Page 154 of Bratva Menace

I stayed still, too stunned to move a single muscle. He was hugging me. The Bratva Butcher was hugging me.

And I had no idea what to do.

The hug was light. Comforting. Supportive. Everything a hug ought to be, and I couldn’t help but feel wistful.

I’d never received a hug like that from my own father, and it wasn’t until then that I truly realized what I had been missing.

Dimitri stepped back and offered me a warm, kind smile. “Dobro pozhalovat’ v sem’yu, dochka.” Welcome to the family, daughter.

For the third time in less than twenty-four hours, shock catapulted down my spine, and my eyes widened even more. With those five simple words, he told me all I needed to know, and all my fears vanished in an instant. Dimitri accepted me. He actually accepted me, even after learning of everything I had done. Warmth flooded my heart. “Spasibo.” Thank you, I said softly.

“Oh my god,” Tatiana cried, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

We all looked at her.

“Ignore me.” She sniffled, fanning her face. “My body is still a big hormonal mess. This is just so sweet. I can’t—oh—he said daughter.” She sobbed. Like, full-on sobbed, and a round of laughter went around the table.

Nikolai patted her on the back. “There, there, my love. Let it all out.”

The tension that had been building instantly dissipated as we all watched Tatiana sniffle and wipe her nose.

Glass shattered, echoing around the room, along with a gasp of surprise. My gaze swerved behind Dimitri to see Lukyan, standing in the doorway, a broken plate and food scattered on the floor around his feet.

Our gazes clashed. My heart stopped in my chest.

“Lyla,” Lukyan whispered, shocked.

I thought maybe after months apart, my feelings for him could have eased. Not be as powerful or all-consuming as they had been before.

That was wishful fucking thinking.

They were just as strong as ever. Stronger, even. Every part of me yearned to be near him. To touch him. To feel him. To feel the beat of his heart underneath my hands. To feel the silkiness of his dark, long hair.

We stared at each other from across the room, so many unspoken emotions swirling between us it almost seemed to overwhelm me. Then, he was moving, marching toward me like a man on a mission.

I stayed where I was, unable to make my body move. Dimitri stepped out of the way, and then Lukyan was right there, right in front of me. His hands grasped both sides of my face and he pulled me close, resting his forehead against mine. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, as if he was breathing me in. As if he could finally relax.

“You’re here,” he murmured, and those two words held a mountain of meaning.

I smiled. “I’m here.”

His eyes opened, and they were filled with so much love I couldn’t believe I ever questioned it. “You have no idea how much I missed you.” He kissed me, his lips featherlight against mine, and I melted into him, kissing him back.

My world instantly righted itself. All the chaotic emotions I’d been feeling the past few months seemed to diminish bit by bit, and my soul brightened. If it was possible to see it, it would be blazing brighter than the sun.

The kiss deepened. I moaned, moving closer. Like it always did with us, it went from zero to a hundred like the flip of a switch.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, PG-13 please. There’s youngins around.” Tatiana laughed.

Lukyan grinned against my lips, chuckling softly before pulling back. He turned to face the table, clasped my hand in his, and said, “Everyone, this is Lyla. My wife.” His smile was bright and beaming. Bigger than I’d ever seen it. Almost blinding.

Illayana nudged me in the ribs with her elbow and gave me a knowing smirk. “Told you. You were his light.” Then, she walked over to the table and sat down next to Arturo. He leaned forward and gave her a soft, loving kiss on her cheek, whispering something in her ear that made her smile.

Autumn stood, clapping her hands once. “Well, don’t just stand there. Come join us.”

Dimitri took his seat next to her as Lukyan led me around the table, officially introducing me to everyone. One by one, I shook their hands, each one offering me a kind smile and telling me how happy they were to have me.

It was more than I could have ever hoped for. More acceptance than I’d ever received in my life, and a sense of home hit me.