Get it together, Ave,I scold myself, plastering on a smile as Sofialaunches into another round of questions, earning some chuckles from the guys when she asks about one of their tells. Even Viktor’s lips twitch.
The game continues for a few rounds as more and more of the men start to lose to Nikolai and Sofia. But my attention is only half on the game now as another text from Geliy appears on my phone.
“Geliy?” Viktor asks.
I hum. “Yeah. He’s been texting me a little more since I fainted. Checking in on the kids and me.”
“Good. That’s good.”
It is, but it’s also made his absence in our lives all the more apparent. He hasn’t told me where he’s at or how long he’s going to be gone either. It’s clearly one of his jobs, but not knowing doesn’t really help me. But as I look around the room, I realize just how quickly the days have gone by. I’ve now had the week’s rest ordered by the doctor, and tomorrow, it’ll be time for us to go home.
A sharp pang hits me in the middle of my chest.
My feelings don’t make sense to me. Will I miss Viktor and these men when I leave? Confusion washes over me. They’re just a group of men who work together. Yet…they’re also something more than that. Because although they aren’t related, they seem close. More than close, actually. They seem likebrothers.
“You’re teaching her to be a cheat,” Matvey laughs, earning an eye roll from Nikolai.
“You’re one to talk. You count cards,” Nikolai banters back.
“Do not,” Matvey says with mock indignation.
“Do too.”
“Count cards? What’s that?” Sofia asks, and I can’t help grinning as the men all laugh.
The entire situation warms my heart. Because this is what afamilyis. And this is what they’ve found among each other.And this is what I longed for so much when I was an orphan. But then I was taken by those men—given the illusion that they’d be the ones to look after me like a parent would.
But they weren’t a family to me.
And definitely none of them was like a father should be...
I shake the bad thoughts away and continue watching the game. Leon is playing with the chips in front of him while Sofia looks intently at the cards in Nikolai’s hand.
I squirm a little in my chair, trying to displace the feeling in my gut. The one that keeps hoping and wishing…
“I want to have Sofia on my team next time,” Matvey announces.
“No,” Viktor responds in a very firm voice.
Matvey doesn’t look pleased at Viktor’s response. “Why not?”
“Because you’re a bad cheat, and I don’t want Sofia picking up any bad habits from you,” Viktor replies.
“I do not cheat!” Matvey exclaims.
“You do too,” Viktor clips. “You’re as bad as Nikolai.”
“He’s right,” Grigory adds, earning himself a scowl from Matvey.
I giggle despite myself. Tucking my phone away, I can’t help laughing at their squabble, enjoying the normality of it all. Savoring it really. Committing it to memory—because it’ll be gone before I’m ready to let it go.
Laughter and more games are shared until the dim evening light through the windows descends into darkness. Nikolai and Sofia are winning, but Viktor isn’t far behind. Leon babbles loudly to Matvey, who nods and talks to him like he’s in on the conversation and knows exactly what my baby boy is trying to say to him. The other men around the table seem to be enjoying themselves as well—even Grigory to a certain degree, although he rarely smiles. It’s a nice scene. Moments like this make it harder and harder to remember that we don’t really have much time left here.
Viktor is complex and a mystery. Even after spending more time together, I’m not sure I’ve got him figured out.
After the confrontation when he threatened those men who complained about me, maybe I should have packed my bags and got straight out of here. I find that sort of aggression…frightening. But he’s never directed that sort of behavior at me or the kids, and I honestly don’t think he ever would. Is that naïve of me? I’m not the best judge of character. My relationship with Geliy is clear evidence of that.
But Viktor…he’s soft almost with the children and me. He’s taken to sleeping every night in that chair that’s barely big enough to fit his large frame on, just in case the children or I need something. He shows Sofia his vegetable garden and answers all her questions with an understanding that is beyond kind and patient. I haven’t seen her light up like this in a long time, and it makes my heart squeeze a little every time I see it. He buys Leon more toys and games than a nine-month-old should have, just to keep him entertained and engaged for hours.
