lets the mask drop, giving us the dead stare that he’s a master at hiding, before a slow grin spreads across his face. He kisses the top of Isabella’s head and then lets her go so she can run back to her dad.

“Jesus,” Luka whispers, giving another laugh. “I’m so fucking glad he’s on our side.”

“You and me both,” I say.

Sasha walks over and goes straight to the large antipasto spread. He fills a plate with marinated olives and mozzarella balls andadds some goat cheese and crackers to the mix. Turning to us, he asks, “You guys talking about me?”

Max laughs and elbows his cousin as he takes a large bite, nearly making him choke on his food.

“Bastard,” Sasha says with a laugh.

“Hell yeah we’re talking about you,” Luka tells him. “We were talking about your creepy-ass skull mask.”

Sasha grins. “That thing is cool as hell, man. It’s all nice and broken in now too.”

“You mean covered in blood splatter?” Damien asks, still patting Roma’s back to keep him asleep.

“Exactly,” Sasha says, giving a soft laugh.

“Steaks are done,” Dominic says, walking in. He’s carrying a large platter of grilled meat and Dario is right behind him with another.

“You got it, baby girl?” Alessandro asks Isabella, who’s carrying her own platter of pretend food with a very determined look on her face.

“Yep,” she tells him, balancing it all and carrying it straight to her grandpa.

Lev quickly kneels in front of her, taking the plate she offers. “Is this for me?”

She understands the Russian and nods her head, giving him a big smile and then laughing when he pretends to eat every last bite of it. Evgeny squats down and asks for some, which has Isabella smiling even bigger before she grabs his hand, leading him to the corner where she has all her play food set out.

“You can tell she’s Italian,” Dominic says with a laugh. “Already trying to feed everyone.”

“Half-Russian,” Lev corrects.

“I guess that part will come out when she’s old enough to drink,” Alessandro says, making his cousins laugh.

“Yeah, because everyone knows Italians hate wine,” Vitaly says with a laugh. “I’m going to get her some fake bottles of wine so she can pretend to top off everyone’s drinks at Christmas.”

Dominic shoots him a look. “Don’t forget I can buy your grandkidpresents now. Better be nice, Vitaly, or Santa’s going to be bringing all kinds of interesting things for Samantha.” He smiles at Vitaly’s horrified look. “We just bought Isabella a teddy bear that sings songs in Italian. It’s very loud and obnoxious, and the damn thing never shuts off, but she loves it, so we’re stuck listening to it all day.” He smiles even bigger. “Perfect gift for Samantha. Don’t you think?”

“Don’t you dare,” Vitaly warns.

---