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We’re beasts, and I know we’re going to prove it to everyone time and time again.
Eventually, when we’ve hurt them horribly, they’ll understand why they should have never messed with us in the first place.
Others might start wars, but we will damn well finish them.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Santos
We’ve been in Grozny for about five days now, and Ruslan has already fired everyone on the security teams, with the exception of Danill and Ludvik. I’ve spoken to my great-uncle, and he’s sending a group of fifteen men here to guard the Umarova family. The thought process is that each branch of us will have between three to four people each for the time being. Alejandro inquired about what was going on, and I told him about Eset and that, initially, I thought my father was behind it.
In the back of my mind, I didn’t want to think it was my father, but I knew he would be the type to do something like this, especially if he found out about our involvement with Lu. Uncle Alejandro offered to give us whatever we needed whenever we needed it. He says that my choosing him over my father has proven I can be trustworthy and want what’s best for Mexico, so he will aid us whenever the situation arises.
Since being back in Grozny, Eset and I have been staying in the home she originally shared with Nazyr. But seeing as we’re a small family now since we’ve “adopted” Meryem, we’re going to need something for the three of us. I managed to find an available condominium in the same complex where Amelia and Ruslan live. It’s a five-bedroom, three-bath unit with a modern design that features traditional Chechen elements.
The kitchen, floors, and wallpaper are all brand new, but the condo looks like it’s regal and luxurious. I’m certain it’s something Eset will like, which is why I didn’t even discuss it with her when I purchased the place. Truthfully, we don’t even need five bedrooms, but the second largest bedroom is going to be her in-home art studio, and I’ve stocked it with as many things as I think she needs right now.
The living room is quite large and will fit everyone in her family, plus we even have enough space to have a small play area for the children. Sierra, Karim, and Meryem will adore it, I’m sure. Our master bedroom is also quite spacious, and I’ve even had a carpenter come inside and create a custom vanity for Eset in our ensuite bathroom. Meryem’s room is directly on the other side of our bathroom, and my sisters-in-law have been helping me decorate it. Since this is all a surprise, we’re leaving the furniture they got for us at the home Nazyr has.
Meryem’s room has a soft beige-colored wallpaper, and the floors are a light honey color. Amelia and Emily went with white furniture to make the space seem a bit more spacious, and they added two armoires for all of Meryem’s clothes as she gets older. There’s another bedroom the same size on the other side of Meryem’s room, and it was decorated for a little boy from the looks of it. We don’t have anyone to put in there yet, but maybe one day, Eset and I will have a son. It would be the perfect room for him.
I know Eset is going to love our master bedroom and her art studio the most. Our bedroom has the biggest closet I’ve ever seen, and I’m sure that she’s going to fill up seventy-five percent of the space with her own clothes, but it’s okay since I don’t need much room. The last bedroom is all the way on the other side of the condo, near the kitchen and dining area.
I could’ve sold my condo in Cancun, but I haven’t yet. I don’t know if Eset will ever want to go to Mexico for a vacation, but I do hope one day we can do that. I want her to see my home country and the beautiful culture I come from.
“Eset, are you ready to go?” I call up the stairwell to my wife as our daughter is in her stroller in front of me.
“I’m almost ready!” Eset calls down the stairs, and I’m caught shaking my head. I told her ten minutes ago we have to get going, but instead of finishing up, I’m sure she changed her mind and is re-doing something or has changed into something else.
“That’s what you said ten minutes ago!” I call back up, and Meryem begins to giggle. She has impeccable timing. “I know, it’s hysterical, right?” I say as I kneel down in front of her stroller. Meryem begins to laugh harder and smiles so brightly.
Finally, my wife’s heels begin clacking against the stairs as she’s finally coming down. “Why are you rushing me so much?” Eset questions, narrowing her brows at me.
“Because we have somewhere to be, so come on, let’s get going,” I say, rising back to my feet.
“Hello, sweet angel,” Eset says to Meryem, running her fingertips against our daughter’s beautiful icy white locks. Meryem smiles big at Eset, and I revel in the connection these two are forming. It’s only been a few days, but Meryem is already so bonded to Eset and me. When Eset doesn’t have her, I do, and I really don’t know if Meryem ever had a loving connection with anyone before us.
Eset comes to my side, and we head out the front door, where two of our men are already posted by my SUV. I already started the process of getting my car shipped out here to Grozny since this is where I’ll be living full time, though I will not be driving Meryem around in that. I’ve settled on a Range Rover simply because of its safety ratings.
“Paolo, Gabriel,” I say, greeting the two men on my family’s team.
“Sir,” they both say at the same time.
Both Paolo and Gabriel know where we’re going, so I help Eset get Meryem in the car. Then, once she’s settled in, I make sure Eset is in the vehicle before I break down the stroller and put it in the back of the Range Rover. I get in last, sitting on the other side of our daughter.
It doesn’t take long before we’re at the building, and Eset furrows her brows. “Are we seeing Amelia and Ruslan?”
I turn my head to the left and look at her. “Maybe. Who knows?”
“Well, you know. You’re just choosing not to tell me anything,” Eset grumbles, and I get a kick out of her frustration. Most of the time, she’s the one who’s being hush-hush on what she’s thinking, but I want her to thoroughly enjoy this surprise.
While Paolo parks the car on the street, Gabriel gets out of the vehicle and opens the door for me. I get out first, grab the stroller from the back and open it back up. Eset helps me get the car seat part of Meryem’s stroller out, and once it’s unhooked, I pull her out, then latch it into the stroller. I never thought parenting would be so easy, but it’s blowing my mind these days, especially with how much there is to know.
Eset then gets out, and we begin walking up to the building with Gabriel in step alongside us. I notice he’s very aware of his surroundings, looking for any sort of threat there could possibly be.
We enter the building and walk past the concierge, who knows the Umarova family quite well, before heading for the elevators. Once we’re all inside, I push the button for the floor our condo is on, and Eset looks at me cautiously. “That’s not where Ruslan and Amelia live,” she reminds me.
“No, it isn’t,” I confirm with a smirk, and once the elevator doors open, we head onto the floor. We continue down the hallway until we’re at our unit, number sixteen-ninety-five. I dig into my pocket and hand Eset a key. She looks at the key in her hand, and instead of asking me more questions, she slides it into the door and then turns the lock. We proceed to walk inside, and Gabriel stands guard on the other side of the front door.
