“It’sAmelia,” she calls back.
“It’s Satan,” I retort.
Turning back to Rodion and Alyona, I rip my shirt over my head and push my pants down, kicking them off.
Now wherewerewe?
Epilogue
Nine years later
Alyona
Sipping the glass of water, I groan, rubbing a hand over my growing stomach. Roza was a damn breeze, but my madmen had to put a boy inside me, and the little shit thinks my kidneys are a kick bag.
Both my men and Viktor look over at me and smile from the other end of the bar. We had to come to The Vault to sort through some paperwork.
“I’m hot,” I whine.
Z approaches me and starts massaging my shoulders. “We’ll be done soon. Do you want to wait in the car?”
Dropping my head forward to enjoy his ministrations, I grumble, “No, I want my ankles to be their normal size again.”
Nipping my ear, Z whispers, “Your ankles are beautiful.”
I’m grateful that my madmen don’t care about my size, whether I’m big, small, or anything in between. For all these years, they have loved me through those changes, and I have never felt anything less than perfect in their eyes.
“Your turn Zahkar,” Viktor says, holding out a pen.
I hobble to my feet and walk over to where Roza is playing near the dance floor with a pop star Barbie type doll she’s obsessed with. Taylor, something or other.
“Should a little doll like her be in a place like this?” a voice says from a dark corner booth.
I startle and place a hand to my chest. “It’s dangerous to frighten a pregnant woman.”Asshole.I want to tack on the last part but refrain.
The club is closed, and we’re heading out for a family dinner after the twins finalize the purchase of The Vault. Viktor has met someone—actually,twosomeones, and is packing up to return home to Russia.
“And,” I say, pointing to the doll, “that’s her favorite toy.” I wave my hand dismissively at Viktor’s boyfriend. He really creeps me out.
Dark curls spill over his forehead as he leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees, his deep brown eyes swallowing all the light around him. The intensity of his gaze feels palpable, casting a dark pulse over the room. I instinctively place my hands on Roza’s shoulders, needing to feel her skin beneath my palms.
“Not the toy, the girl. She’s beautiful.” He studies her, head cocking to the side, and my hairs rise all over my body. A heavy silence envelops us. It feels like the world stops moving and holds its breath.
“She’s like a perfect little doll. What’s your name?” he asks her, and I stiffen.
“Roza, what’s yours?” she responds, not recognizing the danger baring his teeth at her. She slips her doll into her backpack and zips it.
“Z,” I bark, and he moves swiftly over to me, sensing my tone and glaring at the man who is way too relaxed under the weight of Z’s scowl.
“What’s wrong?” Z stands in front of us, a human shield.
“I don’t like it here, I want to leave,” I say. Eight months pregnant or not, I will fight this asshole.
“Benjamin,” Viktor barks, his voice sharp and filled with a clear warning. The man straightens, cracking his neck with a confident flick of his head, and a sly smile curls at the corner of his lips. It’s as if you’re staring directly into the face of the devil himself, handsome yet utterly terrifying.
“Benny,” the man says, holding out his hand toward Roza.
Z smacks it away. “You better back the fuck up or we’re going to have a problem.”
