Chapter Twenty-Eight

Nikk

I’m a father . Me. A cunning monster from the pits of Russia. Raised by and forged in the fire of Bratva tradition. Me. Nikkita Orlov. I’m a father. Responsible for the life of another. I don’t know how I got here, and if I’m going to be any good at it, but there’s no place I’d rather be.

I don’t cry. The last time I cried was when I was a small boy, and that’s not a memory I ever dig up. Today, as I rock my newborn in Mount Sinai Hospital, I can feel the prick of heat behind my eyes.

Elena is resting peacefully, exhausted, but a happy mother with a dopey smile on her face. I bend down, kissing her forehead. “You did good, so good. Look what we made,” I say to her excitedly, kissing her temple.

“I know,” she says proudly. “I’m so happy it’s a girl.”

“Me too. She has your nose, and those cute little lips of yours. I can see it already,” I tell her as my daughter opens her eyes, her tiny little fingers wrapping around my index finger.

“How can you tell already?” Elena questions, chuckling. The midwife returns, checking Elena’s temperature as I rock my baby back and forth.

“I just can,” I tell her. This has to be one of the happiest days of my life. Now my job is even greater. I have my own family to protect, and it’s something I’ve always wanted, but never knew when I would have it.

Part of my soul is restored when I look down at this tiny being, knowing I made her. The absence of my own father makes me want to be a better one. “I’m your father. I’m always going to be here for you. Always. I will protect you for the rest of my life. My daughter.”

The midwife jumps in. “First child?” she asks, smiling affectionately as we both as answer simultaneously.

“Yes.” This causes the midwife to laugh. “She’s a beauty. What’s her name going to be?”

While Elena was in labor, we tossed around a few names and settled on if it was a boy and if it was a girl. Elena didn’t want to know the sex of the baby, and neither did I. As long as it’s healthy and we’re together, what does it matter?

“Sophia,” I proudly announce to the midwife.

“Sophia—that’s such a pretty name. Wonderful. I’m happy for you both. Elena, I will be back a little later, and we can work on breastfeeding together.”

“No problem.”

When the midwife leaves, I’m even more in love with Elena than before, and I didn’t know that was possible. “Our little Sophia. Can you believe it?”

Elena smiles as I stroke her hair. “No, I can’t.” I hand Sophia back to Elena overwhelmed by it all. Elena cradles Sophia to her chest, kissing her head as Sophia’s eyes open looking around.

“You’re going to be a great kid. Your mother and your father love you so much already. Welcome to the world, Sophia.”

I vow to do my best to shield her from the world we operate in. I want Sophia to have as normal a life as possible.