“It’s not. But you still did those things. A bad man wouldn’t have.”
He turns his head to look at me fully. “You killed him.”
It’s not a question, but I answer it anyway. “Yes.”
“Are you okay?”
I swallow. “I don’t know. But I don’t regret it. I’d do it again if I needed to.”
Viktor goes quiet, but his expression softens. “Come here, my sunshine.”
I shake my head. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine,” he insists.
I huff but scoot closer to the edge of the bed.
“You’re not alone anymore,” he says, his hand curling around mine. “You don’t have to carry everything. Or everyone. I’m here. Nikolai and Matvey too. Hell, even Grigory would kill for you at this point.”
The ache inside me eases a little. “Grigory arranged for the body to be dealt with.”
Viktor laughs before wincing again. “Careful. You’re starting to sound a little like us.”
We sit in silence for a while, his fingers still tangled with mine. And it’s comfortable.
“You’re all family now. Sofia, Leon—even when he screams his little lungs out—and you. You’re family. Forever and with no conditions.”
My throat tightens. “You’re sure?”
“You ran over a man today to save me. And to save Sofia.” He tilts his head just enough to meet my eyes. “I’ve never been more sure. You’ve changed me. You’ve changed all of us.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t change you, Viktor. I just met you where you already were.”
I want to tell him I love him. I want to say it out loud so he’ll understand. To make it real and not just a feeling choking me.
But I don’t. Not now.
So, I just rest my forehead against his and close my eyes.
And we breathe.
Two broken people, slowly becoming whole.
After checking in with Babulya, I spend the rest of the night at the hospital with Viktor. The next morning, I return home and slip into Sofia and Leon’s room to check on them.
It’s still very early. Sofia is curled in the bed, one hand gently clutching her stuffed cat, the other petting Queenie. Queenie is back home now and is sleeping peacefully against Sofia, purring in a slow, steady rhythm. The sight makes my chest ache in the best way.
Sofia stirs when the mattress dips beneath me. “Is Viktor okay?” she asks in a whisper. “I asked Babulya where you all were, and she said he’s in the hospital.”
“He’s going to be,” I offer as I click on the lamp. “He just needs some rest.”
She nods, her eyes wide. “Did you help him?”
I hesitate for a few moments. “I did.”
She pauses. “You stopped the bad men?”
I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. She must have heard Babulya or one of the others talking. “I did.”
