Page 20 of Unbroken

"Auntie Zoya, Aunt Ruthie gave meten timesas much whipped cream as Papa does," Luka says, grinning like the cat that ate the fucking canary. I tell him to hush in case someone’s going to rat me out.

"Andmy tummy hurts," Luka says.

Shit.

"I told you that would happen if you gave him too much," a deep voice comes from behind Zoya.

Well, great. Guess Vadka is not at the office.

"Hey, buddy." His eyes crinkle around the edges, and his face softens when he sees Luka.

"Papa!" Luka does a full run at Vadka and tackles him at the knees, but Vadka has the wherewithal to brace himself before impact. He catches him, swings him up into his arms, and kisses his cheek. Then he fixes me with a stern look.

"How much juice did he have?"

"Not too much," I lie, looking away. “You’re out. We’re just coming in for a quick visit before we go to the supermarket." And I give Vadka a sharp look. "And I don’t need a lecture about not buying cookies and sweets." As if I’m going to get through this without chocolate?

He runs a hand through his hair and nods. "Thanks for doing that. Do you want me to grill tonight when I get home?" I shrug.

"Do you have to go to work? What time do you have to be in?"

"It’s my night off."

It feels domestic and homey and…wrong.

Zoya takes Luka’s hand and leads him to the kitchen, so I’m in the empty foyer with Vadka. My god, why does the man wear a suit like that? It’s obscene. He looks so fucking hot all dressed up. He may have lost a little weight and looks a little gaunt around the eyes, but he definitely hasn’t skipped his gym routine. If anything… it kinda looks like he’s thrown himself into it harder, which tracks.

Fuck. I need to get laid. Ican’tlook at my brother-in-law like this. I need to go to the bar, find a sweet young guy who’s eager to please, and seduce the fuck out of him. I’d give him a good night to ease my conscience.

"How’d the morning go?" he asks, his hands in his pockets.

A lump rises in my throat. I want to tell him that Luka called me Mama. I want to tell him that I don’t like being in the place where my sister’s presence still lingers. I want to tell him my mother’s getting worse, and she doesn’t know me anymore.

I want to tell him everything and nothing.

"Fine. Luka’s a good boy. Mostly."

Vadka grows stern, his brow coming together. "He’s gotten more stubborn and defiant since Mariah’s been gone. Did he give you a hard time?" he asks.

Why does he look at me like that? I don’t like it when he looks at me like that.

No. Scratch that—I like it too much when he looks at me like that.

I swallow. "Eh, he likes to push boundaries, but we figured it out.” I don’t want to tattle on the little guy, but I’m not gonna lie either.

He nods. "It’ll help him to have the structure of school. Hey—Zoya has a list of nannies, but we’ve got some shit I need to do. Do you think you could help her look over the list? Maybe interview some of them?"

He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks away. "I don’t think anyone is as invested in who watches Luka as me—except you."

Do I nod too quickly? Am I too eager?

What is it about the two of us that makes me feel like a little girl crushing on her big sister’s boyfriend all over again?

"Thanks."

He swallows, and his voice is a little husky. "I’ll be home by five. We’ll have an early dinner so we can get Luka to bed. You said no work tonight?”

I nod and swallow hard. “Yeah.”

---