Page 60 of Born into Chaos

“Why didn’t you tell my dad or Timofey?”

I flip the burgers one last time and shrug. “I don’t know. I just couldn’t. I needed to know that she was okay, that she was safe.”

“And now you’re attached.”

I look back at the house, knowing both my girls are in there, and I can’t help but smile. “I am,” I admit.

“Are you going to be okay out here?”

I look over at him. “What do you mean?”

“Your job is to protect my sister. Your loyalty is divided now.”

“Iwillprotect them. Both of them,” I tell him, meeting his eyes. “Once we’re back in the city, I’ll meet with your dad and uncles and explain everything.”

Val stands and smacks my back. “Text me before you do, and I’ll stand with you while you do it.”

“Thanks, Val.”

He laughs and holds the plate while I load it with hamburgers. “She’s my twin, and I’d do anything for her. I also know how in love with you she’s been for the last two years, and I would never do anything to fuck this up for her.”

Before he takes the plate, he holds my gaze, instantly morphing from laid-back brother to deadly Bratva boss before he says, “If you hurt her, I will kill you myself, Vitya.”

I nod, because that’s exactly how a brother should be. “I will never hurt her. You have my word on that. I’m going to marry that stubborn woman and take care of her for the rest of my life.”

Val smiles, easily shedding the brutal look he’d just been wearing, and says, “Welcome to the family, Vitya.”

I laugh as we start to walk back in. “Don’t start celebrating yet. I still have to survive your dad.”

“He won’t be thrilled,” he admits, “especially since I don’t think you’re going to go to him and ask for permission.”

“I think we’re past that, and he knows I’ll just go against him if he says no.”

“Yeah, so you’re going to be facing him after you’ve put your hands on his one-and-only daughter. That’s going to make this more difficult, but I’ll try to keep him calm.” He looks over at me and laughs, reminding me so much of Sveta. “We’ll at least try and keep your dick off the chopping block.”

“I would appreciate that,” I tell him.

We bring everything into the kitchen and by the time we’re sitting down to eat, Samantha’s already had another bottle and is asleep in her bouncy seat. Val, Sveta, and Yelena laugh while telling me all about staying here when they were younger and the trouble they used to get up to. I’m not at all surprised to hear that my girl was behind most of it. She’s apparently been a handful since birth.

When I add more salad to her plate, she gives me a look that has me biting my tongue to not laugh while she says, “I’m stuffed.”

“You need more veggies.”

“There were tomatoes and lettuce on my hamburger,” she argues.

“It’s good for you,” I tell her.

“Yeah, Sveta,” Val says. “It’s good for you. Eat up.”

Sveta looks over at him. “Don’t you start.” Turning back to me, she points her fork in my direction and says, “I’ll finish my salad if you eat a cupcake with me later.”

I eye her plate and decide it’s more important for her to get the vegetables, so I nod and motion for her to eat up. “Deal. Now clean your damn plate.”

She grins and starts eating while I start to clear everyone else’s dishes. Yelena and Val jump up to help, and once we’re all done, Samantha is up and ready to be entertained. The next two hours are spent passing her around as we all forget about the worries hanging over us. We’re just two couples spending time together, and it’s the kind of night I’ve wished for many times before. I’m not on the outside, standing and watching as Sveta jokes around with her family. I’m right in the middle of it with her. I can reach out and touch her anytime I want, and I don’t have to hide how I feel every time I look at her.

“I guess we should get her bath ready.” Sveta looks over at me. “The last thing we need is for her sleep schedule to get messed up.”

“Can we do it?” Yelena asks, looking at us with the kind of hopeful look that only someone who isn’t sleep deprived would have. “We can do it and give her a nighttime bottle before putting her to sleep.”

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