Page 37 of Born into Darkness

“I love you,” he whispers against my lips.

“I love you, too,” I whisper back. “I’m going to be terrified the whole time you’re gone,” I admit.

“I’ll text you when we get there, and I’ll text you as soon as we have him and we’re on our way back. This will all be over soon, Simona. I promise.”

I meet his eyes and nod, because I believe him. I know my husband, and I know he’ll scour every inch of that country to find our son and bring him home, and he won’t stop until he does.

He gives me one more kiss before sliding out of me. Neither one of us wants the moment to end, but we’re both anxious to get this next part over with. I wish we could just skip ahead to the return flight, because the time in between is going to test my sanity like nothing else ever has.

I sit up and grab my bra while he pulls his boxer briefs on and starts getting dressed. He’s in black tactical gear, but he hasn’t added all his weapons yet. When he’s done, I’m still sitting on the edge of the bed working on my shirt. He comes to stand between my thighs and cups my face.

I look up at him, noticing the hair that’s turning a little more grey with each year and the fine lines around his eyes that never used to be there. I don’t know how it’s possible, but he looks even better than when I first met him. “How come you just keep getting better with age? It’s truly unfair.”

He smiles and gives me a kiss before grabbing my panties and kneeling down so he can help me into them. “And you don’t think you’re getting better with age?”

I snort out a laugh and look down at the body that still needs to lose fifteen pounds and the stretch marks our sons were kind enough to give me. Danil looks up at me and leans closer to kiss my stomach as he slides my panties up my legs.

“You’re even more beautiful to me now than you were when I first saw you,” he says, mirroring what I’d just been thinking about him. “And I don’t know how in the fuck that’s possible, sweetheart, because you knocked me on my ass the first time I laid eyes on you.”

I smile down at him and step into my jeans when he holds them up for me. Once I’m dressed, he pulls me in for another hug and kisses my forehead.

“I’m going to get our son and bring him home to you,” he tells me.

I nod and squeeze him tighter, scared to death to let him go, but also so anxious to have him leave so he can return and this will be over. Cupping my face, he gives me one last kiss before taking my hand and leading me out of the room.

Everyone is busy with last minute preparations when we get upstairs. Danil keeps his hand in mine as he makes his way over to where Niki is sitting at the kitchen island. He’s talking to Vasily’s sons, a plate of food piled high in front of all three of them.

“You need to eat, too,” I tell Danil, already walking around to start making him a plate. I smile at Dima and Bran, and they both return it easily. I notice Dima occasionally signing something to Bran, and my chest tightens at the close bond they obviously share. It reminds me so much of Max and Niki. The two of them have always been close, and Max has always been so protective of his younger brother.

Bran keeps his chair turned a bit so his back is to the wall, making it impossible for someone to sneak up on him from behind, and his eyes are always looking around, taking in every detail of his surroundings. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to work in a Bratva without being able to hear, but I admire the fact that he’s made it work.

Finishing up Danil’s plate, I hand it to him, staying close as he starts to eat. Time passes both way too fast and excruciatingly slow, and when it’s time for them to leave, I grab Niki and pull him in for a big hug, telling myself that it won’t be the last time I feel my youngest child in my arms.

“Listen to your dad and uncles,” I tell him. “Do everything they tell you, Niki. Promise me you won’t leave the boat.”

“I won’t, Mom. I promise,” he tells me.

When I let him go, he stands back up to his full height, towering over me like he has since he was fourteen. I pat his cheek, and he puts up with it because he knows how scared I am and because he has such a good heart.

“I love you, honey. Be safe and tell your brother I love him when you see him, okay?”

“I love you too, Mom, and I will,” he promises.

Before he walks off, Sasha walks up and slings an arm around his shoulders. He looks down at me and smiles. “Don’t worry, Aunt Simona. None of us will let anything happen to Niki.”

I lean in and give them both a hug. “I know you won’t, Sasha,” I tell him, knowing with absolute certainty that my nephew will kill anyone who tries. Instead of being freaked out by that knowledge, I find it very comforting to know Niki will be so protected. “I love you both. Be safe and come home to us soon.”

I let them go so they can grab their bags, and as soon as I do, Danil pulls me into his arms and kisses me. He keeps his lips pressed to mine, both of us drinking in this moment before he finally pulls back.

“I love you, and Iwillcome back to you with both our sons.”

“I know you will. I love you, too, Danechka. Be careful.”

He nods and kisses me once more before reluctantly stepping back. Grabbing a few bags that are loaded with weapons and extra ammunition, he slings them over his shoulder and follows his brothers to the door. It looks like there’s a small army in Roman’s penthouse, and once the men start leaving, it feels very empty.

“Can’t I go with you?” Evgeny asks, looking at his dad and uncles. “This is ridiculous, Dad. I’ll be eighteen in a month.”

Matvey shakes his head, refusing to budge on this one. “Sorry, Ev, but there’s no way in hell your very first job is going to be a covert mission into Colombia. I could never do that to your mom. Plus, I need you here to watch over your sister. Yel needs you.”

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