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"I think it's better for you to be in the back. If they stop us, they'll recognize you right away."
I almost expect her to argue with me, but Sasha only shrugs and follows my directions, not looking even a little pissed. In fact, she looks rather tired, and just a few minutes after I start the car, I notice her nodding off. It's been a long day, indeed.
Thankfully, the Bratva seem to be too occupied looking for us around Nikolai’s mansion, so nobody even looks at us on the way back. It’s another thing to get into the Messinas' territory, but I guess the watchmen take me for a civilian driving through and let me pass. It's helpful, of course, but I'll have to test them again later. If I were a Mexican, such carelessness would get the whole family into trouble. But I don't think about it too much. Right now, I have to get Sasha home.
By the time we arrive, she's already fast asleep, so I look at her for a moment before sighing and getting out of the car only to open the back seat. Sasha winces in her sleep at the sound but doesn't wake up, so I carefully gather her in my arms and pick her up.
"What're you doin'?" Sasha mumbles against my chest, and something about her hoarse voice and meek body makes my heart beat like crazy. God, how can a woman be so effortlessly charming?
"Taking you home," I whisper back at her, and it seems to be enough to put her back to sleep.
Despite the late hour, the lights in my house are still on, and only now do I realize that Misha must've been waiting for us. Also, wait, is this his teacher's car? I open the door rather clumsily with Sasha in my arms, and as soon as I step inside I hear Misha’s voice.
"They're back!" He runs out into the entrance hallway, but as soon as he sees Sasha he comes to a complete stop. "Mom? Wha—what happened?"
"She's alright, don't worry. She's just tired." I smile as cheerfully as possible through my own exhaustion and look at Mrs. Lee hesitantly lingering behind him. I've never actually talked to her in person, but Misha has told me plenty about her. "Mrs. Lee? I'm sorry you had to wait for so long."
"It's been four hours," she says with reluctant annoyance as if she's not sure whether she should show it. Her gaze darts to Sasha and the blood on my arms, and her eyes widen.
"We'll pay you double for your trouble." I look at Misha, hoping to see a chuckle at my joke, but his eyes are focused on Sasha only, so I sigh and look at Mrs. Lee again. "Thank you for staying with him. Good night."
I don't have the time or energy to deal with her, so I just nod and, readjusting Sasha in my arms, walk to the stairs. By the time I reach her bedroom, Misha’s hurried footsteps join me. He doesn’t say anything, only grabs my sleeve and looks at Sasha with a worried frown, and together we carry her to the bed.
As soon as her head hits the pillow, Sasha sighs and cracks her eyes open. "Where's…"
"He's here."
I nudge Misha, and he rushes to wrap his arms around her. "Are you okay?"
"I am, teddy bear. I'm just very tired. Do you want to climb into the bed with me?"
Misha nods, and I step back, giving them some peace and quiet. No matter what, I'm not a part of the family, and it feels like they need each other right now. But when I reach the door, I hear Sasha's voice which is surprisingly soft and quiet.
"Louis." I pause to turn to her, and I see her eyes over Misha snuggled in her arms. I can't read her expression, but I still feel warmth in the way she speaks to me. "Thank you."
I almost want to joke or wave it off, but in the end, I smile and nod with my heart growing in my chest. "I promised to honor and protect you till death do us part, didn't I?"
With that, I turn around to leave, and Sasha's chuckle follows me into the hallway, keeping my heart warm all the way to my room.
As soon as I get into the bed, I pass out even faster than she did. My body is exhausted and my mind is heavy with the events of the day, feeding me vague dreams about escaping dark places with gunshots following me all night. I wake up a few times throughout the night, but by the morning I find some peace and even sleep in, waking up with the gray morning light streaming through the curtains.
Following an old habit, I check my phone as soon as I sit up in bed, and I see a few missed calls from Riccardo. Shit. I guess he wants to know what happened last night—the news must’ve reached him already. Does he know it was me who broke into Nikolai’s house? I thought I killed all the witnesses, but perhaps I missed someone on the way.
I decide to keep my phone mute for the time being and stretch my arms, heading to the shower. My muscles are still sore after last night, and my mind is kinda groggy, but I can live with it. I leave my bedroom a few minutes later and linger in the hallway, listening to the house. It’s still quiet—and as soon as I think that I hear Misha’s voice coming from Sasha’s bedroom. My feet automatically carry me there.
Is it okay for me to enter? I pause in front of the door, but in the end, my worry takes over my hesitation, and I knock on the door before slowly pushing it open.
“May I?”
Sasha quickly turns to me and sits up on the bed, but I don’t see the same hostile alertness that used to be in her movements before. She looks rather caught off guard, with her hair wet and messy after a shower and her emotions completely open on her face.
“Louis!” Misha jumps up on the bed, getting tangled in the blankets on the way. “Are you gonna join us? Mom, can he join us?”
I chuckle, watching him fight the bedsheets while Sasha murmurs something in Russian under her breath and moves to help him. “It depends on what you’re doing.”
“We’re trying to—ouch, Mom!” Misha pulls his twisted ankle out of the sheets and turns to me as if nothing. “We’re trying to decide what to have for breakfast!”
I can’t help but laugh at that, endeared by his sweet childishness, and when I catch Sasha chuckling, my gaze darts to her. Our eyes meet, and something in my chest tightens at the sight of her smile and the glint in her eyes. It’s been a while since I saw her so happy, and deep in my heart, I know I want to see it every day.
