Page 96 of The Bratva King

She sighs, her resignation apparent. “I know.”

“He’s safe here. In this house. He doesn’t need you sleeping in the same room with him anymore.”

“I know,” she says again. “It’s just... hard.”

“We’ll give him the room next to yours. I’ll put cameras in.”

She smiles. “I don’t need cameras. I’ll get a baby monitor, though. Just in case.”

She sips her drink.

“I saw all the dinosaurs,” she says with a smile. “That was very kind. Although, you’ve crowded me out of bed. He’s got six in bed with him right now. A little dinosaur cocoon.”

“Another reason he’ll need his own bed.”

A faint smile ghosts her lips. “Was that your intention?”

“No, but if it makes him feel safe, I’ll order more.”

“He’s got enough. Leave something for his birthday and Christmas.”

Christmas. Fuck. Will they still be with me? A kid at Christmas. Lights. A tree. Presents. A memory flashes through my mind of a Christmas morning, when my brothers and I raced downstairs. Mom had been sitting in the dark. The tree lit up. I’d been so curious to know what would be in all the packages.

And then the lights came on, and we understood why she’d been sitting in the dark.

It had been a bad night for her. But she smiled and pretended everything was perfect. She made us hot cocoa, and we got cookies for breakfast. Dad wasn’t there. Mom told us he had work. That was the best Christmas of my life.

“Okay.” I push away the memory. “No more dinosaurs.”

“Thank you,” she says. “Seriously, he loves them. I appreciate them, and so does he.”

“Good.”

“I should go to bed.” She gets to her feet.

I down the rest of my drink, leaving the glass on the table. “I’ll walk you.”

I expect her to tell me she doesn’t need me to do that.

She doesn’t.

I walk with her down the hallway toward her room. “Goodnight,” I say.

“Thank you for everything you’re doing for us,” she whispers.

I lean down and kiss her, just my lips against hers. “You’re welcome. Please, stop thanking me.”

“You don’t like when your kindness is recognized,” she says.

I shrug.

She smiles. “I understand. I won’t make you uncomfortable by bringing it up.”

I feel like I should be the one thanking her now. “Okay.”

She grabs my hand when I start to walk away. I turn back to her.

I look into her eyes. I don’t see fear, but there’s the leftover adrenaline that lingers after something like she went through.