Chapter 54

Victor

I WATCHLaura as she sleeps, her chest rising and falling with each breath.

The afternoon sunlight filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow over her skin. She’s so beautiful like this, her hair fanned out across the pillow, her lips slightly parted.

I lie there beside her, my arm thrown around her, soaking up the heat from her skin. After the intense passion we just shared, having her this close quiets the usual storm inside me.

Love.

It used to make me want to run for the hills, but not anymore. Now, it feels like the only thing worth holding onto in this fucked up life.

It’s surreal thinking about how we got here.

If that mudak Dave hadn’t stolen from us, Laura and I might never have crossed paths.

Part of me wishes I’d put a bullet in him when I had the chance, but Laura wanted to let him live. Last I heard, he’d hightailed it to Vietnam.

Good riddance.

Laura shifts in her sleep, letting out a cute little sneeze.

I can’t help but smirk. It’s getting warmer out, but the spring chill hasn’t quite let go yet. I pull the blanket up higher around her, tucking her in close to me.

Her eyes flutter open, and she catches me staring. A sleepy smile spreads across her face.

“Were you watching me sleep?”

I shrug, not even a little bit sorry. “What can I say? I like the view.”

She snorts, shaking her head. “Creeper.”

“Just making sure you’re real.”

I lean down, kissing her forehead, her lips, the scar on her shoulder where she took a bullet for Eli. My woman’s got more guts than most men I know.

“That’s creeper talk, too,” she says.

“You love it,” I tease, trailing my lips down to her stomach. I linger there, thinking about our kid, our son, growing bigger every day.

“He’s going to be a handful if he’s anything like you,” Laura jokes, running her fingers through my hair.

I look up at her, dead serious. “I’m going to do right by him, Laura. By both of you. I promise.”

She smiles, her eyes going soft. “I know you will, Victor. You already are.”

I pull her close, burying my face in her hair.

With Laura and our kid, I feel like I can handle whatever life throws at us. Like we’re untouchable as long as we’ve got each other.

But there’s a part of me that’s scared shitless. I’ve never been a father before. Hell, I never thought I’d live long enough to have the chance.

“What if I’m no good at it?” I murmur into her skin, voicing the fear that’s been eating at me. “Being a dad. What if I fuck it up?”

Laura pulls back, cupping my face in her hands. Her eyes are soft, understanding. “Oh, Victor. You’re going to be amazing. You know how I know?”

I shake my head, feeling raw and exposed.

“Because of how much you love,” she says simply. “How deeply, how fiercely. Our son is so lucky to have you.”

I swallow hard, blinking back the burning in my eyes. “I’m going to make mistakes,” I warn her. “I’m going to let you down. But I swear, Laura, I’ll never stop trying. I’ll never stop fighting for you, for our family.”

She smiles, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. “That’s all I ask, lyubov moya. Just don’t give up on us.”

I nod, resting my forehead against hers. “Never,” I vow. “You’re stuck with me now, zhena. For better or worse.”

She laughs, the sound bright and warm. “I think I can live with that.”

We stay like that for a long moment, just holding each other, breathing each other in. But then a loud rumble breaks the silence.

I pull back, looking down at Laura’s stomach in surprise. She flushes, covering her face with her hands.

“Oh, my God,” she groans, embarrassed. “I think your son is demanding sustenance.”

I grin, delighted. “Kid’s got a healthy appetite. Wonder where he gets that from.”

She peeks at me from between her fingers. “Well, he is half Morozov. I’ve seen you put away a steak.”

I chuckle, dropping a kiss on her belly. “Hear that, little man? Your mama thinks you take after me.”

Another fierce growl from Laura’s stomach. I pat her bump affectionately. “Alright, malysh, we get the message. Time to feed you and Mama before you stage a revolt.”

Laura starts to sit up, but I stop her with a hand on her shoulder. “Nuh-uh, dorogaya. You stay put. I’ve got this.”

She raises an eyebrow as I climb off the bed and head for the dresser. “Victor Morozov, are you going to dress me up?”

I shoot her a wink over my shoulder. “You bet your sweet ass I am.”

I grab one of my T-shirts from the drawer, the soft fabric dwarfing her frame as I help her slip it on. The sight of her in my clothes, her belly rounding with my child… it does things to me. Makes my heart feel too big for my chest.

She notices my heated gaze and smirks. “Later, mister. Feed us first, ravish me after.”

I steal a quick, hard kiss before scooping her up into my arms, relishing her squeal of laughter as I carry her out of the bedroom.

A couple of maids see us in the hallway and titter behind their hands. Laura flushes, smacking my chest.

“Put me down, you caveman,” she hisses. “I can walk, you know.”

I grin, completely unrepentant. “Nope. Precious cargo gets the VIP treatment.”

She rolls her eyes, but I can feel her smiling against my neck as I carry her to the kitchen.

I set Laura gently down on a stool by the kitchen island. “Sit,” I command in a mock-stern tone, drawing a quick, playful glare from her.

“I can’t believe how quiet the house is,” she remarks. “It’s never this empty.”

I nod, opening the fridge to scan the contents. “Ksenia took the kids on that safari trip, remember? Tanzania, I think. After they enrolled Yuri in the zoology program in California.”

Laura’s smile widens. “I still can’t believe she’s doing that. A whole month, just her and Eli and Yuri. It’s so unlike her.”

I shrug, pulling out eggs, cheese, veggies. “A lot’s changed, lyubov moya. Ksenia most of all.” I glance at her, my expression serious. “She loves you, you know. In her own way. Taking that bullet for Eli… it meant everything to her.”

Laura ducks her head, her cheeks pinking. “I was just doing what I had to. What anyone would have done.”

I cross to her, tipping her chin up to meet my gaze. “No, Laura. Not anyone. You’re special. Ksenia sees that now.” I brush a thumb over her cheekbone. “Just like I always have.”

She turns her face into my palm, kissing the center. “She’s not the only one who’s changed,” she murmurs. “Yuri’s like a different kid. So excited about college, about the future. And your father… I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile so much.”

I nod, warmth blooming in my chest. “It’s because of you, solnyshko. You brought light back into this family.”

Her stomach chooses that moment to let out another ferocious growl. She laughs, patting her belly. “Apparently, your son would like some of that light in the form of food, please.”

I grin, stepping back and whipping a dish towel over my shoulder with a flourish. “One gourmet brunch coming right up.”

She props her elbows on the counter, resting her chin in her hands. “Gourmet, huh? Color me intrigued.”

I wink at her, pulling a pan out of the cupboard. “Prepare to be dazzled, zhena.”

I set to work, chopping and whisking and sautéing. Laura watches me, her gaze warm and appreciative.

“It smells amazing,” she says after a few minutes, sniffing the air. “What is it?”

“Frittata,” I answer, sliding the egg mixture into the hot pan. “With spinach, mushrooms, and goat cheese.”

Her eyes widen. “Wow. I’m impressed.”

I shrug, trying to play it cool even as I preen a little under her praise. “It’s not that fancy. Just something I picked up from the chef.”

She shakes her head, smiling. “Don’t do that. Don’t downplay it.” She reaches across the island, catching my hand and squeezing. “I love seeing this side of you. The side that takes care of me, of us.”

I raise her hand to my lips, kissing her knuckles. “Get used to it, lyubov. You’re going to be seeing a lot more of it.”

I slide the frittata onto a plate, adding a sprinkle of fresh herbs and a drizzle of truffle oil. I set it in front of Laura with a flourish, along with a fork and napkin.

“Madam,” I say grandly. “Your brunch awaits.”

She giggles, picking up the fork. “Why, thank you, kind sir.”

She takes a bite, her eyes fluttering closed as she moans around the mouthful. I shift on my feet, my jeans suddenly a little too tight.

“Good?” I ask, my voice coming out a little rough.

Her eyes blink open, dark and heated as they lock with mine. “Very,” she purrs, licking a stray bit of cheese from her lip.

I lean across the counter, close enough to feel her breath on my face. “I can think of something else you might like in your mouth,” I murmur, thrilling at her small gasp.

She chuckles, swatting my hand away playfully. “Victor, I’m eating.”

A sneaky grin crosses my face.

Ignoring me, she takes another bite, savoring the flavors. But as she swallows, a small cough escapes her, a fleck of cheese clinging to her lower lip.

I reach out, my thumb gently swiping the morsel from her soft skin. Her lashes flutter at the contact, her lips parting on a breathy sigh.

Unable to resist, I angle in, my tongue darting out to lick the spot my thumb just touched. She tastes like cheese and herbs and something uniquely Laura.

It’s intoxicating.

“Mm,” I murmur, nuzzling my nose against hers. “Delicious.”

She laughs softly, her breath mingling with mine. “The frittata or me?”

“Both,” I answer honestly. “But you’re sweeter.”

She hums, tilting her head to brush her lips teasingly against mine. “Flatterer.”

I grin, nipping playfully at her bottom lip. “Just stating facts, lyubov moya.”

I kiss her then, slow and deep, pouring all my love, all my devotion into the press of my mouth on hers. She sighs into the kiss, her fingers sliding into my hair, anchoring me to her.

In this moment, in the warm sunlight of our kitchen, the scent of herbs and coffee in the air, the faint strains of a balalaika drifting from somewhere in the house, I feel a sense of peace wash over me. A rightness, bone-deep, and soul-settling.

This. This is what I’ve been fighting for, bleeding for all these years.

This woman, this child, this love.

My family. My home.

My everything.