Page 38 of Born into Darkness

“You’re placating me,” Evgeny says.

Matvey smiles at his son and ruffles his hair, which just earns him an annoyed look. “Of course I am. You haven’t even officially joined the Bratva yet. I refuse to risk your life, and I’m not going to change my mind about it.”

Evgeny knows it’s pointless, so he just sighs and gives his dad a hug. “At least tell Max I wanted to be there. Be careful, Dad.”

“I will. We’ll be back before you know it,” Matvey tells him.

“You sure you don’t have room for me?” Mia’s voice has me turning my head, and if I wasn’t so worried I’d laugh at the hopeful look she’s giving her dad. Lev just looks at her like she’s lost her mind and shakes his head.

“No way in hell, not now, not ever, little witch. Stay here with your mom and cousins,” he tells her.

“It’s not fair.” She looks over at her older brother, and when Sasha gives her a big smile, she mutters, “He gets to have all the fun.”

Still grinning, Sasha walks over and gives his little sister a hug. “Don’t worry, sis, I’ll kill a few extra for you.”

“Make it hurt at least,” she says.

He smiles even bigger. “I think you know me well enough to know that I always make it hurt.”

Dario walks over and nudges Sasha’s shoulder. “You ready?”

“Fuck yeah I am,” Sasha says. I know he’s worried about my son, but there’s no denying that he’s excited about this mission. He’s the only one that doesn’t look even slightly worried. Whatever danger this trip involves, Sasha is down for it.

Mia looks up at Dario. He towers over her, dressed all in black and looking dangerous as hell, but she just gives him a sweet smile and says, “Don’t die. We haven’t finished our lessons, and you still need to teach me a few things.”

A smile slips through before he can stop it. “Wouldn’t dream of it,” he tells her. “I’d hate to deprive myself of your sunny-as-shit personality.”

She tries to hide her grin when he pats her on the head as he walks off with her brother and dad.

Dominic stops to give his daughter a big hug. She wraps her small arms around his neck while he talks to her in Italian, making light of everything that’s going on so she doesn’t worry. He tickles her and kisses her on both her cheeks before handing her back to Natalya. He leans down and kisses his wife, resting his hand on her very pregnant belly before finally walking away to join the others.

Vitya, Luka, and Val are right behind him, none of them eager to leave their pregnant wives but willing to for the sake of my son. I understand the sacrifices they’re all making, and it’s not something I’ll ever forget. Vitya kisses his wife and daughter while Luka does the same to Lara and Roma. His son squeals and reaches for his dad, and Luka pulls him in for one more quick hug.

Val still has Yelena wrapped in a tight hug, whispering into her ear as he cups the back of her head. I can see her body shaking, and I know she’s crying, and my heart breaks for them. Val’s still injured, but he refuses to stay behind and insists on going to help rescue Max. We’re all worried for him, but Yelena and his mom are taking it the hardest. Katya’s one of the strongest women I know, though, and she’s never once made Val feel guilty about his need to go back and help my son, even though it’s going to put her own son’s life at risk again. She knows it wouldn’t do any good, but she also doesn’t want him to carry around any more guilt than he already is. His focus needs to be on this mission, and none of us want him worried about anything else. Knowing it doesn’t make it any easier, though, and when Val is forced to step back from his wife, I see the pain and fear in her dark eyes.

He rests his hand on her stomach and presses his forehead to hers, whispering something that’s just for her. Whatever he says has her placing her own hand on her stomach, resting it on top of his before he gives her one last kiss and steps away.

Alina immediately steps in, wrapping an arm around her daughter as she smiles up at Val. “We’ll make sure she’s okay, Val. Just keep yourself safe.”

“I will,” he tells her and then he looks over at me. “We’re bringing him home, Aunt Simona.”

“I know you will,” I tell him.

He gives a wave before telling Yelena he loves her one last time and then steps into the elevator with Luka and the others. He keeps his eyes on his wife until the doors shut, and we’re left alone—a roomful of family and the guards who have been assigned to stay. Three of them are Medvedev men, but they fade into the background just as easily as our guys do. We’re all so used to them by now that we barely notice them.

Sveta gives a dramatic sigh and sinks into the couch cushions. “Now we get to sit and wait. It’s a good thing I’m such a patient person or this would be pure agony,” she says, sarcasm dripping from every word as she props her feet up and opens an arm so her daughter can snuggle up against her.

“At least you’re a pregnant woman,” Evgeny says, sitting down next to her. “This is humiliating. I’m the only guy left behind.” He smiles when Samantha crawls into his lap and starts clapping her hands.

“Well, she’s sure happy you’re here,” Sveta tells him with a grin.

Natalya leans down and whispers something to Isabella, and soon the little girl is running and yelling, “Uncle Ev!” before jumping onto the couch next to him. When Lara sets Roma down and he starts crawling like a baby on a mission, Evgeny laughs and scoops him up as soon as he’s close enough.

He looks at his cousins and gives a soft laugh. “You’re not fooling me. You just want a babysitter.”

“Of course we do,” Lara says, sitting down on the loveseat and propping her feet up. “We’re pregnant and our kids have way too much energy.”

The rest of us take the remaining seats, and we’re all grasping our cell phones because none of us want to miss a single message or phone call. It’ll be hours before they reach Colombia, but I don’t care. My cell isn’t leaving my hand until they’re safe and I’m watching their plane land. Nina takes the spot next to me, smiling when Isabella gets curious and makes her way over. She starts showing Nina her favorite stuffed animals, and when Isabella runs back to get more, Nina looks over at me, and I recognize the longing in her eyes, because I’m feeling the same thing.

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