Chapter 5 #4
I should probably go and leave them alone, but I don’t. Instead, I wait until they notice me and then walk over to join them. I nod at the man who used to be my trainer and is now my brother-in-law and then look down at my little sister.
“You okay?” I ask her.
She looks okay, but Mia’s the kind of person who really hates to show weakness, so I’ve learned to never assume with her.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she asks, and because this is turning into one of those social situations that will forever elude me, I just say what’s on my mind because that’s the kind of relationship we have.
“Because you got stabbed in the stomach and can’t have kids.”
“Jesus Christ, Sasha,” Dario mutters from beside me.
Mia grins up at her husband. “This is him being concerned, you know that.”
Dario looks over at me, and I grin while he says, “And that’s exactly why he doesn’t have a knife sticking out of his body right now.”
My smile grows at his threat, because we’ve been through this before.
He and I have an understanding. We both know I’d be the last one standing, but Dario would definitely give me a run for my money.
Lucky for the both of us that we’d prefer the other to stay alive.
He still likes to occasionally give me hell, especially if Mia is involved.
His sense of self-preservation goes out the door anytime she’s involved.
“I’m fine,” Mia says, breaking into the staring match between me and her husband. “Being here isn’t making me sad. I’m thrilled for Val and Yel, and I can’t wait to hold their little girl, so both of you stop worrying about me.”
“Never going to happen, amore mio,” Dario says before leaning down to kiss her.
Dario is the only man on the planet who could get away with showing her so much affection, but instead of punching him in the nuts like she’d do to anyone else who tried to baby her, she threads her fingers through his and starts to lead him towards the nursery.
“Come on, you two. It’s time to meet our newest niece.”
I tag along behind the two of them and stand at the large nursery window with the rest of our family. Val looks ridiculously proud when he points his daughter out to us. She’s cute, a tiny little newborn with a head full of black hair and eyes as dark as her mom’s.
“She’s a cute little thing,” my dad says, coming to stand beside me as the others start to visit Yel in small groups.
“She is,” I say in agreement.
I can feel my dad staring at me, and when I turn my head, he makes no attempt to hide it. “What?” I ask, wondering why the hell he’s looking at me so intently. My first thought is of Cyn, but there’s no way he knows about her.
The others are far enough away to not hear him when he says, “Don’t think you can’t have this one day, Sasha.”
I cross my arms over my chest and look at him like he’s lost his goddamn mind. “Why are you saying this right now?”
“Because we’ve never talked about the possibility of you being a dad one day.” He shrugs and looks back at the nursery. It’s empty at the moment, all the newborns back with their mothers, but the image of Val’s daughter is still fresh in both our minds.
“I’m not so sure that’s a good idea,” I finally say to break the silence.
“Just because you have certain urges doesn’t mean your children will too.” He puts his attention back on me and adds, “I won’t bug you about it. I just wanted you to know that I think you could have a family one day. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I don’t know. I think Chort likes being an only child.”
My dad grins and squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t ever let that dog near a baby.”
“He can be a real sweetheart,” I say, remembering how good he is with Cyn and feeling the need to defend him.
“Sure he can,” my dad says with a laugh.
A few minutes later, it’s our turn in the room, and when Val and Yel’s baby is put in my arms, I try not to think about what my dad’s said.
I’ve never once thought about kids, about the possibility of having one, because I never had any interest in sex and I especially never had any interest in spending my life with someone, but now I’ve got a sore dick because Cyn’s name is inked on it and a beautiful redhead that I can’t get out of my head.
Pushing the thoughts aside, I ask, “So what’s her name?”
Yel smiles at us and says, “Her name is Veya.”
My Uncle Vitaly jumps in and says, “Isn’t that sweet? It’s a mix of Matvey and Alina.” He gives his daughter a very pointed look. “Yel named her baby after her parents. You better have another baby real quick and name them after your mom and me or we’re going to be real offended.”
“No, we will not,” my Aunt Katya quickly says, making my uncle laugh and wrap his arm around her so he can cover her mouth.
“She meant to say that she thinks Kataly has a nice ring to it,” he says.
Sveta laughs and looks at her husband while she says, “For sure, Dad. Vitya and I will get right on that.”
“Vitya is a mix of Vitaly and Katya,” I say, making everyone laugh.
My uncle drops his hand from his wife’s mouth so she can freely laugh. He looks at me and says, “Good god, you’re right.”
“That’s really sweet,” my dad says, grinning his ass off at his brother. “It’s like it was meant to be.”
My Uncle Vitaly smiles back. “At least he’s Russian.”
“Fucker,” my dad mutters while I look down at the tiny baby in my arms. She looks so small and fragile and way too innocent for someone like me to be holding, but instead of being scared, her brown eyes look up at me, alert and curious, but not a trace of fear in them.
I watch her for a few more minutes before putting her back in my cousin’s arms. “She’s beautiful, Yel,” I tell her, running my fingers over her soft hair before letting her go.
Yel runs her finger over her daughter’s cheek. “She is. She’s so perfect.”
Val’s gaze is on his wife and daughter, and it’s such an intimate moment that I feel the need to leave.
I say goodbye to everyone and get my ass out of the hospital.
There are too many things racing through my mind right now, and I don’t know what to do about any of them.
I feel out of balance, and the only thing I want is to see Cyn again.
Checking my phone, I stare down at the image of her dark dorm room.
Perfect, she’s already asleep. My little Cyn doesn’t know it, but she’s about to get another late-night visit from me.