79. Chapter 79

79

Wren

" M omma?""Momma!!"

Waking up's a bitch. Especially when the bed's this damn soft, and my body feels like I've been run over by a truck.

I peel my cheek off the pillow, feeling the gross trail of drool that's probably left a permanent mark on this fancy-ass silk.

"Ugh… What time is it?" I mumble, trying to sit up but immediately regretting it as every muscle in my body screams in protest.

"It's wake o'cwock now."

I blink, trying to adjust to the grogginess, and there he is. My baby boy. Standing by the bed, clutching a stuffed bear with one hand, looking up at me with those huge, innocent blue eyes. His hair's a wild mess, sticking up in every direction, like he's been through the same battle I just barely survived.

My gaze falls to his neck, and my stomach turns. The bandage is stark white against his skin, covering where that bitch Elena's knife cut him. Slowly, carefully, I reach out and touch the edge of the bandage. My fingers are trembling, and I can feel the rage bubbling up inside me, mixed with a gut-wrenching fear. He was so close to— No. I can't even think it.

"Momma, are you okay?"

His brow furrows in that serious little way he does, just like D. Like he's trying to solve a problem only he can see.

I force a weak smile, but the ache in my chest is real. Everything feels heavy. "Yeah, baby. Momma's just… tired."

He nods, that little head bobbing up and down, like he's thinking through it all.

I swallow hard, forcing a smile. "How about you? Does your neck hurt?"

His little chin lifts, a determined look crossing his face. "Yes. But I'm bwave … just like you, Momma," he says, his voice steady despite the slight tremor in his bottom lip.

Something inside me breaks and mends all at once. Fuck, this kid.

"Damn right, you are," I reply, patting the bed. "Come on up here with me, kid. I could use a hug."

His tiny hands clutch the edge of the bed as he clambers up, determined to sit beside me. He crawls over, sitting close, like he's guarding me now. I feel his small hands on top of my head, patting me gently, like I'm a fragile thing that needs protecting.

"You make the bad woman sweep, Momma."

Elena .

That bitch deserved every fucking bit of what she got, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. But knowing my boy was there to see the whole goddamn massacre? That's a whole new level of fuckup.

I close my eyes for a second, my throat tight, and reach out, pulling him closer.

He's so small.

Too small for this.

"Yeah… yeah, I did," I say quietly, my voice catching in my throat. "She was gonna hurt you. Hurt us. I had to stop her."

His eyes meet mine, wide and serious, like he's trying to understand something too big for him. "But you made her sweep fowever ?" he asks, his voice soft but steady.

I glance at Lenny, standing by the door. He shifts uncomfortably, running a hand through his hair. His jaw tightens, and for a moment, we're both lost. He knows I can't lie to Alex. Not about this.

Lenny steps forward, trying to help without making it worse. "Hey, buddy," he says, kneeling down next to the bed, his voice low and calm. "Sometimes bad people try to hurt the people we love. Your mom… she did what she had to do, okay? To keep you safe."

He nods again, but I see the confusion in his eyes. His little hand reaches up, touching my cheek. "Momma, you not gonna sleep fowevah ?"

My heart twists. I shake my head, pulling him closer, pressing a kiss to his head. "No, baby. I'm not going anywhere."

His grip tightens on my shirt. I run my fingers through his messy hair, trying to keep my hands from shaking. "Momma's always going to protect you, baby. Always."

Holding my boy close, I can smell the faint baby scent still lingering on him—that sweet, comforting smell that I never want to let go of. His little warm palm rests in mine, and I lean in, pressing a kiss to his soft cheek. His skin's still warm from sleep, and for a moment, everything else fades away.

"Momma." Alex looks between me and Lenny, his lips pressed together in that serious way he gets when he's really thinking about something. He squeezes his stuffed bear a little tighter, his tiny fingers clutching it like it's his anchor.

Then he says it, his voice soft but clear. "And… the big man ." He pauses, glancing up at me with those wide, worried eyes. "Is he… sleeping fowevah too?"

My heart clenches. He's talking about D. I pull him closer, my eyes falling on the bandage on his neck. The sight of it makes my blood boil all over again.

"You're so brave, my little warrior," I murmur, kissing the top of his head. "And you know what? The big man is brave, too. He's not sleeping forever, love. He's safe, he is strong, and…" I pause, swallowing hard. "You'll see him soon."

" Weally ?" Alex's eyebrows shoot up, his face lighting up with hope. "I'll bwing Mr. Bear wif me; we want to say fank you." He hugs his stuffed bear tighter. "Big man kept us safe from loud noises, wight Momma?"

Christ, my heart feels like it's being squeezed in a vice. I nod, forcing a smile. "That's right, baby. He kept you safe."

"Is he hurted, too?" Alex asks, his little brow furrowing with concern. " Maybe, Mr. Bear make better. Make o uchies better."

I blink back tears, amazed at my kid's big heart. "That's very sweet of you, Alex. I'm sure the big man would love that."

"We go see him now?" Alex asks, already trying to scramble off the bed, Mr. Bear clutched firmly in his arms.

I gently pull him back, chuckling despite the lump in my throat. "Not just yet, Lexi Bear. The big man needs to rest first. But soon, okay?"

Lenny shifts his weight, opening his mouth like he's about to say something comforting to Alex. But before he can get a word out, a burst of high-pitched laughter erupts from somewhere down the hall, followed by the pitter-patter of tiny feet. The sound grows louder, a whirlwind of giggles and shuffling steps coming our way.

Lenny raises an eyebrow at me. "Guess I forgot to mention… Alex met Niko and Natalya earlier this morning."

"Ah, shit," I mutter under my breath. Niko and Natalya. Soph's kids. The ones I've never met because I've been too busy running from my own fucked-up life. A twist of guilt knots in my stomach. Here I am, crashing back into Sophia's world, and I don't even know what her children look like. Some best friend I am.

I watch my brother shaking his head with a chuckle. "They've been tearing the place up all morning. You wouldn't believe how fast they became best friends."

"Great," I mutter, but there's a warmth spreading through me, seeing Alex smile again.

"Oh, and," Lenny lowers his voice, "Em is finally eating. I think you should go see her. And as for Dad… he's doing okay."

Before I can spiral into more fucking thoughts, Alex's head whips toward the door. His little face lights up with excitement at the sound of his new friends.

"Niko!" he shouts, his voice full of energy. " Dey hewe , Momma!"

Just as I'm rubbing the sleep from my eyes, clearing away the crusty gunk, I run my fingers through my tangled hair, making a weak attempt to look less like I've been through a hurricane. And then, a blur of dark curls comes barreling into the room, nearly taking out Lenny's legs. Niko skids to a stop, his eyes wide and bright, darting between me and Alex.

"Whoa there, speed demon," Lenny chuckles, ruffling Niko's hair.

The kid's a fucking mini-Luka, I swear. Same intense stare, same confident stance. But those eyes—they're all Sophia. Bright green, sparkling with mischief and curiosity. It's like looking at a perfect blend of them both, and it hits me hard how much I've missed.

"Alex!" Niko shouts, bouncing on his toes. "Come on, we found a secret place!"

Alex glances back at me, his little face torn between sticking with me and running off to play with his new friends. "Can I go, Momma? But I wanna come back. Promise."

I smile at him, pressing my forehead against his. "Of course, baby. I'll be right here when you come back."

He beams, scrambling off the bed. As he reaches Niko, a small figure peeks around the doorframe. Natalya. She's all Luka, those piercing blue eyes taking everything in. But there's a seriousness to her that's pure Luka.

"Hi," she says softly, her eyes landing on me. She's clutching a stuffed unicorn like it's her lifeline.

"Hey there," I rasp, my voice still rough from sleep.

Natalya steps into the room, her movements careful and deliberate. She positions herself slightly in front of Niko, like she's ready to protect him if needed. Smart kid.

"Are you Alex's mommy?" she asks, her voice quiet but steady.

I nod, not trusting my voice. Fuck, I'm not ready for this. For any of it.

Natalya studies me for a moment, then turns to Alex. "We can show you our hideout," she says. "But you have to promise not to tell anyone else."

Alex nods solemnly. "I pwomise. "

Niko grabs Alex's hand, already tugging him toward the door. "Come on, come on!"

As they start to leave, a woman's voice calls out from the hallway. "And just where do you think you're going, my little troublemakers?"

The woman appears in the doorway, her salt-and-pepper hair pulled back in a neat bun. She's got laugh lines around her eyes, but there's a sharpness there, too.

"We're just playing, Nana Marina," Niko says, flashing a charming grin that's way too fucking smooth for a kid his age.

Marina raises an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping over the kids before landing on me.

"Hi, I'm Marina, and you must be Wren," she says, her accent softening the edges of her words. "I hope these little monsters aren't bothering you."

I shake my head, trying to sit up straighter. "Nah, they're fine."

Lenny clears his throat, drawing our attention. "Well, I should probably go check on Em," he says, his eyes flicking between Marina and me. "Make sure she's eating and all that."

I nod, grateful for the update on Em but also feeling a twinge of anxiety at the thought of being left alone with these strangers. Lenny must catch something in my expression because he adds, "I'll be back later, alright? Try to rest up."

As Lenny heads for the door, Marina turns back to the kids. "Alright, you three. You can play, but stay where I can hear you. And no more climbing on the bookshelves, Nikolai."

Niko has the decency to look sheepish for about half a second before he's grinning again. "Yes, Nana Marina!"

As the kids scamper off, their laughter echoing down the hallway, Marina steps further into the room. Her eyes are kind, but there's a wariness there, too. She's seen some shit, that's for sure.

"It's good to finally meet you," she says, her voice warm but measured. "Sophia's told me so much about you."

I snort, running a hand through my tangled hair. "Yeah, I bet."

Marina's lips twitch in a small smile. "All good things, I assure you. Well, mostly good."

There's a crash from somewhere down the hall, followed by a chorus of giggles. Marina sighs, shaking her head.

"Duty calls," she says, already turning toward the door. "Try to rest, dear. You look like you could use it."

I give a tired smile, watching Marina disappear around the corner, the kids' laughter filling the hallway. For a second, everything feels… normal. Safe , even.