Page 50 of Broken Embers

She’s in her little chair, spinning a toy, her curls wild and cheeks flushed. When she sees me, her whole body wiggles with excitement.

“Hi, peanut,” I breathe, scooping her up into my arms.

She smells like baby shampoo and powder. My chest swells with love. She giggles and pats my cheeks with chubby hands, babbling in her toddler language.

“Let’s go somewhere quiet,” I whisper, carrying her toward the guest suite Oleksi uses when he stays here. The room smells faintly of him—leather, soap, and something sharper, spiced.

I step inside and freeze. There’s a wardrobe open against the wall, and it’s bursting with clothes. I walk toward it and draw in a breath, looking at the tags. Okay, designer labels aside, the clothes are all in my size, so I don’t have to walk around in borrowed clothes that are too big. I sort through the beautiful dresses, jeans, sweaters, and even underwear, all neatly folded or hanging, waiting for me. And fuck me if my eyes don’t fill with tears thinking someone went out and got these for me.

“They thought of everything,” I murmur, kissing my little girl’s cheek. “At least now we can go for a walk and you won’t have to slink into your stroller hoping none of your baby bros recognize you.”

Elena squirms and giggles in my arms like she’s agreeing with me. I smile. “I take you want me to change now, then, huh?” I’m rewarded with a pat on the cheek for her soft little hand. “What should I change into?” I look at her. “And don’t say a fairy godmother…” I kiss her forehead and freeze as I hear a soft knock on the door.

“Do you think it could be too much to hope it’s room service?” I say, walking to the door. “I’m starving.”

Elena gurgles as I open the door, and my stomach drops—Carla.

Behind her—Oleksi. And flanking them like a detail team—Syd, Ivan, and Clyde.

“We need to talk,” Carla says.

I narrow my eyes and look straight at Oleksi. “You told her about the messenger.”

He nods once.

Elena squeals happily, throwing her arms out toward the group.

“She didn’t want to talk in front of your grandparents,” Syd says. She glances at Elena. “We came to see if you wanted us to take the little princess.”

“You needed three people to fetch Elena?” I ask skeptically. “Or did you come to protect Carla and Oleksi from me?”

“The latter,” Ivan says with a sheepish grin. “But can we take her? Cook makes this pudding around this time and?—”

“You all want in on the pudding and to use my baby girl to get it,” I mutter with a shake of my head. I kiss Elena on the cheek and whisper, “Be good for Ivan. No throwing pudding in Clyde’s face.”

Ivan gathers her like she’s the Crown Jewels and backs out of the room with Syd and Clyde.

I step aside, holding the door open. “Come in.”

Oleksi starts to step back. “I’ll let you two?—”

“No,” I say quickly. “Stay. I don’t want secrets between us. Not anymore.”

He nods, steps inside, and closes the door behind him.

I glance at the closet as we move to the small seating area where a fire crackles in the hearth.

“Thank you for the clothes,” I say, knowing it was either my mother or Oleksi who organized them.

“Your mother got them for you,” Oleksi says, sitting beside me on the small sofa while my mother sits in the armchair closest to me.

“Thank you.” I turn to her. “I appreciate it.”

She gives me a warm smile as she sits, clasping her hands and twisting her fingers. “I know you’re angry with me. And you have every right to be.”

“You think?” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “I never wanted you to end up in that place. The moment I realized what Tara was investigating, and that you were in Russia… I begged Sam to get you and Elena out. But it was too late.”

---