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There’s no need to explain it. He knows I’m talking about the sketchpad filled with drawings his wife made. Her childhood was filled with enough trauma to ensure that she also has her fair share of nightmares, and when she has a really bad one, she draws the images to get them out of her head. That’s how we found out Alina was Konstantin’s pet. Not wanting me to go crazy, they refused to let me see it, but I need to see it now. I need to know what she’s been through.
“You sure you want to put yourself through that? Maybe it’s better to not know everything.”
I look at Vitaly and shake my head. “I need to know.”
Convinced I’m not going to budge on this, he sighs and motions for me to follow him. When I look back at Lev and Danil, they both nod as Lev says, “Don’t worry. We’ll watch over her.”
When we’re upstairs, Vitaly smacks my arm. “Wait here and I’ll grab it. Katya was in the shower, and she might be out now. No one gets to see her bare ass but me.”
I lean against the wall outside his door and wait. He knows damn good and well the only bare ass I want to see is Alina’s. When he returns a few minutes later, he’s holding the sketchpad.
“You sure about this?”
I hold out my hand. “I’m sure.”
He gives it to me, but I can tell he doesn’t want to. I ignore his hesitancy and ask, “How did Roman look?”
Leaning his shoulder against the wall, he gives me a small smile. “Like absolute shit, but he’s alive. Emily didn’t look much better when I left, but at least she didn’t go into early labor.”
“He’s really going to be okay, though?”
“Yeah, he’ll be fine. It was a clean shot, not anything like the bullet Dominic took, so the doctor is pretty confident there won’t be any nerve damage or any complications. I think the only reason he’s making him stay there is to watch Emily and keep her on bedrest.” He stops and laughs. “Roman’s going to have her ass glued to the bed when he getsher home. I’m going to get her one of those long sticks that can reach out and grab things. I think she’ll really love that.”
I can easily imagine the look on Emily’s face when she opens that particular present. “Yeah, she’ll be thrilled.”
Vitaly laughs. “Just wait until Roman sees what I got him.”
The mischievous glint in his eyes is one I’ve seen many times before. “Do I even want to know?”
“Fuck yeah you do, but Katya and I aren’t revealing this gem until the time is right.” He laughs again. “It’s going to be beautiful.”
I scrub a hand over the back of my neck, feeling antsy at being away from Alina. “Thanks for getting this.” I hold up the sketchpad and turn to go back downstairs. “Try not to give Roman a heart attack with whatever the hell it is you’re planning.”
He just laughs before going back into his room. Running downstairs, I drop the sketchpad off, not trusting myself to look at it just yet. When I reach the kitchen, Alina is coming out of the nursery, smiling at something Simona’s said. All I can do is stare. It’s like a dream seeing her here. I’ve wished for it so many goddamn times, and now it almost doesn’t feel real, like I’ve just finally cracked and lost my grip on reality. If I have, I hope I never fucking wake up.
She looks over and sees me staring at her. A small smile plays at her lips, and as soon as she’s close enough, I can’t resist closing the distance and pulling her against me again. Her small body molds to mine. Resting my hand on her back, I kiss the top of her head. Even with her wearing my hoodie, I can feel how much weight she’s lost.
“You need to eat, baby.” I keep my arm around her and grab her a plate, filling it with sausage and biscuits and then adding a huge scoop of scrambled eggs.
She eyes the food but makes no move to eat anything.
Leaning closer, I whisper in her ear, “You’ve lost too much weight,malishka.Please try and eat.”
She gives a soft nod but still doesn’t take a bite.
“Would you rather eat at the table?”
“No.” Her response is so quick that I worry I’ve said somethingwrong, but then she gives me another smile and picks up one of the sausage biscuits. “Here’s fine.”
Standing at the island, she takes a small bite while I fix a plate for myself. Jolene comes down, grabbing a biscuit and sitting at the island by Lev. We’re filling Alina in on how everyone met when Vitaly and Katya walk in. As soon as Alina sees Katya, she puts the biscuit she’s been slowly nibbling on down. Katya looks away, unable to meet Alina’s eyes while Vitaly keeps his arm wrapped around his wife, holding her close.
Katya starts crying, although she’s trying like hell to hide it, and as soon as Vitaly feels her body shake, he pulls her into a hug and whispers something in her ear. Alina quickly shakes her head and says, “Please don’t cry, Katya. I don’t blame you for any of this.”
I’m not at all surprised that after everything Alina’s been through, her first thought is to try and comfort Katya. She walks over, and since she’s still clutching my hand, I go with her.
“They’re my brothers,” Katya says, “and I’m so sorry for what they did to you.”
Alina lets go of my hand so she can pull Katya into a hug. “It’s not your fault,” Alina tells her. “There was nothing you could’ve done to stop them.”
