Page 83 of Born into Chaos

My heart is still breaking over Vitya, but I manage to give him a small smile. “I’m so lucky to have you as my dad.”

“Jesus, kid, you know how to lay it on.” He’s trying to make a joke of it, but I see the glassy look to his eyes, and I hear the emotion in his voice. He pulls me in for a hug and kisses my cheek. “Come on, let’s go see how my future son-in-law is doing.”

Chapter 13

Svetlana

Ididn’t realize how tightly I was clinging to the hope of good news until we walk inside and I see the look on Dominic’s face. Natalya comes running over, wrapping me and Samantha in a gentle hug, but I can’t take my eyes off her husband and the tormented look he’s giving me. He doesn’t want to have to tell me whatever the hell it is that he has to say.

“What?” I ask, holding his gaze, refusing to let him off the hook, because I have to know what’s going on, even if it’s going to shatter me.

“He’s in surgery. Tony and Dr. Bianchi are working on him.” His tone is comforting, but I can tell he’s holding back.

“What else?”

He sighs and looks at his wife, giving her anI told you she wouldn’t be satisfied with just thatlook. Turning back to me, he says, “It doesn’t look good, Sveta.”

I shake my head, ignoring the tears that are already starting to fall. “No, he’s going to make it,” I tell him while Natalya hugs me tighter before letting me go. I’m not at all surprised to see that she’s crying too, and when Dominic sees it, he wraps his arms around her, worried that she’s upsetting herself while pregnant.

My mom hears us and comes running down the hall. She’s crying and wrapping me up in a hug, being careful to not squish Samantha.

“I was so scared,” she whispers. “Are you okay? Your dad said that bastard only hit you once, but is that true?”

She pulls back and searches my face, running her thumb lightly over my bruised cheek.

“It’s true. Some people can’t appreciate my humor.”

She huffs out a breath at my sad attempt at a joke, neither one of us even slightly in the mood to laugh. Her eyes study mine, and I know she can see how close I am to losing it.

“He’s strong,” she reminds me. “And he has you to live for.”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. My mom looks down at the baby in my arms and lets out a soft breath. “She’s beautiful.”

“She is,” I agree. “We named her Samantha.”

My mom always knows exactly what to say and do, and when she gently takes her from my arms and kisses her forehead, I don’t resist. I know Samantha will be more comfortable with her right now than being in my frantic, shaky arms while I relentlessly pace the floor.

My mom looks up at my dad. “Our first grandbaby,” she tells him, pulling another sob from my throat. My dad smiles at the two of them and reaches a hand out, giving a soft laugh when Samantha immediately grabs onto his finger.

“Now Lev and Roman won’t be the only two who get to brag about being a grandpa.” My dad looks over at me. “They were starting to become unbearable.”

“When isn’t Lev unbearable?” Dominic asks before giving his wife a wink.

I’ve never loved my family more than I do in this moment. Leaning closer, I give Samantha a kiss and then wrap both my parents in a hug. I sink into their comforting embrace for a few precious seconds before standing back up and taking a deep breath. Turning to Dominic, I say, “I want to see him.”

“He’s still in surgery, Sveta,” he starts to warn me, but I just shake my head at him.

“Fine, then take me as close to him as I can get. I’ll wait.”

I don’t miss the quick glance he gives my dad and whatever he sees has him looking back at me with a nod. “Fine, but you’re welcome to wait up here.”

“Thanks, but I want to be close to him. I want to be there as soon as they’re done.” I glance around, meeting everyone’s eyes when I add, “I want to be there when he wakes up,” making it clear that I won’t tolerate anything less than Vitya surviving this.

“I’ll walk you down,” Dominic says, giving Natalya a soft pat on the butt and a kiss on the head before letting her go.

I look at my mom and say, “There’s more formula in the diaper bag, but she’s probably running low on diapers.”

“Don’t worry,” Natalya quickly says, “Between all the extras left over from Isabella, stuff for the new baby, and Roma’s stash, I’m sure we can find everything we need. I’ll ask one of the guys to go stock up on formula, too, so she’ll have plenty.”

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