Chapter 34

Dalia

" B rother?"

The word bounces off the dingy motel walls like a bad joke.

Lev and I share a wide-eyed look—has the world gone topsy-turvy tonight?

Lev puts up a hand like a traffic cop as Alexei steps closer.

Alexei, unfazed, whips out his phone and calmly dials like he’s ordering pizza.

"Come now," he barks into the device. Turning to me he says, “My top-notch cleaners will take care of this mess. I have a medic coming with them. I figured tonight would get messy.”

Speaking of messy, Vanya limps over, his hand clamped on his arm, blood seeping through his fingers. His face is stoic, like he’s simply stubbed a toe.

"It’s not that bad," he tries to assure us. “Let me just sit for a moment.”

“You’ve been shot,” Lev says. “Sit and keep pressure on it.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Vanya says. “I’ve had worse.”

Alexei begins to stride over with that gangster swagger of his, then pauses mid-step. He drops the duffel bag that’s been hanging off his good shoulder, rummages through it, and pulls out a bottle of vodka.

"Got this from my private stash.” He presents the bottle to Lev like he's unveiling a rare treasure. "Figured we'd need something strong to celebrate our survival, and to brace ourselves for the chat we're about to have."

As if on cue, a big white van pulls up, and out tumble a bunch of guys in janitor uniforms. They get straight to work, cleaning up the night’s mess with a precision that's slightly disturbing.

Meanwhile, a medic finally gives Vanya some much needed attention, patching up his arm with a professionalism that suggests he’s used to bullet wounds more than bruises.

Alexei gestures grandly toward the motel lobby. "Shall we?" he says, and we head in.

Lev and I take a seat on the kind of tacky sofa you’d expect in a place like this, bracing ourselves for whatever Alexei's about to drop. With a deep breath and a not-so-quiet prayer for patience, I prepare for another round of Russian roulette—this time with words and vodka.

Alexei starts playing bartender, pouring shots with the casual flair of a man who's done this many times before.

Lev cuts to the chase. "Get to the point, Alexei."

Alexei responds by knocking back his shot like its water and quickly pouring another. “You and I are brothers, Lev. Well, half-brothers. We share the same father."

Lev leans forward, his face a mask of disbelief. "You're bullshitting me.”

I study Alexei more closely, and suddenly it's like one of those family resemblance charts pops up before my eyes. Lev’s all rough edges and raw power, while Alexei’s got that sleek, polished look about him. Lev’s handsome, but Alexei’s pretty . In many ways, they couldn’t be more different.

But those intense gray eyes, that imposing height, and the way they both carry themselves—like chess master’s always three moves ahead—is identical.

I blurt out before I can stop myself, "Wow, you two are related."

Lev narrows his eyes, clearly wrestling with the bombshell Alexei just dropped. After a moment, he reaches for the vodka, throwing it back like he’s trying to swallow the truth along with it.

"Let me tell you how it all started. Our father had a bit of a wild streak. He met a woman, Marina Plushenko, at a gala in Moscow. She was a ballet dancer, stunning and completely outside of his world of Bratva and bullets. They had an affair.” Alexei’s eyes are distant, as if he’s visualizing the past.

"He kept her paid and quiet, a classic Ivanov move, while she raised me away from the family spotlight. I’ve known about my lineage all my life, and when our father passed, I saw my chance to step into the Ivanov Bratva, to claim my birthright, albeit from the shadows."

Lev listens intently, his expression unreadable, absorbing every detail of the story that rewrote his family history without his consent.

"And now here you are,” Lev says when Alexei finishes.

"That's right," Alexei replies, cool as a cucumber with that knowing smirk of his. "I've been watching everything unfold, waiting for just the right moment to make my grand entrance. Couldn’t resist a little drama.”

Lev squints at him, obviously not buying the whole casual act. "What do you want, Alexei?"

Alexei chuckles, light and breezy, which feels a bit out of place given the story he just told.

"I get it. Skepticism suits you, Lev, but really, what more can I do to prove I’m on the up and up?" He leans in. "I want to be a part of the family. Running my own little empire is fun and all, but joining forces with the most formidable Bratva in the city?" He spreads his hands wide, like he's ready to embrace the future he imagines. "Think about it—the chance to help it grow, to take it beyond our city limits—how could I possibly pass that up?"

His pitch is slick, and I can't help but admire his boldness.

Lev kicks back in his chair, an eyebrow raised as if he's just been pitched a dodgy business deal. He grabs the vodka bottle, giving it a contemplative look.

"So, are we negotiating here?"

"Sure, why not?" Alexei shoots back.

Lev nods, a sly grin playing at his lips. "Alright. If we're wheeling and dealing, I'm gonna need a case of this stuff.”

Alexei laughs heartily, the sound echoing in the sparse room. "Of course, of course."

Lev sobers up, the gravity of the night reclaiming its hold on him. "This is a lot to process, especially since tonight I almost lost the love of my life and the mother of my future kids."

The way he says it sends a flutter through my heart, and tears prick my eyes.

I squeeze his hand, feeling a rush of emotion as he returns the gesture with a reassuring smile that manages to ease some of the tension in my shoulders.

Turning his attention back to Alexei, Lev's voice firms up. "But first things first. I'm going to need a DNA test to confirm your story.”

"Naturally," Alexei agrees smoothly, like he expected to hear that all along. "And if it all checks out, perhaps a seat at the table is in the cards."

Lev stands, vodka in hand.

Alexei extends a hand to Lev, a sincere gesture filled with newfound ties and unspoken promises. Lev pauses, eyeing the hand as if it might be a trap, but after a moment, he grabs it firmly. "Appreciate the assist, Alexei. Owe you one.”

"No worries," Alexei responds with a half-smile. "I sincerely hope this is just the first of many times I can lend a hand to the Ivanov family— my family.”

We exit to see Vanya patched up but still looking like he’s been through a war zone. Lev hands him the vodka with a stern look. "I'm not suggesting, I'm ordering—take the week off."

Vanya laughs, a rough sound that’s more relief than humor. "Think I’ve earned that, boss.” He pops the top off the vodka and takes a long, deep pull.

As the cleaners wrap up their eerie efficiency, Lev turns to me, something soft in his gaze that’s usually reserved for quiet moments far from danger. He takes my hands, pressing them against his chest where his heart beats a steady promise.

In that quiet gesture, the night’s madness fades for a moment, replaced by the silent strength of his presence.

Lev’s gaze is intense, almost burning a hole right through me as he blurts out, "I’m a damn fool."

I blink, taken aback by his sudden confession. "What are you talking about?"

He takes a deep breath, his voice heavy with emotion. "I came so close to losing you tonight… I can’t even think about it without feeling sick." He pauses, searching for the right words. "And here I am, having not even told you I love you, Dalia. You mean everything to me."

But then his face falls, and he looks away, a shadow of guilt passing over his features. "I failed to protect you tonight," he admits, his voice breaking slightly. He can’t even look at me, as if he's ashamed of his admission.

Then, slowly, he turns back, his eyes locking with mine, filled with a desperate kind of hope. "Can you forgive me for that? I need a chance to prove to you that I’ll move heaven and earth not just to keep you safe, but to make you feel my love for you, every single goddamn day."

His plea hangs in the air, raw and earnest.

Lev’s hand gently lands on my belly, his touch careful, full of intent. "And the baby," he whispers, sincerity lacing every word, "I’ll do anything for him or her. Just give me that chance."

As his vow sinks in, warmth floods through me, mingling with an ache that’s part relief, part love. Tears well up, because, let’s face it, how could I not melt right now? His promise to protect our future nudges my heart into overdrive.

"I love you like crazy, Lev.”

Just then, the sound of cars rolling up breaks our little bubble. I glance over Lev’s shoulder to see Elena, Yuri, and the whole gang stepping out.

They catch us right as Lev and I are in the middle of a kiss that feels like it could stop time—a kiss full of all the love and madness of our life together.

As we finally break apart, I can’t help but smirk slightly at our audience.

"Perfect timing, folks.”

My tone is light but my heart full, knowing we're surrounded by family who've got our backs, no matter what.