Page 78 of Possessive Vows

Maksim’s gasp and excited ramblings carry clear through the house. I allow myself a self-indulgent smile but don a neutral expression as I turn into the living room.

Artur and Tristan stand close together, comparing their watches as Maksim basically bounces around them.

Giorgio and his wife, Aurora, stand in the foyer, the boys blocking their attempts to move deeper into the house, but neither seems perturbed. They watch with amusement as Aurora’s brother and my eldest child become fast friends.

Camilla and Zoya linger beside the coffee table, Zoya with her thumb in her mouth, her stuffed animal in her arms, and half hiding behind Camilla’s legs.

Giorgio offers to secure my children in my vehicle. When I accept, Camilla gives me a skeptical look.

She’s right. Her brother and I coordinated this so I could have a few moments to speak with her alone.

When Aurora steps forward to coax Zoya away from Camilla, Zoya fully disappears behind her legs. Maksim saves the day by bragging about Zoya’s new skill—climbing into her seat by herself. Artur glances between me and his new stepmother before leaving his new friend’s side and taking Zoya by the hand.

“We will go together,” he says in Russian.

Zoya aims wide eyes up to Camilla.

“I’ll be there in less than five minutes. I won’t leave without you, Zoya,” Camilla says.

In two sentences, she addresses and alleviates Zoya’s fears, and my daughter surprises me by trusting her, following her brother without looking back.

The moment the door shuts behind them, Camilla steps in front of me with squared shoulders and the bitchy persona I adore.

“What happened?” she demands.

“Feliks is preparing for a big attack. You will stay with the rest of the women and children in the Russo building where it is safest,” I say.

“But—”

“I will call you and you can confirm your attackers over the phone,” I interrupt.

Her brows pinch together in consternation.

I frame her face with my hands and drop my defenses, letting her see the desperation gnawing at my insides. I need dozens of years beside her as we watch our children grow.

“I need to know you and my children are safe. My brother has many followers. This will not be an easy fight, even with your brother and Nico Russo on our side.”

She blinks. Swallows. Inhales through her nose.

When she lifts her chin and quirks her brow, my heart aches over her perfection.

“Youwillcome back to us, Dimitri Volkov.Capisci?” she demands.

I trail my thumb along her lower lip and nod. She huffs and grabs my wrists.

“I want revenge, but I need you more. Your children need you. I won’t try to stop you—I knew who I was marrying—but you can’t promise me a future and then die. I wouldn’t survive, especially when the kids fall apart without their parents. It would kill me, for real.”

“You love them already, don’t you,so´lnyshka?” I marvel.

“Yes, I do. Wholeheartedly. So get the job done and come back in one piece.Capisci?”

“Da,Camilla. For you and our children, I will do this,” I vow.

She plasters her front to mine and embraces me. I encompass her in my arms as she shudders, and for a moment, I soak up her sweetness, but she pulls back and sticks her hand into mine.

“Good. Let’s go,” she says.

I escort her to the backseat and use buckling her in as an excuse to get close to her again before I settle behind the wheel.

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