Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Katya
Meeting the rest of Leon’s family the night of my wedding was a blur of new faces, friendly welcomes, and overwhelming to say the least. I had so many new names to remember that as soon as I got back to Florida from the hotel, all I could concern myself with was packing and studying the various Moretti family members’ social media accounts.
Some of them were more easily recognizable than others.
The infamous ones who have made their names and faces known in our society over the course of their whole lives.
But there were others who were seen less, and others who were simply newer.
No one could mistake Jade Moretti for anyone other than herself, despite only being introduced into our world a few years ago.
She’s the spitting image of her father, with the Moretti signature eyes and dark hair.
She was all the mafia world could talk about when she turned up at Empire Academy years ago, and even more so when she married the Morozov Bratva heir and immediately gave him two children.
She was the most bubbly member of the family that I met for certain.
She made sure to get my phone number and has already texted me more than a few times.
Rayna, Apollo’s wife, has been communicating with me too, just more casually and less often than Jade.
Since Rayna will be there when I move in, I don’t think she’s felt the need to overshare any information that she can simply tell me in person.
Information that she could tell me at any minute now, actually.
The guards at Leon’s gate let me in without trouble, calling me Mrs. Moretti and looking at me with a sort of built-in respect.
Leon had previously tried to insist on picking me up from the private airstrip that my plane flew into, but I wanted to keep him at home with the children so the process could be as seamless as possible.
So rather than picking me up himself, he left me a luxury SUV and an envoy of men to follow behind me as I drove to his—now our—home.
The car was big enough to fit my four suitcases that mostly contain clothes and a few trinkets, my laptop, and my essentials.
Anything else that I wanted to move has been shipped separately and will either be here tomorrow or is already waiting inside for me.
Leaving my things behind in the new car, I walk up to the front door and take a deep breath before letting myself in with my key like Leon suggested in his most recent text.
The key came with my car keys, ready and easily accessible on a little silver loop.
He told me that both the SUV he left for me, and the house key would be mine from now on, and even suggested I could buy another vehicle if the one he picked wouldn’t suit my needs.
I’m unsure how I could possibly need another car, but I thanked him for the gesture either way.
The house is just as homey and warm as I remembered it, but I don’t have more than a few seconds to take it all in before I’m being greeted.
“You really came!” Leo yells, excitement streaming out of him as he squeals and rushes over in a stumbling run. His sock-less feet are helpful in keeping him from falling on the shiny tile floors. Turning over his shoulder, he shouts, “Bastian, she here!”
In his effort to alert his brother, he looks away for too long and ends up crashing right into my legs.
Thankfully his head avoids my knees, and he doesn’t hit my calves hard enough to hurt.
Instead, he goes with the flow, wrapping his arms around the back of my leg to hug me in greeting as he giggles loudly.
“Oop,” I chuckle, catching him and patting his back softly. “You almost knocked me over, buddy. You’re bigger and stronger than you look, aren’t you?”
“Yep,” he agrees, his little lips popping the P. “I knew I would see you first—I been watching all day for you!”
“Oh, have you?” I ask, gasping. “I hope I haven’t kept you waiting for too long.”
“Nope, not too long.”
Good, I think to myself.
I opted for an early flight, planning to arrive before lunch so that the children would have plenty of time with me before bed, hoping to make the transition easier but not popping in right before they pass out for the night.
“I’ve been waiting to see you today too, you know? I missed you.”
Leo’s eyes blow wide and he somehow glues himself further against my legs. “Really? And Bastian too?”
“Yes, sweet boy,” I reply without hesitation. “I missed the both of you so much.”
He takes a big breath like he’s about to start rambling, but he’s not fast enough.
“Give her some space, Leo.” The deep rumbling sound of Leon’s voice makes my breath catch.
Looking up sharply causes my hair to fall forward from my back, bouncing over my shoulders. The scent of my vanilla and cinnamon shampoo hits me as I find my husband stepping into the parlor entryway to greet us, dressed much more casually than he was in our last two meetings.
Of course, one of those last meetings was our wedding night…
but instead of a perfectly tailored designer suit, he’s wearing light wash blue jeans, and a basic white button-down.
He looks more like a dad than an Underboss, and I suppose that makes perfect sense.
He’s at home with his sons, dedicating the day to helping them adjust to my move-in today.
“He’s all right,” I reply softly. I hope my tone communicates that I only mean to reassure Leo and not overrule his father. I want the boys to be comfortable with me, especially since we’ll be together every day from here on out.
Bastian peeks out from behind his father’s legs, and maneuvers to stand dutifully at his side.
He’s dressed in a very similar outfit, a bit elevated for his age, but also practical.
Leo on the other hand, is wearing a very playful getup.
Cute little cotton shorts, and a graphic T-shirt covered in little trucks.
He looks up at me with his soft blonde curls bouncing and his bright blue eyes twinkling.
“You moving?” Leo asks, grinning toothily.
“Yes,” Leon answers for me. “Katya is moving in today. Just like we talked about. We’re going to help her get settled in, and we’re going to have lunch together.”
“And dinner,” Leo chimes in, looking proud of himself for the reminder.
“And dinner,” his father agrees. “Do you want to take your brother and show Katya her rooms? Uncle Apollo and I will bring in her things.”
“YES!” Leo shouts like he’s just won the lottery rather than the opportunity to simply show me around my new home. “Come, we show you.”
He reaches for my hand without fear or trepidation and starts to tug me along before I can even agree to follow him. Bastian waits for us to get closer to him and then makes a small move to join me and his little brother. Fearless, but cautious.
“Um, I don’t have very many things,” I tell Leon as I’m being led away. “I didn’t need to bring furniture like you said, so, umm, yeah. There just aren’t many suitcases.”
He nods, not looking concerned about it. “That’s fine, we’ll get everything you brought and there’s a few things in your room that have already arrived. There’s also a credit card on your dresser that you can use for anything you need to buy.”
“Okay, um—” I have no time to finish my thought before the kids guide me too far away, and Leon turns to leave, smiling to himself as he does.
Clearing my throat, I look down at the two boys and muster up some courage to speak to them alone for the first time as their father’s new wife.
“Hello, Bastian. It’s nice to see you both again. ”
“Hello, Katya,” he greets in his little formal voice. Leo has taken to calling me Kat, but Bastian has no trouble with my full name.
“You get Rain-uh’s room,” Leo chirps happily before his older brother can get another word in. “So I know where it is.”
“That’s right, your aunt and uncle are going back to their house,” I note as if I’m only just now remembering, trying to keep my tone light as I do. “Are you excited to go visit them sometime soon? I’m hoping you can take me with you. I’d love to see it.”
I know that Leo is quite attached to Apollo and Rayna, so I’ve tried to keep in mind that I need to stick to positive words when it comes to mentioning them.
If he’s sad about them leaving, I’ll have to do my best to remind him that his aunt and uncle are only going back to their home—never truly leaving him.
“Yes,” the little boy agrees with a firm dip of his head. “We take you wif us.”
With the chipper sound of his voice, I exhale, not sensing any sadness. “Well, I’ll make sure to look forward to that.”
“Good.” He bobs his head happily. “Here we go. Dis your two rooms.”
“These are your two rooms,” Bastian corrects him gently.
“Yep,” Leo agrees, not feeling the need to repeat himself to be more grammatically correct. Bastian doesn’t chide him for it either, he merely provides the words to help, rather than to shame his brother for his imperfect speech.
Pulling my attention from the children to take in the space they’ve brought me to, I find two open doors.
One to a bedroom, and the other to a large living room area.
Noticing that the boys stopped in front of the bedroom first, I take that as my cue to step inside and withhold a gasp when I realize just how large it is.
The room is elegant but not so much so that it looks like a queen demanded every detail to be perfect and full of finery.
The walls are creamy pale beige with eggshell white crown molding meeting the high ceilings.
The main back wall is taken over mostly by a bed that must be larger than a king, with two small but lovely windows flanking the sides of it.
The bedding is simple and white, like a clean hotel spread that’s likely meant to be a stand-in until I replace it with my own preferences.
The floors, though, have to be my favorite thing upon first glance.
The dark wood, real wood, beneath my feet is stunning.
Its finish isn’t too orange, nor is it too dark that it could be mistaken for black paint.
The area rug beneath the bed, meant to make the sleeping zone appear more cozy, compliments the wood well too, with its earthy green and brown tones.
There’s a built-in vanity made of the same shade of wood with a couple boxes that I had shipped here waiting for me on the countertop.
The walk-in closet, spa-style ensuite bathroom, and the cozy couch in the corner are all bonuses that I note while dreaming of what the space might look like once I fill it.
Bouncing on his toes, Leo jumps in front of me. “Do you like it?”
“It’s perfect,” I tell him honestly. “I’m sure I’ll sleep very well here.”
“Dat’s good,” he declares happily. “But if you have nightmares, you can borrow my teddy. Daddy got him, so him’s a sec-cure-it-tea teddy.”
Oh my God, how am I going to speak with this boy every day without passing away from cuteness overload?
“You have a piano in your other room,” Bastian suddenly says, providing the piece of information too casually for such a surprising statement.
“I do?” I ask, almost choking in genuine shock.
“Uh-huh!” Leo claps his hands together. “Daddy buyed it.”
“I—” Leon bought me a piano?
I’m about to ask them to show me into the next room, when a familiar face steps into our current one, looking positively blissful.
“Rain-uh, look!” Leo bounces over to her side in an instant, pointing at me. “Kat!”
“I see that,” Rayna tells him enthusiastically. The typically beautiful woman is somehow glowing today, like she’s just come from a spa, or maybe from bed with a very generous husband. “Have you been being a good boy, helping Katya get settled in?”
“Best boy,” he corrects, puffing his little chest out proudly.
“Oh, yes of course. You and Bastian are my best boys, aren’t you?”
“Yep,” Leo agrees. “And baby Vaughn.”
“Can’t forget baby Vaughn, can we?”
“Never,” the little blonde boy confirms.
“How was your trip?” Rayna asks, ruffling Leo’s hair playfully as she turns her attention my way. “You got here a little early so I imagine the flight was smooth?”
“Thankfully,” I agree with a relieved smile. “There was a storm last night so I was a little worried that it would delay me today, but the skies were clear and the flight was swift. The drive here was fast too. It must be handy having a private airstrip so close by for when you need it.”
“Mmm,” she hums in agreement. “But not too close by that it ruins the atmosphere of the area. We have an airport close back home too, another private area for the family planes. It’s nice that the house still feels secluded enough to be surrounded by nature.
It makes it feel cozier than a city, you know? ”
“Definitely,” I confirm. “I’m looking forward to the comfort of it. There aren’t very many people who would describe any part of Florida as cozy.”
Rayna laughs, nodding. “I think the humidity might do me in, if we lived there.”
“I’d like to say that you get used to it, but you don’t.”
“I figured as much.” Turning her gaze back down to her nephews, she offers them both a loving look. “Have you two been showing Katya her new home?”
Leo nods, triumphantly. “Yes, she says they’re perfect.”
“They’re very nice rooms,” Rayna agrees. Giving me a sly look, she adds, “And don’t worry, it’s a brand new mattress. Leon didn’t want you to worry about sleeping on the same bed after Apollo and I.”
My eyes widen at her implication and she winks.
Leo scrunches up his little nose, not understanding. “Why would Kat worry about her bed? Daddy always checks for monsters.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Rayna snaps her fingers, pretending to remember the fact Leo has provided. “We’ll have to remind your daddy to visit Katya’s bed every night and check for monsters for her, won’t we?”
I almost swallow my tongue.
“Good idea.” Leo hums, committing the suggestion to memory.
“We still have to show her her piano,” Bastian speaks up, saving me from becoming a blushing, stammering mess.
“Well, we should go show her then, shouldn’t we? It’ll give your daddy and uncle some space to bring up her bags. I believe they’re right behind me.”
Oh…God.
Did they hear her suggesting Leon come to my bed every night?
Rayna is more cheeky than I would have guessed. It’s probably a good thing that she won’t be around after today. If she pulled more innuendo around me, Leon might think I’m some kind of blushing maiden because I have no idea how to handle them.
Still, I’m almost excited by the idea of my husband checking beneath my bed for monsters each night…I wonder if he really will.