Ruthless Daddies (Reverse Harem Daddies)

25. Alice

25

ALICE

T he morning sun filters through the trees, casting dappled light across the clearing as we pack up to leave. Mila and Luka dart around the car, their laughter filling the crisp air. They’re in high spirits, and honestly, so am I. It’s been a perfect trip—simple, full of love and laughter. For once, it feels like nothing can touch us.

I fold one of the blankets and tuck it into the back seat. As I turn, I catch a glimpse of Sergei standing near the edge of the clearing, his hands clasped behind his back. He’s watching us, his expression unreadable. My stomach tightens involuntarily, but I shake it off. The brothers trust him—Dmitri even vouched for his loyalty once. If they trust him, then I should too.

Still, I can’t ignore the prickle of unease as I climb into the car beside Mila. She chatters excitedly about her plans for when we get home, oblivious to my quiet tension. Luka dozes off almost immediately, his head resting on Dmitri’s arm.

The car hums softly as we make our way back, the trees blurring into green streaks outside the window. Ivan looks more relaxed than usual, his sharp features softer as he glances in the rearview mirror to check on the kids.

I lean my head against the window, smiling to myself. This—this is what I wanted for them. For us. A slice of normalcy, a moment to breathe.

But then Ivan’s phone buzzes. He picks it up, his jaw tightening as he glances at the screen. “Sergei,” he says, his voice clipped.

The mood shifts instantly. Dmitri straightens in his seat, his expression darkening, while Nikolai glances back at the kids, his easy demeanor hardening. I sit up, my stomach twisting as Ivan answers.

“What is it?” he asks, his tone low and tense.

There’s a pause. Whatever Sergei says on the other end, it makes Ivan’s lips press into a thin line. “Understood,” he says finally, then ends the call. He glances at Nikolai, his voice steady but firm. “Be prepared for what we find.”

“What’s going on?” I ask, my voice trembling despite myself.

Ivan doesn’t answer. Instead, he pulls the car to the side of the road, stepping out. Nikolai and Dmitri follow him out.

I frown. I’ve no clue what’s happening. We aren’t that far from home, maybe not even a mile. Why did we stop here? Ivan’s face gave nothing away but I know something is wrong.

I twist in my seat, trying to see what’s happening, but the glare of the setting sun makes it impossible. Luka tugs on my sleeve. “Miss Alice, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, sweetheart,” I say, forcing a smile. “Everything’s fine.” But my heart pounds against my ribs, the unease spreading like a dark cloud.

When the men return, Nikolai slides into the driver’s seat. “We’re taking the kids to the city for a bit,” he says, his voice carefully neutral.

“To the city?” I echo, frowning. “Why? What’s going on?”

Nikolai doesn’t answer, his knuckles white as he grips the steering wheel.

The rest of the drive is silent. The kids are still chatting, oblivious to the tension, but my mind races. Something is up. I can feel it.

The day in the city feels like a strange, extended dream. We take Luka and Mila to their favorite spots—a toy store, an ice cream parlor, a small park tucked away from the bustling streets.

Nikolai stays close to the kids, his usual charm dialed up as he distracts them with jokes and games.

And then there’s Sergei. He lingers at a distance, his presence as solid and unsettling as ever. I catch him watching me once or twice, his expression unreadable, but I force myself to focus on the children.

We return to the estate late in the evening. The drive back is silent, the kids asleep in the back seat, Mila’s head resting on Luka’s shoulder. Sergei drives, his hands steady on the wheel, his face blank.

When we arrive, Marta takes the kids upstairs to get them ready for bed. I stay in the living room with the brothers, my unease growing by the second. Nikolai has been tight-lipped all day, his usual warmth replaced by a cold, detached expression. Dmitri stands by the window, his back to the room, while Ivan pours himself a drink, his movements deliberate.

“What’s going on?” I finally ask, unable to bear the tension any longer.

Ivan turns to me, his blue eyes meeting mine. “Vadim left us a message,” he says, his voice low and measured.

“A message?” I repeat, my heart sinking.

He nods, setting the glass down. “One of our men—Vadim left his body hanging from the gate of the estate. A warning.”

I gasp, the room spinning for a moment. “Oh my God…that’s why we…?”

Ivan nods. “So the children didn’t see it. They don’t need to see things like that.”

“He’s declared war,” Dmitri says from the window, his voice flat. “And this was just the beginning.”

I glance at Ivan, Nikolai, and Dmitri. Their faces are hard, their postures tense, and for the first time, I feel the full weight of what it means to be part of their world when death is always just around the corner.

“Why?” I ask. “Why would he do something like that?”

“He’s daring us to respond,” Ivan says.

A shiver runs down my spine, and I wrap my arms around myself. “What are you going to do?”

Nikolai lifts his head, his brown eyes meeting mine. For a moment, there’s a flicker of something vulnerable in his gaze, but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared. “What we have to,” he says quietly.

I step closer, my heart pounding. “And the children? What about Luka and Mila?”

Ivan’s jaw tightens. “They’ll be safe,” he says firmly. “That’s our priority.”

“Safe?” I echo, my voice rising. “How can you promise that when Vadim is willing to do something so—so horrific?”

“We’ll protect them,” Nikolai says, his tone softer but no less determined. “No matter what.”

I look between the three of them, my chest tightening with fear. They’re strong, yes, but Vadim isn’t just any enemy. He’s their family, Elena’s brother, someone who knows their weaknesses as well as their strengths. And now, he’s turned that knowledge into a weapon.

“I don’t understand,” I say, my voice trembling. “Why would Vadim do this? Why would he go so far?”

Dmitri exchanges a look with Ivan, his lips pressing into a thin line. “It’s complicated,” he says finally.

“Try me,” I snap, frustration bubbling to the surface. “I deserve to know what’s going on. If I’m going to stay here, if I’m going to help with the children, I need to know the truth.”

Ivan sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Vadim blames us for Elena’s death,” he says after a long pause. “He’s convinced we had something to do with it, that we didn’t protect her when we should have.”

My heart sinks. “But that’s not true, right?”

“It’s not that simple,” Nikolai says finally, his voice quiet. “Elena…she made choices that put her in danger. We tried to protect her, but—” He stops, his jaw tightening. “Vadim doesn’t see it that way. To him, we’re guilty. And he’s been waiting for an opportunity to strike.”

Dmitri snorts. We all turn to look at him. “Come on, you don’t really believe that bullshit, do you? If you ask me, Vadim had the most to gain from Elena’s death. He was named heir overnight and he got an excuse to come after us.”

“Dmitri—” Ivan warns.

“Elena’s death was not a freak accident, Ivan. I know it, and I know you know it deep down.”

I swallow hard. There might be truth to what Dmitri is saying. The messages on her phone tell me the same.

“Dmitri, don’t start that again,” Ivan says. “Vadim is a wounded animal. I know how to take him out.”

Dmitri scowls at him before walking out. Nikolai leaves after him.

I stare at Ivan for a few moments before walking up to him. “Ivan, there’s something?—”

“Go, Alice,” he says, without meeting my eyes. “This isn’t your world. Don’t get too involved in it.”

My heart aches. He doesn’t trust me, not completely. I leave without a word.

The morning light streams through the windows as I make my way down the hallway, the quiet stillness of the estate almost soothing after the events yesterday.

As I pass one of the side hallways, I hear a voice—a low, hurried whisper that makes me stop in my tracks. It’s Svetlana. She’s on the phone, her tone sharp and clipped, completely different from the sultry confidence she usually carries.

“…Yes, I know, but it’s not that simple,” she says, her words barely above a whisper. “They’re always watching. I can’t just walk around unnoticed.”

I step closer, careful to stay behind the corner, my ears straining to catch more of the conversation.

“I’m trying,” she hisses. “But Ivan is…he’s distracted. With her.”

There’s a pause, and her voice lowers even further. “No, I don’t have all the details yet. But I’ll find out. Just give me time. You’ll get what you need.”

My stomach drops. What is she talking about? Who is she reporting to?

Svetlana’s voice grows harsher. “Don’t tell me how to handle this. I did my job before perfectly, right? I got rid of her.”

A chill runs through me. What is she talking about? Elena? No, that can’t be.

“I know what I’m doing.”

Another pause. Then, almost venomously, she adds, “If it weren’t for her, none of this would be a problem.”

Her words make my blood run cold. Is she talking about me?

Before I can process it further, the floor creaks beneath my foot, and Svetlana’s head snaps up. Her eyes lock onto me, and her expression instantly shifts from guarded to furious.

She drops the phone, her fingers tightening around it as she steps toward me. “You,” she snarls, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. “Eavesdropping like the little sneak you are.”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “I wasn’t eavesdropping. I just?—”

“Don’t lie to me!” she screams, cutting me off. “You’ve been skulking around since you got here, thinking you’re so clever. You’re nothing but a nosy little bitch!”

Her voice echoes down the hallway, and I take a step back, trying to keep my composure. “I wasn’t skulking. And there’s no need to yell. You’re the one who?—”

“Oh, don’t play innocent with me!” she snaps, her voice dripping with disdain. “You think you can just waltz in here and take Ivan? Take everything? Let me tell you something, little girl.”

She steps closer, her face twisted with rage. “I was here long before Elena, and I’ll be here long after you’re gone. Do you hear me? Ivan is mine. You can’t steal him from me.”

I square my shoulders, meeting her glare with one of my own. “You’re delusional,” I say, my voice steady despite the anger boiling in my chest. “Ivan doesn’t belong to you—or anyone, for that matter. And I’m not going anywhere.”

For a moment, Svetlana just stares at me, her face contorted with fury. Then, as if unable to contain herself any longer, she screams, “You bitch!”

That’s it. I slap her, the sound resounding through the hallway. Svetlana stumbles back, her hand flying to her cheek, her eyes wide with shock.

“I’ve had enough of your nonsense,” I say. “You don’t own Ivan. And you don’t get to talk to me like that.”