Page 61 of Mafia Prince's Secret Baby

“She sure will,” Boris says, grinning like he’s just won the lottery.

Oh, what a waste. It’ll last an hour, tops, and end long before Galina gets any bright ideas.

“Will that be all, Olenko?”

“For now,” Boris replies, his grin widening. “We have an arrangement, Sokolov.”

I leave the office and make my way back through the club, mentally counting down the hours until I’m free of this nonsense.

I hate Boris Olenko with every fiber of my being.

21

KATYA

Aknock on the door pulls me out of the little universe I’ve built with Damien and Sofiya. Blocks are scattered across the rug, and Sofiya’s hands are gripping one of Damien’s prized Lego bricks as if it’s the most important thing in the world. Damien is mid-sentence, explaining why his castle needs “defense towers oneveryside,” when my head snaps up toward the door.

Two figures stand there, framed in the doorway like they own the place—which, technically, one of them does.

“Lev!” Damien yells, abandoning his castle-in-progress and darting toward his cousin.

I get to my feet, my eyes already narrowing as I focus on the taller figure. “Does Nik know his son’s here?” I ask Aleks as I move toward Lev, pressing a quick kiss to the boy’s cheek.

Aleks shrugs, all casual confidence, like I didn’t just ask him about the impending wrath of Nikolai Volkov. “I mentioned to Kata that the cousins should have a playdate,” he says, glancing at the trio of kids now converging on the castle. “She agreed, and so here we are.”

I nod, though skepticism curls in the back of my mind.Katarina Volkov must have worked some serious magic to convince her husband to send his only son into this house of horrors.Nikolai protects Lev like he’s the last jewel in a world full of thieves. That he’d let the boy anywhere near Igor’s home—even under Kata’s supervision—seems… unlikely.

“Don’t worry,” Aleks says, breaking into my thoughts. His tone is casual, but there’s a hint of something reassuring in it, like he’s trying to put me at ease. “We’ll all have fun. You can rest easy.”

His gaze flicks back to the kids, and he shifts his weight, stuffing his hands into his pockets like he doesn’t know what to do with them.

“We?” I ask, my curiosity piqued. “What do you mean,we?”

“Yes,” Aleks says, flashing me a grin—one of those cocky, almost-smiles that makes me want to throw something at him.

I roll my eyes but then come up with an idea. “We could always go out,” I suggest. “I could use some fresh air, and the kids will love playing in the park.”

Aleks scrunches his nose like I just suggested we walk them into enemy territory unarmed. “That’s a cute idea and all, but Damien is still Igor’s only heir. He can’t leave the house. Not withoutsufficientsecurity.”

“Bring as many men as you want,” I reply with a shrug. As soon as the thought of going to the park enters my mind, it’s a done deal. “We’re going.”

Aleks frowns, clearly not thrilled. “I don’t like the sound of that,” he mutters, glancing nervously at Damien, who’s busy explaining castle-building logistics to Lev. “It’s best we stick to the mansion’s yard. They’ve got plenty of toys there.”

I narrow my eyes, my expression hardening. Kids need more than a fenced-in yard. They need the space to run wild, breathe fresh air, climb trees, and burn off the chocolate-fueled energyIrina keeps pumping into them like she’s trying to raise a pack of caffeinated wolves.

“These three are the heirs of the two most powerful families in New York City,” I tell him, my tone firm. “No one will dare come near them. That said, you’ve got half an hour to assemble your men while I get the kids ready.”

Aleks looks like he wants to argue but wisely decides against it. He exhales a long breath, then nods. “Half an hour it is,” he concedes before turning on his heel and leaving the room.

The time passes quickly. After a snack, the kids are practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. Sofiya can barely stay still long enough for me to tug her favorite red beanie over her messy curls. The second the car doors close behind them, five black SUVs surround us like we’re a presidential motorcade. Sokolov’s best—and worst—men flank the vehicles, bristling with enough firepower to stop a small army.

“I can’t believe I’m driving a minivan,” Aleks grumbles under his breath as he slides into the driver’s seat. “And this beast doesn’t even have a sport mode.”

I glance over my shoulder at the chaos in the back. Damien is listening intently as Lev launches into a lecture about space exploration, while Sofiya is busy tormenting Dominik Popov, Aleks’s head of security. She’s tugging on his obnoxiously patterned tie with her sticky little hands, giggling as she runs her fingers over the tacky fabric.

Dominik, to his credit, manages to maintain his composure—though the tight-lipped smile he gives her screamshelp me.

“I think it suits you,” I tease Aleks as I settle into the passenger seat. “Besides, it’s the only way to fit all the car seatsandDominik.”

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