I stand, cross to him. “Come here, baby boy.”
He sets the pencil down, rises, and walks into my arms. I pull him close, his head tucking under my chin. He fits perfectly… small, warm, trembling just a little.
Robbie watches us, his expression soft but guarded.
I lower my voice so only Eddie can hear. “Tomorrow is judgement day. If anything goes wrong…”
His breath hitches. “Don’t.”
I tighten my hold. “You need to know. You mean more to me than I thought possible. More than I ever thought I could feel again.”
He pulls back just enough to look up at me. Tears shimmer in his eyes, but they don’t fall. “Don’t talk like that. You’re coming back. I know you are. I know a million-billion times you are!”
I brush a thumb across his cheek. “I intend to. But tonight… we enjoy what we have.”
And with that, I pick Eddie up and carry him to the bedroom.
Dawn will be upon us soon, it’s time to make the most of what little time we have left…
Chapter 19
Eddie
The bedroom door closes behind us with a soft click, and Viktor sets me down gently on the edge of the bed. The room is sleek and modern, pretty much in keeping with the rest of the penthouse. Or certainly what I’ve seen of it.
All I truly know is that we’re high above the city. It feels like we're suspended above the world, untouchable, but I know that's an illusion.
Tomorrow everything changes.
Judgement day, Daddy called it.
The words hang heavy in the air between us as he unbuttons his shirt and sits beside me, the mattress dipping under his weight…
“Baby boy,” Viktor says, but no other words follow. It’s like he just needs me to know that he’s here, alongside me.
I lean into him, my head resting on his shoulder.
Daddy’s arm comes around me automatically, pulling me closer. We sit like that for a while, just breathing, the city's distant hum filtering through the glass.
My heart is racing. I’ve been through a lot. We have been through so much together too these last few days. I’ve probably had enough action and adventure and drama to last me a lifetime.
But mostly my heart is thumping because of what I need to say…
"Viktor," I whisper, tilting my head up to look at him. His face is half-shadowed, eyes dark and serious. "I think... I think I'm falling in love with you."
The words slip out before I can stop them, hanging there like fragile glass.
His expression shifts—surprise, then something softer, deeper. Viktor brushes a strand of hair from my face, thumb lingering on my cheek.
“Malysh," he murmurs, voice rough. "Not now. We'll have this conversation when everything is settled. When it's safe."
I swallow the lump in my throat. "Okay, Daddy. You know best."
“Of course I do,” Viktor says, his voice low.
He pulls me onto his lap, cradling me like I'm something precious. I curl into him, my ear against his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart. It's strong, reassuring, a rhythm that lulls the edges of my fear.
Daddy’s hand strokes my back in slow circles, and exhaustion creeps in—the emotional whirlwind of the day finally catching up. My eyelids grow heavy. I feel safe here, in his arms, even with tomorrow looming.
