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“What do you say? Do you forgive me?”
Reagan gives me a toothy smile. “I forgive you.”
Caroline nods. “Me, too.”
I put a hand to my chest. “I’m eternally grateful.” Then I turn to Josh. “You don’t have to forgive me right away. I understand if—”
“I forgive you, too,” he says abruptly as a blush suddenly scales up his cheeks before he adds, “… Dad.”
If there was any pain left from the stab, it’s gone now.
That one word is the best medicine I could’ve asked for.
Then it’s a pile of limbs as all of them—Emma, Josh, Caroline, Reagan—swarm me. I’m sweaty and bloody and woozy and exhausted, but I don’t give a fuck. I’d spend the rest of my life right here in this moment if I could.
I kiss the top of each of their heads before they pull back.
“I want all of you to know how proud of you I am. You two—” I touch my finger to the girl’s noses. “—for being so brave during this whole ordeal. And you—” I turn to Josh. “—for protecting the family.”
Struggling to my feet, I glance around to check how the cleanup is going. It’s a swarm of activity as my men haul away Adrik’s dead soldiers and prepare the house to be burned to the ground. When I meet his eyes, Kirill gives me a thumbs up so I know it’s safe for the kids to move around without coming across a body.
“Uncle Kiki!” Caroline cries as she runs to him. He grabs her mid-jump and twirls her around.
“Me next. Me next!” Then Reagan mimics her sister.
Laughing, Josh walks over to them but I’m pretty sure he’s just trying to give Emma and I some alone time. He’s not even nine and the kid’s already fast becoming my right-hand man.
Gotta tell Kirill to watch out. The kid might just replace him soon.
I offer Emma my hand and pull her up to her feet. Then we walk around to one of the trucks for some privacy. Before I can say anything, Emma breaks the silence.
“Just for the record: I forgive you, too.”
I arch a brow. “Just like that?”
Now, she’s the one raising her eyebrows. “You saved me and the kids from two raging psychopaths and got stabbed in the process. I think you’ve proven that you care about us.”
I frown. “What do you mean bytworaging psychopaths?”
“Wait. Where’s Ben?”
“Ben?” I exclaim. “As inBen,Ben?”
She nods and whirls around in terror like he might be behind her. “He was—I don’t know. He said Adrik came to him and… Shit, I don’t know. I don’t know.”
“Fuck,” I snarl. But there’s no sign of him and my men have combed the area thoroughly by now. He must’ve run for the hills.
It’s the only smart thing he’s ever done.
She puts her hand on my chest.“Ruslan. Don’t.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“If you’re thinking of sending a team after him like you did with Remmy, don’t.”
“How did you know?”
“I’ve known you a long time. Iknowyou, Ruslan Oryolov. But trust me on this: we’re never gonna see Ben again. This time, I’m sure of it. So let’s just leave him to his pathetic life and we’ll get on with ours.”
