Chapter 22 – Ravyn
My heart swelled with joy, and I'd never been more relieved. I thought this was the end of the road; I thought I was going to lose my kids because those maniacs had an ax to grind with Lev.
This was what I was afraid of five years ago—it was a part of the reason I fled after finding out I was pregnant for him. Today, my biggest fear had played out right in front of me, threatening to steal my only source of happiness.
The feeling was terrible. I couldn't think. I couldn't eat. I couldn't do anything at all but cry. My eyes were swollen with bags beneath them, and my heart ached more than it ever had in my whole life.
Breathing was a problem, as was standing on my feet, considering how weak my legs were. I wanted to blame Lev because if he hadn't dragged us back here—a city filled with his enemies—none of this would have happened in the first place.
I lived half a decade without having a problem with anyone, no scandal whatsoever. All those years, the only thing that kept me up late at night was the thought of him finding me. I dreaded ever running into him because I knew he was trouble and that nothing good would come from him being back in my life.
Today was proof that I was right. It wasn't paranoia; it wasn't any form of delusion. It was a fact. However, today also proved something to me, something a lot deeper.
When he’d found out that the kids were kidnapped, Lev didn't rest for a second. He made phone calls every minute, making sure all of his resources were put to work. Lev was hell-bent on finding them and bringing them home safe and sound.
But beyond his determination was something else—fear. I didn't think he had it in him to ever be afraid of anything. He was also in control of everything around him: people, property, and even his emotions.
While working on fixing this mess, he masked his feelings with anger and rage. But beneath the surface, I saw a man enveloped by his own guilt. Fear danced in the depths of his eyes, betraying the stoic expression he had on.
He wasn't heartless after all.
If this scandal proved anything to me, it was that Lev would do anything for his kids. He'd go as far as burning the world down if he had to. I realized he wasn't the devil I thought he was, at least not when it came to family.
He was human, just like me, and regardless of his ruthlessness, there was a part of him that still cared.
I sat on the sofa, watching my parents play with the kids, each one carrying a grandchild on their lap. Nik and Elara needed all the attention that they could get at the moment. They had been through hell and back, and I could only imagine the fear they must've suffered watching their lives flash before their eyes.
My eyes darted to Lev as he sat beside my dad, the two men talking and smiling with Nik on Dad's lap. The sight was a beautiful one to behold, and I still couldn't believe my eyes. This was the same man who had warned to stay the hell away from Lev Tarasov, that he was bad news.
Today, the two men were seated in the same room, discussing life, politics, and business. This was my parents’ first time visiting the mansion, and honestly, I was a little shocked when they called and said they were coming around.
They couldn't wait to set eyes on their grandchildren, especially after this traumatic experience. Initially, I thought Dad would have been upset when he realized that Lev was the father of my two children and that he was sort of the reason they got kidnapped in the first place. But Dad wasn't. It was almost like none of that mattered to him. His interest was more in the kids and making them happy.
“You look just like your mommy. Has anyone told you that?” Mom said, braiding Elara's blonde hair.
The little girl, comfortably seated on Mom's lap, jerked her head, her eyes shining with mirth. “Mommy looks just like you. Has anyone told you that?” A wide grin spread across her face.
Mom laughed lightly, her lips curling into a radiant smile. She met my eyes for a fleeting moment, and I mirrored her gestures, my heart light as a feather.
“Grandma, my dad's a hero,” Elara said, her adorable voice filling the room.
Voices fell silent at her announcement, heads turning in her direction. Lev and I exchanged glances, and his expression softened as Mom indulged the little girl.
“He is, isn't he?” she asked, lowering her head to look the girl in the eyes.
Elara nodded her small head in affirmation, her smile broadening, eyes crinkling at the corners. “Yes. He saved us from a bad man.”
Mom's gaze snapped toward me, then back away. “Your dad sounds like Superman.” She flashed her whites, a grin twitching at the corner of her lips.
“No,” Elara objected, her voice tiny and cute, her small fingers reaching to toil with Mom's hair. “He's more like Batman because he likes the dark.”
Lev threw a quick look my way, a glint of vulnerability flickering in his eyes. Elara turned in his direction and smiled, her tiny hands waving at him.
Lev couldn't hold back his emotions, so he expressed them with a genuine grin that made his eyes sparkle. His gaze shifted to Nik, and the boy flashed his father's signature smirk.
I may have been right about his enemies going after his kids. But he was also right about doing whatever it took to keep them safe. He'd proven today that he was capable of protecting them at any cost. Lev proved something else, too—the fact that he was capable of love.
Only a man who understood the concept of love would willingly risk everything and endanger his own life. He showed me a version of him I didn't think existed. Lev proved that he was selfless and would always put his family first.
We locked eyes once again, and this time, I felt my heart dissolve into a puddle of emotions, like sugar in hot coffee. A smile spread across my face, and a soft sigh of relief escaped my lips.
Later that evening, my parents bade us goodbye, and although the kids didn't want them to leave, they promised to come pick them up next time.
My parents’ presence had really lightened up the kids’ mood, and it was almost as though they'd forgotten all about the near-death experience. Nik and Elara were hyperactive tonight, and it was next to impossible to get them to sleep.
Lev thought it was best to let them blow off some steam. He said happiness was the natural antidote to the traumatic experience they had. It was way past their bedtime, but I guess he was right about letting them have some fun. They deserved it.
Nothing else mattered to Lev tonight, and it was as though he'd chosen to devote his time to the kids. We all lay on the couch in the living room after everyone had left. Elara's voice, dripping with enthusiasm, filled the air as she described the incident and how her dad saved them from that bad man.
She talked, and we listened, smiling and laughing as the night went by in a flash. Sleep crept into their systems at almost midnight, causing them to doze off.
Lev picked Elara in his arms, and I did the same with Nik. We carried them upstairs to their room, tucking them each in their beds. It was weird watching him sit on the side of Elara's bed, his fingers brushing her hair to the back of her ear.
If I didn't know better, I'd think he was growing soft. But he wasn't; he was just overwhelmed by the love and affection he felt for his children.
I set Nik on the bed, my knight in shining armor, my brave little soldier. With a warm smile on my face, I pulled up the blanket over his body and kissed his forehead. His lips curled into an infectious grin as he relaxed on the mattress, head resting on a comfy pillow.
“Dad,” Nik called his attention, his gaze darting across to him.
Lev lifted his head, eyes pinned on the boy. “Yeah, buddy?”
“Why did that bad man take us?” he asked, his voice calm and laced with a glint of curiosity.
My heart skipped a beat, shocked by his question, although I knew how inquisitive the kids could be at times. Lev shot a quick glance at me and rose to his feet, circling over to Nik's bed.
He lowered himself on one knee, holding the boy's gaze. “Sometimes, Nik, people do bad things because they're hurting,” he answered, his tone mild and low. “But that doesn't make it right, and bad people are usually punished.” He held his hand and added, his voice laced with conviction, “You're safe now—we all are—and I'm gonna make sure it always stays that way.”
Nik heaved a sigh, his lips curling into a smile.
“Now, go to sleep.” He ruffled his hair, his grin broadening.
I was impressed by the way he answered the boy's question. His response was perfect—it helped Nik easily process the incident without scaring him.
That was wisdom at play, and I couldn't be more proud. He tucked the boy in bed and rose to his feet. “Goodnight, buddy.”
“Goodnight, Dad,” Nik replied.
I kissed his forehead and beamed at him. “Night, sweetheart.”
He mirrored my gesture and closed his eyes, exhaling sharply.
Lev and I took turns kissing Elara's forehead, careful not to disturb her sleep. She looked so peaceful and adorable, and I was filled with gratitude that I hadn’t lost any of them today.
We headed out, turned off the lights, and shut the door behind us. Lev and I headed back downstairs and settled on a couch, each of us exhausted from the day's stress.
For a few minutes, there was radio silence between us, hidden glances passing across the two of us. I could feel his gaze lingering, but for some reason, it was like I was too shy to look at him all of a sudden.
At last, I summoned the courage to say what I had on my mind, my head turning to face him. His gaze was pinned on me, a faint smirk playing on his lips. My heart skipped a beat as we locked eyes, the world around us melting away.
“Thank you,” I said, staring at him, my voice dripping with sincerity.
“For what?” he asked, his eyes never leaving mine.
“For being true to your word,” I replied, my unease dissolving by the second. “You promised to find and return them safe and sound. And that's exactly what you did. So, thank you.” I extended my hand, my palm resting on his. “If I'm being honest, you surprised me today.” I chuckled, my eyes dropping to the floor for a fleeting moment. “I didn't think that you'd make a great dad, but now I'm starting to reconsider.”
He watched and listened to me in silence, his faint grin retained, admiration flickering in his eyes.
“You've changed over the past few days, and I gotta admit…I'm loving this version of you.” The slight pause came when I held his gaze, my eyes boring into his.
He arched his brows, his lips twitching at the corners. “You’re ‘loving’ this version of me?” He air-quoted the word.
I chuckled, my cheeks flushing as I broke eye contact. “Don't get too cocky.”
He beamed at me, a bright, genuine smile that melted my heart.
Lev edged closer, closing the distance between us, his body barely inches from mine. “You and the kids are my responsibility,” he began, his gaze unwavering. “Today, I got sloppy, and that almost turned out to be a costly mistake. But I learned.” His hand extended to mess with a loose lock of my hair. “This will never happen again—not on my watch. I promise you that.”
Yes, I believed him. I believed every word that came out of his mouth. He'd given me a reason to trust his ability to do as he said, and I found comfort in that fact.
A sense of peace washed over me, and in the silence of the moment, the atmosphere drifted to something more sensual. My heart was swelling with emotions, racing with anticipation. I stared deeply into his eyes, watching his expression soften, his head slightly leaning toward me.
Driven by passion and the emotions surging through me, I reached out and claimed his lips, my palm resting on his cheek. At first, the kiss started slowly, tongues sliding into our mouths, but as the flames burned brighter, the kiss deepened.
Breathless, we devoured each other's lips with an intense passion, his body brushing against mine. As our heads tilted in perfect sync and his hands traversed my body, I felt the connection between us deepen.
His kiss left me smitten, craving him and yearning for more. I could feel the fire ignite within me, burning with an intense fervency that threatened to consume me.
This feeling was beyond sexual; our connection ran deeper than that. And that was how I knew I was starting to fall in love with Lev Tarasov.