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Sergei shook his head and waved a hand through the air. "It's the past now. We must move forward and try to mend the fences of the past. If for any reason, the sake of your woman and my children. Your future children. The Bratva is brutal, but we must know that we are more than just Bratva men. We are Volkovs. Volkovs stick together."
As I returned home, Sergei's words echoed in my ears. Would I be able to forgive my grandfather? What if he were dying, and this would be the last opportunity I had?
If you asked me when I was eighteen, right after Sasha died before my eyes, I would have said to fuck off.
But now? I was older and wiser. Learned patience and thinking before reacting. Well, mostly.
Somehow, finding a woman you loved tended to put things into a different perspective. Lottie wouldn't want the hate and negativity around her. She was a bright soul and already had enough darkness in her life. She didn't need me adding any more on top of it.
For the sake of her andBabushka,Sergei, and his kids, I had to put my pride aside and hear what Viktor had to say.
Sergei was coming over tomorrow evening to talk more. I had hoped he would bring his Sofia and Maxim, but I understood he wanted to shelter and protect them first.
From there, I would talk to Lottie, Kaleb, and Colby and decide what we'd do from there.
Whatever I did would make a difference in all of our lives. I couldn’t shut people out anymore, especially those closest to me.
CHAPTER 13
Lottie
Nerves put me on edge as I kept pressing the button to illuminate my phone or look down at my watch to check the time. Andrei had been gone for over two hours, and I slowly went bonkers with impatience.
"Hey." Kaleb drew me back against his body and placed his lips on mine. "Andrei will be fine. Nothing is going to happen to him. He's not going to run away or decide he doesn't want to be with you anymore."
"Did I say all of that out loud?" This was really getting to be a problem. I couldn't just burst out with every little thought in my head. They would think I'm crazier than they already do.
"Charlotte." Kaleb tipped my chin up, and my eyes bulged from my skull as he used my full name. That was much more of an Andrei thing to do.
"Listen to me, alright?" His hand slid around to tangle in my hair. "Andrei needed to talk to Sergei about why his grandfather is here. If anyone knows, it would be Andrei's cousin."
I nodded sagely, my cheeks heating with my embarrassment. I didn't like to be this anxious mess, but somehow, I always ended up as a puddle of nerves in front of them.
"Baby girl. You have nothing to be embarrassed or hide from us." Kaleb gave me a smile filled with warmth and affection, reassuring me that I was safe in his arms. I would be safe with all three of them, no matter what craziness I blurted out. "I find some of the things that come out of your mouth ridiculously adorable. Your head is a fascinating place. It doesn't matter if it's a month, a year, or a decade from now, I'll still find it endearing."
A flash of emotion surged within me at his words, and I had to blink back the tears burning in the back of my eyes. "Thank you," I breathed out, my throat hoarse with the emotions currently warring in my body.
He shook his head and leaned down to kiss my forehead. "You don't have to thank me or any of us. You don't need to apologize unless you've done something naughty. You’re ours, and we will take care of you."
I nodded, the words escaping me, and I couldn't speak past the lump in my throat.
Kaleb grinned, his hazel eyes darkening to a deep green. "Now, let's watch some mindless TV until Andrei gets home. I'm sure it won't be too much longer."
I laid my head against his chest as he turned on the Food Network. "Ooo, yes, Guy Fieri."
He chuckled and set the remote down on the end table. "Guy Fieri it is."
Somehow, I'd fallen asleep against Kaleb's chest. A feat that was normally unheard of for me. Sleep wasn't easy, so I'd celebrate the win from the small nap.
I’d done it more than once in the presence of my guys. Being snuggled up next to them
“Wake up,kroshka.”
Andrei’s familiar accent roused me, and my eyes fluttered open to find him kneeling before me. I jolted forward into his arms, probably much more enthusiastically than I should have been.
He grunted and fell backward, but after half a second, he laughed.
I pressed my nose into his throat and inhaled his deep, rich scent. My lips brushed over his flesh as I held him close to my body.
