35. Peyton
PEYTON
I’d heard Viktor talk to men in boardrooms and I’d seen Leo charm the socks off stockbrokers. I’d never seen either of them in this state. I’d never heard either of them talk like this.
Viktor’s words hit me in all the right places, offering me comfort and options that had been denied the first time.
It had taken every bit of my self-restraint to stay away from them when we were several states apart.
I’d barely held back from throwing myself into their arms the way Luka did with Misha.
Five years of practice and it still took everything I had to keep my feet planted.
My body remembered them without asking my permission, which was inconvenient as my core tightened and my cheeks heated in that old, familiar way.
I’d missed them to the point of pain every single fucking day, but I hadn’t given in because protecting Luka mattered more than my own wants and dreams.
But now, the man who’d kidnapped me was dead. The threat against us was gone… until the next empire decided to go up against Leo.
Misha stood with Luka in his arms, holding my gaze the entire time. “Give us another chance.” His voice shivered through me, the brokenness showing up again in the gravely rasp. “Please.”
Oh, God. Five years of missing them like a phantom ache. Years of telling myself I’d made the right call, and this was all it took to break me.
My throat closed.
Luka patted Misha’s cheek again, already unbothered, already certain he’d found his new best friend. He pressed his forehead into Misha’s neck and yawned so wide, his whole face scrunched.
I pressed my fingers into my mouth to keep from blurting out a response based on that alone.
Mom touched my elbow. “Peyton.”
“I know.” I couldn’t look away from Misha, and I leaned into her support while I bolstered my courage to tell them no.
Viktor stood in front of me, to my right, his eyes locked on me. They’d perfected the angsty stare years ago, and I’d almost forgotten how the weight of it could settle on me and draw my lungs tight.
Leo hadn’t moved from where he’d stopped, three feet away, giving me room but close enough that I smelled his expensive cologne. God, I’d missed that smell. They waited, all three of them trying to be patient.
Men who had never asked for anything but who went down to their knees for me. For our son.
“Mom.”
“I know, baby.”
“Say it.” I grabbed her hand.
She exhaled. “You know what I’m going to say.”
“Say it anyway.” I needed reality. I needed my parents to bring me back to earth instead of leaning into the fantasy of returning to New York.
She took both my hands and squeezed. “That little boy is going to ask questions one day. Questions you can’t answer alone.
” She glanced at Misha, at Luka’s dark head tucked into his neck.
“Those men might be the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen.
They say they took care of the problem. Do you believe that? ”
“Yes.” I sighed. “They wouldn’t lie to me.”
“Not even to get you to come back?” Dad moved close enough that he very nearly bumped into Viktor.
Leo’s eyebrows shot up so high, it took years off his age.
I hid a snorting laugh in a cough. “Ask them. You always told me I was a good judge of character. I got it from you. So you tell me.”
Dad harrumphed, crossed his arms, and leaned toward Leo. “You put her in danger.”
“Yes.” Leo didn’t bother even trying to make an excuse. “We didn’t intend to, but that does not change what happened.”
“You let my pregnant daughter get kidnapped.” Dad poked Leo in the chest.
I hadn’t told him about the power dynamic, but he’d picked out Leo as the leader within seconds and he went in for the kill with another poke.
Leo let him. It should have shocked me, but I’d been shocked since the moment I opened the door. This was just another jolt to my system.
“I did. And then I made sure that man died a slow, agonizing death.” Leo held his ground.
Dad’s hand dropped. “Good.”
“Dad!” My outrage matched my brothers’ and sisters’ as we all bellowed his name.
He shrugged. “I’d have done the same thing for your mother. For any of you. You do not mess with a man’s family.” Viktor held out his fist, and to my utter disbelief, Dad knocked his knuckles into Viktor’s. But then he poked Viktor in the chest. “You hurt her again, and it’ll be me you deal with.”
“Yes, sir.” Viktor, the king of control, the man who bent for no one, halfway bowed to my father.
“I mean it.” Dad pointed at each of them. “I don’t care how many men you have. That’s my daughter.”
“Understood.” Leo grinned as he said it, and I had a sudden vision of our future, of what our life might be like if we ever had a daughter.
Dad turned and pulled me into a hug. “I would tell you not to go, but honey, you haven’t been whole since the day you came home. If this is what it takes to put the light back in your eyes, then I’m okay with it.”
I hugged him. Hard.
“Go pack your things.” He squeezed me tight. “You’ll call us every day.”
“Every day,” I promised as I made my way to my room and pulled out my suitcase.
An hour later, we stood in front of the front door in a giant group hug full of tears.
Luka fell asleep in the car before we cleared the end of the street. I sat in back with him after buckling him into the car seat and fixed his hands where he’d curled them beneath his chin.
Viktor drove. Leo sat in the passenger seat, while Misha joined me and Luka in the back.
“What does he like?” Misha rubbed his palms up and down his thighs, the bleakness pushing back inch by inch as the miles unfurled under the SUV’s tires.
“Anything that makes noise.” I almost smiled. “Trucks. Things with wheels. He has a toy toolbox that he carries everywhere. He likes to fix things. He likes strawberries but not blueberries, and I have to read him two books at bedtime or he won’t sleep.”
I nodded off without meaning to, only waking when Misha told me we were at the airport. He said my name twice, then set his hand on my knee and rocked it. I blinked and yawned. “Sorry.”
Leaning across Luka, Misha pinched my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “No need to apologize.”
Right. Okay. Someone needed to inform my hormones that they were not welcome to join this conversation.
I tried to stay awake to experience the private plane Leo led us to, but both Luka and I fell asleep again as we taxied down the runway. It was like I hadn’t properly slept since I left them, and now, knowing we were together again, my body gave up fighting.
Leo walked ahead of us at every opportunity, even leading the way to the penthouse. He pressed the button for the elevator, and only when the doors opened did he step back, letting me enter first.
I crossed the threshold and paused, that same feeling of awe creeping up on me again. It smelled the same.
Luka stirred against my shoulder, heavy and half awake. “What’s this?” He raised his head, took a look around, and dropped his chin onto my shoulder.
“This is our new home.” I patted his back and swayed. He might be four years old, but once I’d started swaying him as an infant, I’d been loath to give it up.
His head lifted again, his mouth scrunching. “Big house.”
“Yep.”
Leo touched my elbow. “Do you want to put him to bed in your room?”
“Yes, please.” I smoothed Luka’s dark hair back from his forehead. “I don’t want to shock him with a new room and being away from me.”
Leo nodded and led the way, opening the door and stepping back again. “Same rules as before. Your room. Your space.” His throat bobbled with a hard swallow. “I came in here a few times to dust and straighten up. All your stuff is still here.”
My stuff. Tears stung my eyes as I took in the space. From the queen-sized bed to the open closet door, absolutely nothing had changed. “Please come in. I know you’re probably dying to say goodnight.” My poor choice of words skipped right over their heads as they crowded in behind me.
Misha turned on the small bedside lamp. “Will you still need to read to him?”
“He’ll probably wake up as soon as I put him down.” The excitement of travel never affected Luka. It put him to sleep. Which meant we might be up all night once he woke up. Oh, well. It would give us both a chance to come to terms with our change of scenery.
I bent and put Luka in the bed.
Viktor pulled the blanket up and tucked it beneath Luka’s chin. They each kissed him on top of the head. Misha ruffled Luka’s hair, then slipped into the hallway.
“I’ll be out in a few minutes. If he stays asleep.” I didn’t dare let myself hope one way or the other, but I’d sensed the rising heat in them the closer we drew to the penthouse.
This was our space, the place where we were whole and came together as one. Agreeing to come back here had ignited the need to be consumed by them. I hadn’t been with anyone since I left. I hadn’t wanted anyone. One look at them at the front door, and it all came back.
I perched on the edge of the bed and fixed the blanket over Luka, listening for the click of the closing door.
No doubt they stood on the other side, listening and waiting. I didn’t mind.
Had I made the right decision for Luka, or had I let my wants overshadow what was best for him?
It was important for Luka to know his fathers.
I’d questioned how I would explain his parentage to him not long after he was born.
I had never dared to hope that they might be present for the explanation.
“They’re good men, Luka. Your fathers are great men, despite the world they live in.
They’re strong and capable, and I love them.
I hope you can love them too. I hope, for both our sakes, that this world does not consume us.
” I never once imagined saying this to Luka inside this house, much less in this room with his fathers twenty feet away.
It came out easy and genuine because it was true.
His deep, even breaths promised he hadn’t heard a word I said, which was good. It wasn’t exactly for him as much as the three men waiting for me on the other side of my bedroom door.
I should probably stay here with Luka in case he woke up, but if he hadn’t yet, then there was a very good chance he’d stay asleep all night.
“They deserve the chance to get to know you, kiddo. You’re a great kid. The best in the whole world, and I love you so much.” I kissed his forehead and listened to his breathing, making sure he was well and truly asleep.
A deep breath brought the mixed aroma of Luka’s soap and a lingering scent of the shampoo I’d used when I lived here.
So many memories lingered in these walls. I pushed to my feet and crossed the room. They might not want me tonight, or any night, but I had to face them instead of crawling beneath the covers and hiding.
I’d done enough of that, and I’d come back here to give us all a chance at making things right.
I paused halfway across the room and turned to face the window. New York stretched into the distance, lights from the city never allowing it to go fully dark.
This was the world I’d come to love.
This time, I would not let it go without a fight. Anton was no longer a problem, but now that I understood more about the Bratva, I could not push down the knowledge that being in power meant that someone would always be waiting on the sidelines, waiting to exploit a weakness.
Luka and I would not be their weakness.