Chapter 62
NIKOLAI
Kicking my feet up on the coffee table, my hands rest behind my head as Elena cuddles into me, watching the TV.
“Elena, sweetie. Do you want to come and help me pick out an outfit for the baby shower?” Mila calls down the stairs.
Elena sits up with a beaming smile. I love seeing her do all of this stuff I never could do properly for her, even though I tried. She needs a mom and Mila is perfect for her.
I never imagined my life as a widowed father, let alone finding another woman.
I can never bring her mom back, as much as that kills me, I know I have to look to the future.
I’ve seen firsthand with Jax what grief can do if you stay in that cycle.
“Are you not going to help Mila?” I ask as Elena still sits next to me, chewing on her lip. The same thing her mom used to do when she was deep in thought.
“Princess, tell me what’s on your mind, daddy will fix it.”
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.
“Daddy, is Mila staying? You know, for good?”
I frown, wondering why she is asking and wrap my arm around her shoulder.
“Yes. She’s not leaving us. Why do you ask?”
“It’s just, she left us before, and you were really sad. I don’t want her to go again. I love her. It’s like I have a mom again.”
Fuck. My heart.
She needs stability.
“I’m sorry you were upset before. I’m sorry I left too.”
She shakes her head.
“You brought her home, I’m happy.”
I smile at her but deep down, this hurts. Knowing, even by accident you made your child upset, when all you live for is to see them smile.
“I promise, I will do everything in my power to keep you that way. Deal?”
She taps on her chin, as if to debate my statement.
I bet she learned that from Alexei.
“I think you should marry her.”
My eyes go wide and my heart almost skips a beat. It’s not something before Mila I had ever considered.
Except now, I’d do anything to keep her. To officially make her one of us, a Volkov. And bring more children into the world to love.
Maybe Elena is right.
“Now?”
“What do you mean, daddy?”
“I can ask her.”
I tug at the collar of my shirt.
“But, do you have a ring?”
I know Mila won’t want anything flashy, it isn’t her. She would rather I carve her name into my thigh next to the stab wound.
I’m prepared, but Elena doesn’t know that.
Looking at the purple ribbon tied in a bow around Elena’s pigtails, I pull one of them.
“Hey!” she exclaims as I take it between my fingers.
“I’ll use this.”
I wish I had a picture of the elation on her face right now.
“You’re asking her right now?” She claps and squeals excitedly.
“Shh, we need to surprise her.”
Pushing myself up off the couch, she holds my hand and I guide us up the stairs.
“Finally! I was starting to think you didn’t want to help me.” Mila says as I open up the door to our bedroom.
She turns to face me with a beautiful smile, but then raises an eyebrow.
“Why do you both look guilty?”
She steps toward us, pulling her black robe tighter.
God, I can’t wait to rip that off of her.
Fiddling with the ribbon in my hands, Elena tugs on my other.
“Daddy has something to ask you, Mila.”
“The last time you two came up with a plan it involved asking me out on a date.” She taps her chin.
Ahh. That’s where Elena got it from.
Mila looks between me and Elena.
“Are you going to tell me, princesochka?”
Mila rushes over, picking Elena up into her arms and tickling her. Elena’s hysterical giggles fill the room and I take my opportunity.
This is the life I will fight to the death for.
They are mine to love and protect, forever.