“Mischka says you will be the queen soon, Mommy. And Daddy is the king.”
Mischka — Boris and Edwina’s child — is far too well-informed. I feel like Ava knows half the gossip in this place before I do.
“Sure, sweetie. That’s one way to look at it. Soon your daddy will be in charge.”
“So I’m the princess?”
I nod, laughing and squeezing her tight. “You’re the princess, baby.”
Ava’s face lights up.
“So when are we moving to a castle? And will there be a dragon?”
Art is not doing a good job at holding back his laughter. “We’ll do our best on the dragon.” I make a mental note to add them to Ava’s birthday present list.
I’m absolutely exhausted when we finally get back to our wing of the house, Art tucks Ava in, literally carrying her to bed because she’s so conked out from all the excitement.
He sits on the bed when we’re alone with a sigh. If Art’s tired too, it’s definitely been a big day.
I come up behind him and run my hands through Art’s golden hair. He tilts his head back to meet my eyes, a warm feeling zipping down my spine. His heterochromia gets me every time, knocking me off kilter.
“Gonna slap me if I kiss you this time?”
I pretend to consider it, wrinkling my nose. “I did slap yourgrandma kinda recently. Maybe I need to cool it, for a bit.”
Art gives a warm chuckle. “She loved it too. Maybe it’s a family trait, to love being slapped by Nina Porter.”
I think back to the night when Art reappeared in my life. How out of control I felt, like the orbit of my life was realigning. I was used to being alone. Used to fighting for everything.
Things are not perfect now, as the permanent dull ache in the back of my head and the physical exercises I have to do every day remind me. But we have each other.
I sometimes feel a twinge of regret about the time we’d wasted during our five years apart.
As Art stands up to meet me, his warm caress over my shoulders and his breath hot on my mouth, I let it fade away.
We found each other at exactly the right time. When we were ready.
44
ARTYOM
“Fucking finally,” Lily says as she bursts through the front door. “Hey Art, hey Nina.”
“Lily!” Ava screams, tearing forward to launch herself into a hug around Lily’s knees.
I might have been keeping Nina too much to myself lately. We’re still finding a balance between socializing and staying home, when it feels like every family in the Bratva wants to host the new leader of the Petrovs for a lengthy meal. It’s been at least a week since Lily came over.
Tonight is all about Nina. She can’t go to the people because of her head injury, so the people will come to her.
Lily is here to help us set up for a party for their friends from Middlefield, but she plops herself on the couch next to Ava with a bowl of popcorn, so it looks like I’m on party decorationduty.
“What movie can we watch to annoy your parents today, Ava?” Lily raises an eyebrow. “I want the one that has the most annoying, catchy songs, please.”
Ava happily selects a movie involving cartoon singing animals and drags Lily up to dance with her, while I get started on setting up for the group from Middlefield.Daniel hasn’t been working there since I had his residency relocated out of the city. Nina may be tough, but she shouldn’t have to deal with an asshole who tried to destroy her professional reputation.
If I have to be the bad guy, the jealous husband who doesn’t want a workplace crush to come near her, then it’s a role I’ll happily take on.
I set up the event while Nina and Lily watch movies with Ava, feeling glad to do something for Nina for once.
