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Roman circled the other man, his gaze laser-focused on his giant opponent. He would let the other man hit him a bit. It would tire the man out, but that wasn’t the point.
Roman liked the pain, had made it his friend.
He smiled when the first punch landed.
27
Lyon sat behind Kira in the big soaking tub and stroked her stomach, slick with water and bubbles. The cuts on his chest still stung when she leaned against him, but it was more than worth the sweet press of her back against his skin.
He’d turned out the lights and lit candles, and two glasses sat on a small table near the tub — bourbon for him and sparkling cider for Kira.
The baby shower had been a success, and he was flush with the pleasure of his small part in planning something that had made Kira so happy.
“Were you really surprised?” he asked.
She laughed, the sensation a sweet echo in his chest. “I’m not sure I’ve ever been more surprised,” she said. “Except maybe when I found out the Lion had a softer side.” He growled and buried his face in her neck until she laughed and squirmed in his arms. “That tickles!”
“Annie worked on the shower for weeks,” Lyon said. “And they say I’m a tough boss.”
Kira smiled. “She’s the best friend I’ve ever had. I’ll miss her when we move into the house.”
“If I know Annie — and since she’s been underfoot for the last six weeks, I think I do — you’ll be seeing her often,” Lyon said.
“I hope so.” He watched as she played with the bubbles in the tub, scooping them into her hands and then blowing them. “I’ve come to like our little family.”
Lyon chuckled, thinking of Rurik and Zoya, Alek and Annie. “It’s a strange family.”
“Those are the best kinds of all,” Kira said.
“I’m ready for this one to join us,” Lyon said, resting his hands on the smooth bump of her stomach.
“Me too,” Kira said, turning her head for a kiss.
He happily obliged, lingering over the honeyed taste of her lips, then sank back against the tub. He was ready. Ready to build the family he’d always dreamed of with the woman who’d changed his life.
Who’d changed him.
He’d visited every one of the bratva’s business interests in the past month, shaking hands where friendliness was in order, making threats when it wasn’t, making it clear that the organization was in hand.
He’d brought on over a hundred new soldiers, assigned them to the various crews, told the brigadiers to watch for talent and ambition, for integrity and loyalty. Lyon had big plans for the bratva, big dreams.
Those dreams required more men, more capital, more resources, which was why their cyberlab was already under way in the warehouse by the river. Lyon had finally moved out all the old factory equipment, making room for a state-of-the-art lab that would occupy half of the ground floor.
He’d talked at length with Damian about what was required, and then with Christophe Marchand, one of the Syndicate’s managing partners who lived in Paris. Marchand had a lab of his own, one that had been in place even when Raneiro Donatiran the Syndicate, and the other man had rounded out Cavallo’s suggestions with several of his own.
All of it made him feel like the worst was behind them. Like he could concentrate on the baby and Kira.
“Back still hurt?” he asked.
“A little.” Lyon slipped his hands down to rub her back, and she let out a soft moan that instantly had his cock hard.
“That feels so good. What about you?” she asked, hunching forward to give him better access to her back.
“What about me?”
She hesitated. “How are you feeling?”
He knew she wasn’t talking about his back. Or even about the baby.
