Chapter Thirty-One
GAbrIELLA-ROSE
I HAD BEEN BACK in the arms of the men I loved for just over two weeks, and things were just about back to normal. I had spent time with them all, individually and together. We had spent a lot of time talking about what had happened and looking forward to our future together.
I’d spent a lot of time with Gino talking through everything. I didn’t think he would ever stop blaming himself for what had happened, but at least now he was determined to stay with us. I really couldn’t have asked for more from him. He may have thought it was his fault; however, he had nearly given his own life for me.
Hudson and he had also spent their first night together alone, which none of us thought would ever happen. From what Nico and I could gather, a good time was had by both of them. However, neither of them would go into too much detail, much to Nico’s frustration. Overall, everything was wonderful. Well, it would have been if they would have stopped wrapping me up in cotton wool. I constantly had to remind them that I wasn’t ill, just pregnant. Millions of women out there were pregnant and getting along fine. I just wanted to be one of them. Having three overprotective alpha males smothering me all the time was annoying. I felt as though I couldn’t do anything without asking for permission, and it was starting to grate on my nerves.
The only time I felt as though I had a normal life was when I was at work. That was only because I had point-blankly refused to have an assistant. There wasn’t enough work for two people, and if I needed any help, I just grabbed one of the other PAs, who were always happy to give me a hand. It still didn’t mean that I was left alone. Nico and Gino were constantly turning up out of the blue to check on me.
It was a quiet Friday afternoon, as usual. Hudson didn’t have any meetings booked, and Nico was in his office talking to him about something. I had a sneaking suspicion it was something to do with Thanksgiving, as it was only a week away. But I wasn’t allowed to be involved. Why? Because pregnant women need to rest over the holidays.
I was almost pulling my hair out with boredom every evening and weekend. I had even taken up crochet to make a blanket for Munchkin just to have something to do. If it hadn’t been for Gino taking me out for walks in the park, I would probably have gone insane by now. Even then, I’d had to get Monica to contact Hudson to tell him it was good for me to walk as long as someone was with me.
Gino thought I hadn’t noticed all the extra security around us. I knew they were there, though. They had always been there even before Vincent had taken me. I just appreciated that he didn’t make it as obvious as Hudson and Nico. Whenever I went out with them, I was surrounded by men. I was sure some people thought I was some kind of A-list superstar whenever I went out.
Part of me would be glad when Munchkin was born because then my life would mean something. I would have to look after and care for my new child. Currently, I felt as though I was useless. I heard the elevator door open and expected to see Gino walking into the office. However, to my surprise, Viktor walked in.
I got up from my chair and placed a hand on my stomach. “Hey, Munchkin, look who is here to see us. It’s Dedushka Viktor.” Grandpa Victor.
A shocked look came over his face at my use of Russian. I wanted to learn a little so that my child could communicate with Viktor in his own language.
“Malyshka, what’s all this about me being Grandpa Viktor?”
I walked up to him and placed my arms around him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Viktor, you are the closest person I have that I can call a father. I want my children to have a grandfather in their lives who is close to them. I would love for it to be you, and for you to spend time with us when the baby is born. I know it will be difficult, what with you being a mafia boss, but I am sure we can work something out.”
A tear fell down his face. Hudson had already told me that his wife and daughter had both been killed and that I was around his daughter’s age. I wanted him to feel he had a second family here if he wanted one.
“Malyshka, you really do not realize how happy this makes me. Now, before this old man turns to complete mush, I need to speak to you all. Are Hudson and Nico here? I know Gino isn’t, but I’m sure you can let him know what I have to say.”
I gave him a smile and nodded. I started to walk toward Hudson’s office and knocked on the door. When Hudson said I could go in, I opened the door, and Viktor and I walked in.
“Viktor has something he needs to tell us all.”
Nico and Hudson got up from their seats and greeted Viktor. It was a regular occurrence now for Viktor to turn up unannounced. I guessed he just wanted to come and check on me, but he always came up with some excuse. This was the first time he had been here since he’d rescued me from Vincent, though. We had spoken on the phone, but that was it. I did wonder why he hadn’t been, but Nico just told me not to think about it. There were some things that I didn’t need or want to know. He suspected that this was one of those times, and I wasn’t going to argue.
“Would you like a drink, Otets?”
Viktor smiled at me again, shaking his head in disbelief. “Thank you, malyshka. I would love one.”
Both Nico and Hudson still had full glasses in front of them, so I quickly fixed Viktor’s drink and then went to sit down next to Hudson on the sofa.
“So what can we do for you today, then, Viktor? I’m sure this isn’t just a social visit to make sure we are looking after Rosa.” Nico, as usual, was the one to get right to the point.
He never messed around when it came to Viktor. I guessed because they were both mafia men, they always suspected that there was something behind a chance meeting.
Viktor chuckled to himself before he started to talk. “Well, I do like to make sure my malyshka is being treated right. However, you are correct. I do have a more important matter to speak about. Or should I say person? Vincent Forbes-Stuart.”
I shuddered at the sound of his name. Even now, it sent shivers down my spine. I thought it always would. I had received countless calls from his father over the past week, trying to find out if I had seen him or if I knew where he was. It was only when I told him that I had left him six months ago due to his constant abuse that he had finally given up calling me. I didn’t have any issues with his father, but having to tell him what his son was truly like was too much for me. I had diverted his number to Hudson’s in the end so I didn’t have to speak to him anymore.
Hudson must have seen that I felt uncomfortable hearing his name, because he pulled me into his side and pressed a kiss onto my head.
Viktor saw this and instantly apologized. “I’m sorry, malyshka. But I think it is important for you to hear this, and then his name will never leave my lips again. I can promise you that he will never bother you again. He is probably residing in hell right now for the horrors he inflicted on you, my darling. I can assure you that he is no more. I saw to it personally.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. I hoped this meant that my baby and I were finally safe. That we would no longer have to look behind our backs every time we went out.
“You may see a news report in the next couple of days, so I wanted to warn you. But he will never hurt you again, malyshka. You can live the life you deserve with the men who adore you.”
I couldn’t thank Viktor enough for what he had done. I knew that what they did was hardly ever within the law, but for me, that didn’t matter. Perhaps having an adopted daughter and grandchild might make him review his business activities. All I knew was that I wanted him in my life.
“Thank you, Otets. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
“And you can’t imagine what it means to me for you to consider me as your father, and grandpa to your unborn child. I would love to consider you as my daughter if you would allow it.”
I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to call my father. I had never known my own, or my mother, so finally having someone in my life who wanted me as his was overwhelming.
Tears started to fall from my face as I smiled at him. “I couldn’t have thought of anyone better.”
Seeing his face light up made my day. He really was a big softy at times. However, I knew there was a side to him that I would never want to see, and I hoped that I never did.
“There is just one last thing I need to mention before I go today. There is someone who would like to meet you. He wants to meet the woman who has turned a bratva boss into a big softy. He helped me to find you in Maine. I said I would speak to you all first before I made any arrangements, mainly because of who it was.”
I looked at him in confusion. Why wouldn’t I want to meet the person who helped to save me? I wanted to thank everyone who had rescued me, and I had nearly done that.
“Why wouldn’t I want to meet him?”
Before Viktor could say another word, Nico spoke. “Are you saying that TD is willing to show his face to complete strangers?”
I looked at the three men sitting here with me wondering who the hell this TD was. I knew Viktor had someone helping him, but until now, I had never known who it was. I looked at Nico, asking the unspoken question, which thankfully, he understood.
“TD is how we lovingly refer to the man known as Teneva Diable, or Shadow Devil. He never shows his face to anyone, and if he does, they are not usually alive for very long. I believe Aleksandr has known him for years, which is how Viktor knows him.”
From the way Nico was talking, I guessed this man was not a man to be messed with, and probably one of the most dangerous people I could ever meet. However, if it hadn’t been for him, then I might never have been found. If Viktor thought it was safe for me to meet him, then I would.
“If you are happy for me to meet him, then I would love to. If he prefers to keep his face covered, then I will not be offended. He needs to be as comfortable with the meeting as I am.”
“I will get Aleksandr to have a chat with him. He was going back to Russia for a while to see family, as far as I know. He only stayed here as long as he did to make sure you were found and safe. When he gets back, I’m sure we can arrange it. Now, I will say my goodbyes. As usual, you’d better look after my malyshka, because I’m sure you don’t want to see me unhappy.”
Hudson and Nico both laughed. It was the same thing every time he was here. I got up from my seat as he stood from his, then walked toward him and placed my arms around him.
He returned the hug, leaned down, and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I love you, malyshka. You look after yourself, and that little one. Grandpa Viktor wants to be one of the first to hold the little munchkin.”
With that, he said goodbye to us all and left the office.