Page 80 of Secret Bratva Baby
She drops the crab into his lap, and he falls backwards into the water, yelping, making me laugh.
“Daddy,” Lily shouts. “He my pet.”
Luka goes dead still, his jaw dropped open. The crab scoots off his lap and into the water, bolting away as fast as he can.
“Daddy, no, get him,” Lily squeals in horror, running after it, tripping in the water, and falling. She’s up again in a flash, fully focused on her goal.
Luka turns to look at me with wide eyes.
“Did you hear that?” he asks, stunned.
Glancing around in the water to make sure it’s safe and free of little ocean creatures, I sit next to him again. “I sort of told her,” I smile, looking down and brushing my fingers through the water.
“She called me ‘Daddy.’”His grin spreads wider than I’ve ever seen before.
It makes me laugh. “She did,” I agree, watching his face, enjoying his reaction.
Lily comes running back to Luka, the crab back in her hands.
“Don’t lost him,” she says sternly, putting the crab back in his lap.
He picks it up to examine it with appropriate awe and pride.
“He’s a good one. Nice and red, long legs, big eyes—you did a good job,” he praises Lily. She tucks her hands behind her back and sways back and forth, basking in her father’s admiration.
“My bucket,” she suddenly shouts and bolts off.
“She’s a never-ending ball of energy.” He watches her go, awkwardly holding a wiggling crab. “What do I do with this?” He moves the crab towards me, and I quickly lean away.
“Do not bring that thing near me,” I shout in panic.
He smirks, a dangerous smile.
“Luka—don’t you dare,” I say, as serious as life itself.
He leans closer, and I scoot back in horror. “Luka,” I scream, rolling onto my knees to get up and run. He runs after me as I dive deeper into the water. The panic is real as I imagine the wiggly little crab touching me.
He’s laughing so hard he can barely stand. He grabs me around the waist and lifts me into the air, throwing me over his shoulder while I scream in terror.
But somewhere along the way, he’s already dropped the crab, and now he’s just tickling me and I’m crying and laughing at the same time, punching my fists into his side to get him to put me down. And he does. He throws me into the waves.
Lily boldly runs into the water and grabs his leg.
“Run, Mommy,” she shouts, holding him down.
Luka scoops her up and pretends to throw her, and she squeals in delight.
“Hold him down, Lily—I’ll help you tickle him.”
Luka pretends to fall into the shallower water, and we both pile onto him.
It’s the perfect day.
I can’t remember ever being happier in my life.
Perhaps the day she was born. But even that was tainted with fear.
Today was perfect.
