Page 39 of Born into Darkness

“I can’t wait to have grandkids,” she admits, and as soon as her eyes start to grow glassy, I grab her hand.

“Don’t go there,” I warn her. “Don’t let your mind start telling you all the things that could go wrong. You have three kids, and they’re all going to give you lots and lots of grandkids.”

She nods and gives me a wobbly smile. “You, too. Your two boys will do the same for you.”

“We’ll have to keep in touch so we can send each other pictures,” I tell her. I’m not sure if Max is going to want to stay in touch with their daughter or if he’s not going to want the reminder of this painful time, but I like Nina, and I hope she’ll want to stay in contact after this is all over.

The sound of a phone ringing has my heart jumping in my chest. I know it’s not mine, so I look around, stopping when I see Jolene answer hers. After a second she sighs and says, “You scared me half to death, Lev. I thought something had gone wrong.” After a second, she laughs and looks at her daughter. “Yes, I’m looking right at her. I swear, babe, she’s sitting next to me on the couch.”

Mia raises a brow at her mom, who whispers, “Your dad was afraid you might try and sneak out and stowaway on the plane.”

Mia laughs and talks loud enough for her dad to hear. “I’m right here, Dad. Don’t worry, Sasha made me promise earlier that I’d keep my butt here. You are all clear for takeoff.”

“He says he loves you,” Jolene says.

“Love you too, Dad,” Mia shouts back.

When Jolene hangs up a few seconds later, she looks around the room and says, “They’re loading up the planes. Lev was just worried that Mia might try to crash the party.”

“It did cross my mind,” Mia admits, “but I promised Sasha I wouldn’t, and Dario threatened to not teach me any more self-defense for an entire month if I tried anything. Plus,” she adds, “I would never do anything to screw this up. Come on, give me a little bit of credit.”

“We know you wouldn’t,” Jolene tells her, reaching out to brush back some of her pink-dyed hair. “Your dad just worries about you.”

“You can tell him he can stop now. I’m almost eighteen,” she says, and we all laugh.

“Yeah, that’s never going to change,” I tell her. “You’ll be fifty, and he’ll still be calling up and checking on you.”

“Dad is still constantly checking on me,” Natalya says with a grin, “and I’m married and about to give birth to our second baby in a few weeks. Prepare yourself, Mia. It never ends.”

“Yeah,” she argues, “but I’m not getting married or having kids, and Dario’s been teaching me how to use a knife since I turned seventeen. I know how to take care of myself.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Jolene tells her while we all nod in agreement. “You’re his little girl, Mia. No matter how old you get, he’ll always see you as his little witch.”

Mia tries to look irritated, but I see the smile, and I know she’s incapable of getting angry at her dad. She loves her family too much to stay mad for longer than a few seconds. She’s determined to join the Bratva one day, though. We all thought she’d grow out of it, but at almost eighteen, she’s more determined than ever.

I half-listen as the others start talking. My mind keeps wandering to my husband and boys. I understand how Lev feels, because even though Max is twenty-one, he’s still my baby—the little grey-eyed boy who loved to climb into my lap while I played the piano, giggling every time I hit a new note. It kills me that he’s hurting, that right at this very moment he’s in excruciating pain and I can’t make things better for him.

My nerves are in knots, and we’re not even a full hour into this thing. As much as I want to have a meltdown, I can’t allow that to happen. I can’t give in to my fear and worry. If my family can be strong, then so can I. I can be brave for the men I love, and I can hold myself together until all three of them are safe and in front of me.

After that, I’m having the breakdown I so rightfully deserve.

Chapter8

Talia

“Max, please don’t go back to sleep.” I beg as I cup his face, feeling the heat of his fever against my palms. His beautiful eyes are glazed, and I can’t get him to stay awake. Brushing his dark hair off his forehead, his eyes flutter open before locking on mine. I see the confusion melt away for a few precious moments as he gives me a sad smile.

“Svetik moy,” he whispers, and it breaks my heart to hear the pain and longing in those two words. He’s starting to give up hope that he’ll survive this, and I can’t allow that to happen.

“Don’t you dare give up on me now,” I tell him. “We’re so close, Max. I can feel it. I know they’re coming for us. I just need you to hold on for a little bit longer.”

The corner of his mouth lifts up as he reaches his good hand up and caresses the side of my face with his fingers. “I wish I could’ve played you your song.”

“You’re still playing me that song. You’re not getting out of the deal that easily. You made me a promise, and I’m holding you to it.”

“I think I’m getting an infection. We both know how this is ending for me.”

“No,” I say, leaning closer. “This isn’t how our story ends. I didn’t just meet you to lose you. I refuse to accept that.” Even with tears in my eyes, I give him the biggest smile I can manage. “I never expected to find you here, but I did, and now that I have, I kind of have my heart set on keeping you, Max Melnikov.”

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