AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was a tactic that I used a lot. Deflection, thy name is Charlotte Alexander.
"That would be up to you." Colby tapped the tip of my nose. "We're relaxing for the day. I've canceled my classes for tonight, and Kaleb and Andrei have already covered work for you."
Speaking of work, there was one thing I knew I needed to do, but dread pooled deep in my belly. I groaned and scrubbed a hand over my face.
"What's that look and sound for?" Kaleb asked, sitting as he became instantly concerned.
"I need to call Ryan and tell him what's going on."
I loved my brother dearly, but he could be an overbearing asshat. Although he had gotten better since meeting Bryanna, but still, once he found out abratva pakhanhad kidnaped me, he might go full crazy marine on me.
As the silence stretched, I glanced at Colby, then Kaleb, and saw how their lips twitched. "I just said that all out loud about my brother, didn't I?" I sighed and covered my face with my hands.
Kaleb grasped my wrists gently and pulled them away. He kissed the center of each of my palms and then laid my hands on his chest. "Yes, but you didn't say anything we didn't already know."
"You remember Bryanna is my niece, right?" Colby chuckled as he leaned down to kiss my forehead. "She's told me all about his overprotective streak. Not that I have anything against it."
"Nice to know that I now have four overprotective men in my life," I muttered.
The room burst into laughter, and I could even hear Andrei chuckling from the kitchen.
Ugh.
Men.
Not just men.Daddies.
CHAPTER 11
Colby
Lottie's eyes blinked heavily as I brushed my hands through her hair. After we finished eating, I pulled her hair free from her ponytail, and she curled up with her head in my lap. I loved feeling the soft strands cascading through my fingers. She was soft right down to her hair.
The perfect contract to the hardness and harshness of the three of us.
"Shh," I soothed her. "You can go to sleep if you need to, little one."
"Thank you, Daddy C." A large yawn made her jaw click as she opened wide and stretched her arms out. Then, she turned over, her face brushing against my stomach as she curled up and shut her eyes. Moments later, her breathing evened out as she fell into a deep slumber.
"She is too goddamn good for us," Andrei whispered, his molten caramel eyes locked on her sleeping form.
"She is," I agreed. "But that just means we have to strive to be even better men." I pinned my Russian friend with a knowing glance, and he let out a heavy sigh.
"Was that my hint to call and talk to mybabushkaabout whatever Viktor wanted to say?" His voice was clipped. Strained.I knew he didn't like us pressuring him, but there were things we all needed to know. But he, most of all, needed this bit of closure.
His past had haunted him for too long.
I shrugged one shoulder. "That or you reach out to your cousin and see if he knows what Viktor could want."
Andrei groaned and ran his fingers through his hair. "I thought about that, but I haven't spoken to Sergei in almost as long. I doubt he'd be receptive to my calls now."
"You never know," Kaleb added. He'd gotten back on his laptop, needing to take care of a few things so he could stay home with the rest of us today.
Andrei muttered something in Russian under his breath and grabbed his phone from the coffee table.
I went back to staring down at Lottie as she slept peacefully.
Despite the trials she'd got through in the past week, she still trusted us. She loved us. It was something that I never thought was possible until she came into our lives.
