Chapter 22

Chapter 21

Luka

"DéJà VI." I grunt to myself, a smirk curling my lips as I recall that day when Sophia had managed to douse me in Whiskey. What a picture she was, eyes as round as dinner plates, her lips parting in stunned silence, while the icy liquid made a mockery of my shirt.

Now she stands before me, her hands resting on my chest, and my cock hardens as I take in her appearance up close. Her eyes, wide with surprise and vulnerability, lock onto mine. Her lashes are thick and dark, framing those huge eyes in a way that is…captivating. And as for her lips…I can still remember how sweet they tasted. I tighten my grip on her waist, pulling her body even closer.

God, I want her so fucking bad.

"Thank- thank you!" Sophia tries to push me away, but I don't release her just yet, enjoying the heat of her body and the flustered look on her face.

Blyat! Feeling Sophia's plump breasts pressed against my hard chest sends a jolt of desire straight to my groin. I want those soft, full mounds in my hands again, my fingers teasing her nipples until they're hard and begging for attention. The thought of tasting her, taking her, makes my blood thrum with a carnal hunger I seem to have only with Sophia.

Fuck, this is driving me wild.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Ivankov," Svetlana interjects as the three of us stand awkwardly by the staircase.

"Lukaaaa!!" Suddenly, a high-pitched squeal breaks the tension. Yulia dashes toward us, her legs moving with remarkable speed. The sound of paws on the marble floor announces Max, the puppy, close behind her. Towering behind them, Dimitri lumbers along, carrying grocery bags, a striking contrast to the lively pair ahead of him.

"Look what we got!" Yulia exclaims with excitement as she points at the bags Dimitri is carrying. "We're gonna make pizza with Dima!"

Dimitri, doing his best to maintain his stoic expression, can't quite hide his curiosity as he sees Sophia, still in my arms. The corner of his mouth twitches ever so slightly. He shifts the weight of the grocery bags in his massive hands uncomfortably. Clearly, domesticity is not in his repertoire.

"That sounds like fun," I say, slightly annoyed as Sophia finally manages to wriggle free from me. She brushes herself off and takes a step back, giving me a quick, apologetic smile.

"Yes—" Yulia stops mid-sentence, her breath and movements coming to a complete standstill. She brings her hands together in front of her, her mouth falling open in a wide "O" as she looks at Sophia curiously. "Are you an angel?" She tilts her head slightly, and her gaze roams up and down Sophia's body. She looks fascinated. I can't blame her. I've been staring too.

"I- I am Sophia, your new nanny," Sophia takes a deep breath, glancing nervously from Yulia to Max and to Dimitri.

"New nanny?" Dimitri's deep voice spills into the room, making Sophia jump. He looks curiously from Yulia to Sophia. There's something about his attention that's different – a glint of recognition.

Sophia subtly tucks her hair behind her ear, ducking her head to avoid his stare. It's almost as if she hopes the simple act will allow her to avoid eye contact.

What was that about?

Suddenly, Yulia's voice rings out like a bell, "So, are you gonna be Luka's new wife, too?" Her eyes are shining as if she's just solved the most amazing mystery.

This kid has zero filters.

Sophia's cheeks flush a deep shade of red. I watch her as she stammers, trying to find the right words.

"Oh, no, Yulia, I'm just here to be your nanny, not…not Luka's wife."

I can't hide my amusement, and I don't bother to. I chuckle under my breath. Yulia looks back and forth between us, disappointment flickering across her face.

"But you two would be just like Belle and the Beast!" Yulia insists eagerly. "You look like Belle from Beauty and the Beast!" Yulia exclaims, clapping her hands with glee. "And Luka is the Beast!"

"I guess that makes me a very handsome beast, then." I can't help but laugh at her comparison, though I'm not thrilled about being compared to a Disney character.

Dimitri finally lets out a low laugh, his stoic facade cracking just a little as he watches the scene unfold.

Fucker!

"Alright, alright," I concede, "Let's get started on making pizza, huh? We can discuss my love life another time."

"Yippee!" Yulia's enthusiasm for pizza-making quickly overshadows her matchmaking attempts.

Thank fuck.

"Miss Williams, it's time to freshen up and see you to your room," Svetlana commands, her tone brooking no argument. She looks over at Yulia, her voice growing respectful but still firm. "Miss Ivankov, Miss Sophia will be preparing for the pizza-making. She'll join you shortly."

Sophia shifts uncomfortably under the stern scrutiny of Svetlana. She turns to Yulia, forcing a smile. "Don't worry, Yulia, we're going to make the yummiest pizza when I get back."

"Okay." Yulia pouts. Disappointed, but not enough to kick up a fuss.

The elevator dings, and Erik steps out. I glance at him, my jaw tightening with the understanding of what his arrival means. The faint traces of ruthlessness in his eyes, the steely resolve now melting into casual indifference – all telltale signs of a job just finished in the basement.

His gaze sweeps across the scene, landing on Sophia, who's still standing awkwardly on the stairs. A brow lifts in amusement, his lips twitching at the corners.

"What's the big fuss here?" He grins, eyeing Yulia affectionately.

"Just a little getting-to-know-you session," I say, my own grin mirroring his. "We're all making pizza tonight. Want in?"

"I never say no to pizza." His eyes light up.

He bends down, sweeping Yulia into his arms, and she squeals with delight. Even the damn dog wants in on the action, leaping up and yipping for attention. Erik scoops him up, too, balancing the girl and the pup like a seasoned pro.

"Meet Sophia, Erik! She's my new nanny!" Yulia is bubbling with excitement.

"Hey, I'm Erik. Nice to meet you." Erik flashes Sophia a smile and a wink.

Fucker! Don't wink at her.

She's mine!

Fuck. That thought came out of the blue. I feel my brow furrow, but school my expression before anyone notices.

"Ni-nice to meet you too, Erik." Sophia looks completely out of her depth.

"And you know what? She's Bella, and Luka is the Beast!" Yulia sings, her face shining with the innocence that only a child could have.

"Oh, is that so?" Erik bursts into laughter, the sound echoing in the large room. "Nice to meet you, Bella. Watch out for our beast here." He throws a pointed look at me before turning to Sophia. He winks at her again.

Fucker!

In the background, Dimitri snorts, disappearing into the kitchen with a shake of his head.

"Svoloch," the word slips out, a low grumble. Erik, that damn tease, always knows how to get under my skin. But even as I seethe, there's a strange warmth that unfurls within me. I am…content.

Sophia's eyes catch mine, a hint of something I can't quite place flickering there. It's as if she's seeing me in a new light as she takes in the strange camaraderie that exists in our little mafia family. I smirk at her, enjoying her bewilderment.

Life in the mafia isn't a fairytale, that's for sure. But it isn't all doom and gloom either. Dimitri and Erik have been Yulia's guardians since she was three, ever since I was locked up.

Locked up…

The sudden reminder gnaws at me. A savage urge to kill Aleks for ripping me away from Yulia burns in the back of my mind.

But for now, the scene before me is a reminder that life in the mafia isn't all blood and bullets.

I have a family – as dysfunctional as it may seem.

Chapter 22

Luka

"ALRIGHT MALYSHKA, ready to knead some dough?" I ask, my voice gentler than usual, reserved just for my little sister.

Her face lights up with a wide grin, her small hands already reaching for the mound of dough on the table. "Yes! I'm going to make the best pizza you've ever had!"

I chuckle, ruffling her hair affectionately. "I have no doubt about that, Yulia."

Dimitri moves closer, immediately scowling at the doughy chaos in front of us. "Oh, what a disaster. You're doing it all wrong." He strides over and nudges Yulia aside.

"Hey!" Yulia is indignant, but she watches closely as Dimitri expertly kneads the dough, her nose crinkling in concentration.

Erik has taken over pizza prep duties. Intensely focused, he looks like he's defusing a bomb instead of chopping vegetables. But his concentration is constantly disrupted by the bounding little dog.

"Max, no!" Erik laughs as the puppy makes a successful grab for the corner of his apron and bolts across the kitchen. "That's not a chew toy, sobaka!"

The room fills with laughter at the sight of Erik, the feared mafia enforcer, playing tug-of-war with a puppy. The tough guy act slips away, and it's just Erik – a big brother, an uncle, one of us.

"Stars have points, Yulia. Points! How are we going to cut that evenly?" Dimitri argues, his face a picture of exaggerated despair.

"But Dima," Yulia retorts, her little hands on her hips, "you can just slice them from the points like a pie. Easy-peasy!"

Caught off guard by her logic, Dimitri blinks at her, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

I laugh at the scene just as the kitchen door swings open. Anticipation surges, and…nothing.

Yet another fucking server marches in, armed with a bucket of fresh mozzarella instead of the woman I'm impatiently waiting for. My chest deflates a little. "Blyat," I grumble, the curse barely audible.

Why the hell is she taking so long?

And why the fuck do I care?