Chapter 29 - Wyatt
Throughout my time of operating in secret, I never thought I’d be allowed this kind of thing again. I never thought something as simple as dinner with Elena’s family would be possible.
We’re tucked in a private room at one of Roman’s preferred restaurants, apparently.
The lighting is low, the dark hardwood surrounding us somehow feels homier than other places, and despite being obviously luxurious, it isn’t suffocating.
This is safe, neutral ground, and the kind of place where everyone can breathe a little easier.
Elena’s beside me, close enough that her thigh brushes mine under the table in a quiet sort of reminder that she’s here because she chose to be, and she wants me here all the same.
Every time I look at her, disbelief follows me, as it still hasn’t fully settled in my chest yet.
Despite having every opportunity to, she hasn’t run away from me, or from this.
Instead, she has brought me into the fold, enmeshing me with her family.
After losing mine, I managed to gain another, against all odds.
Roman sits at the head of the table, as expected, composed yet a bit looser than I’ve ever seen him. It helps that his wife, Victoria, is nearby, bringing up various topics that make his eyes gleam with interest, proving even a man like himself can be warmed by the right person.
Lily is next to Mikhail while he balances Anya in his lap since she refused to stay in her own seat with the other children, and neither of them is willing to deny her.
They both smile and chuckle quietly at the little one’s antics, and every so often, Lily glances at me, both like she’s confirming I’m really there and taking pride in knowing I get to share these moments too.
Everything about this gathering feels so simple, yet far more tender than I ever expected. Something in me is still afraid it might dissolve into the silent solitude I grew far too used to.
As food comes out, conversations flow far more easily than anticipated.
Everyone’s laughter feels real, and not sharpened with any kind of hidden agenda.
With his arm draped over Kat’s shoulder casually, Sergey chats with Patch, who decided to tag along with Parker as a change of pace.
It’s a strange scene for me to take in, yet there’s something strangely wholesome about it.
Eventually, as more wine is poured, Roman tells a story about a deal that went sideways when he was a young up-and-comer, and Elena groans to herself as she leans back in her seat, her shoulder grazing mine.
“I’ve heard this one a million times already.”
Victoria snorts. “We all have.”
“And yet he still has so many more to tell,” Mikhail muses into his glass.
“The best stories are evergreen,” Roman says, grinning rather than scowling for once.
“Or your old age is catching up to you, and you just can’t remember what ones you’ve told,” Nikolai muses, earning himself a wave of amusement that makes him pull a vaguely proud smile.
Sipping from my glass, I watch them as something unfamiliar moves in my chest.
I’ve spent so long lacking in moments like this, either surrounded by people who took orders from me or who were waiting for the chance to strike. In a way, this is surreal to me.
Eventually, Lily leans a bit closer. “You look like you’re thinking too hard.”
“It’s a habit,” I tell her quietly, not wanting to interrupt the others.
She studies me for a moment, then smiles softly. “You don’t have to, you know. Not now.”
I mirror her expression, feeling the slightest tension around the edges. Habits can be hard for me to drop. “I’m working on it.”
For a while, everything about the meal is far more normal than it should be. Plates gradually empty, along with glasses, and Elena’s hand finds mine beneath the table, thumb tracing slow, absentminded circles against my skin.
I stay keenly aware of it, of her, and the fact that this is more than I’ve ever asked for. Maybe even more than I deserve, but I know she’d argue it if I were to say that part out loud.
When everyone is full and satisfied, and Victoria, Lily, and Kat sit around with the kids at their table, Roman clears his throat, and it’s enough to draw everyone’s focus to him. The private room grows a bit more tense.
“There’s something we need to discuss,” he says, tone careful and vaguely stern. “I was informed that Yuri Balakin escaped lockup two nights ago.”
The words hit, and everyone freezes.
Elena’s brothers don’t hide the grim expressions on their faces, and Sergey’s eyes darken especially. I tighten my grip on my glass, jaw clenching before I can stop it.
The Balakins, while always a threat even with Yuri in lockup, have been quiet for far too long, and with him back in the picture again, who knows what they’ll have planned.
“Our guys are still working out how he managed to escape, but we do know it was a coordinated effort somehow. Which means he’s alive and still dangerous.”
The mood around the table becomes even more gloomy, as we all know what that could mean.
“Orlando’s sons are still at large, too,” Mikhail adds with a slow scrub of his hand down his chin. “They weren’t located after they disappeared from the rooftop. They’re lying low, but they won’t stay that way for long.”
A familiar itch creeps up my spine. The old instinct flares back to life in me, recognizing the part of the night I understand at least. The part where plans are made, and business sits in the forefront of everyone’s minds.
But before it can continue, Elena gives my hand a soft squeeze, and she glances over to Roman. “Hey…not tonight.”
Roman blinks, caught off guard. “Not tonight? Our enemies could strike at any time.”
“This is important, I know, and there will be time to talk about it,” she continues, both gentle and self-assured. “But we’re finally all here tonight. We’re safe, and I want one night where we get to feel it.”
Quiet falls over the table, and as quickly as my mind managed to switch into business mode, my heart warms at the thought.
Then, Roman lets go of a breath, as if remembering himself and where we are. He nods once. “Alright. Later, then. We’ll enjoy the night.”
Elena smiles at that—genuine and tender, rather than boasting.
The others seem hesitant at first, then they gradually start to relax, easing back into the more carefree air we carried before. Conversation slowly picks up again, allowing the looming threats to be pushed aside for now.
I return Elena’s squeeze under the table, grateful in a way I can’t vocalize just yet. But as she glances at me, I know she feels it as her mouth curves slightly.
She knows exactly what I need, even before I do.
As the night winds down and the young ones start to grow fussy from being tired, they’re collected as Roman handles the bill without ceremony, and we all part with kinder goodbyes.
Lily lingers for a moment longer, smiling at me and Elena as our arms slide together while we walk outside.
She mentions seeing one another soon, and we agree, leaving my heart feeling lighter than it has in a long time.
Even if I couldn’t bring myself to see the bigger picture before, it’s crystal clear now.
My sister is safe and married to a man who would do anything to protect her. Just like I would for Elena.
We really aren’t that different after all.
The car ride home is quiet but content, and Elena doesn’t let go of my hand the entire way. Inside, the door barely clicks shut before she’s on me, gripping my jacket and pulling me close.
Her lips find mine with a surprising heat that steals the breath from my lungs without warning.
Melting into it, I carefully back her against the wall without a second thought, palms sliding along her waist, feeling the fabric of her dress beneath my skin, along with her addicting warmth.
I feel as she smiles against my lips, murmuring, “You were good tonight.”
With a huff of amusement, I say back, quiet and intimate, “I didn’t start any arguments. Sounds like I deserve a reward.”
Her smile pulls. “You looked happy, you know.”
The claim is so simple, yet it pulls at me from the inside, and I can’t help but soften further.
“I was,” I admit, not afraid to let her hear it now as I drink her in. “I am.”
As her glittering eyes stay locked on mine, Elena’s fingers slide beneath my dark shirt, warm and confident, while she explores my abdomen like she does when she’s feeling greedy. Her smile slips into a wicked grin the very second I groan softly.
Resting my forehead against hers, every point of contact sticks out in my awareness, and I gradually walk backwards while she guides me further inside.
Closing my eyes briefly, I trust her to lead me. This…I know how to navigate this. Touch, heat, and the never-ending want between us. It’s all I can do not to act on it every chance I get.
But now, like a thread tying every moment together, a deeper warmth drives us. It’s a feeling I never let myself embrace before Elena.
While her palms wander, she kisses me deliberately, then the words leave her suddenly, “I love you.”
My heart squeezes instinctively, hands on her hips, tensing for a beat.
Pulling back just enough to look at her fully, I’m no longer in control of my expression as it lightens, swimming with emotions only she can evoke.
And when I look at her, I see the woman who stood between her family and me. The one who chose me when she didn’t have to, even when she saw the worst of my world.
There’s no questioning my own feelings…not when they burn bright inside me every day.
“I love you too,” I return, letting the truth settle between us, deep and permanent.
Her smile makes it all worth it.
Our journey to the bedroom is a blur of hands, laughter, and whispered words meant for only us. Here, there are no plans, enemies, or worries. It’s just us in the present, and a warmth I cling to.
As her lips meld against mine while I feel the mattress beneath us, I don’t have to consider survival here or the potential outcome of my every move.
Instead, I’m finally living, and I’m not letting go of that feeling.