Page 153 of The Bratva King

“Does he know?”

“Not yet. I’ll tell him soon.”

“You’re in love with him.”

“Yes.”

“There is no riding off into the sunset.”

“I hear you,” I say, “but I’ve been running for five years. Luke is finally in a place he can sleep through the night. He has a therapist who understands him. This is good for him. Nik is dangerous, but not to us.”

Greg is quiet.

“I’m not naive,” I continue. “I know the risks. I know who Nikolai is. But I also know he would tear apart this city piece by piece before he let anyone touch my son.”

“That’s what worries me,” he says finally. “A man willing to do anything for you is still a man willing to do anything. You understand that, right?”

“I understand.”

“And you’re staying anyway.”

“I am.”

He exhales. “You’re going to give me a heart attack before I make it to retirement.”

I laugh softly. “You love it.”

“Take care, Gabby.”

“Always.”

When I hang up, I don’t necessarily feel calm, but for the first time in years, I can see a future. I’ve been living day to day since my father told me I was going to marry Matteo.

And now, I’m thinking about signing Luke up for kindergarten and buying school supplies. Trips to dinosaur museums with Nik and Luke. Sunday afternoons by the pool.

I’ve got Luke dressed and fed by nine, and we’re waiting in the foyer for Kylie. She comes out of the guest house, smiling when she sees Luke holding his backpack.

I’m not sure if she knows we tried to run. If she does, she says nothing. That’s Kylie. She never makes Luke—or me—feel like we owe her an explanation.

“Ready?” she asks him.

He nods.

One of Nikolai’s guards, the quiet one I now know is Carson, is pulling the car around. He’s young, maybe in his mid-twenties. He opens the back door without being asked.

Luke climbs in first. Kylie slides in after him. I follow.

Twenty minutes later, Carson pulls into the parking lot at Luke’s therapy center.

I turn to Kylie. “Can you take him in? I need to pick up a few things. I won’t be long. I’ll be back at the end of the appointment to check in with his therapist.”

“Of course.” She unbuckles and climbs out.

Carson gets out, too, scanning the lot. I help Luke from the back seat. The other SUV with the second security team is parked a couple spots over.

“I’m going to get some new clothes. Boring stuff. You won’t miss me. Kylie will be right there.”

“Okay.”