"Nighty-night, Daddy," I mumble, sleep pulling me under.
He kisses the top of my head. "Sleep, baby boy."
I drift off like that, wrapped in him, the world fading away. I don’t know whether Daddy wanted some sexy time, but the truth is that I’m just to beat to even consider it. Maybe it’s the luxury of the penthouse, but I feel like I could sleep for a hundred years and still not wake up…
“Daddy?” I ask, more in hope than expectation.
Morning light filters through the blinds, painting stripes across the bed. I blink awake, reaching instinctively for Viktor—but the space beside me is empty, sheets cool.
But my instincts are right.
He's gone.
Panic flickers for a second before I remember… the meeting at dawn. Judgement day. And then as quick as it went, the sense of panic returns. Anything could happen today, and I just have to trust that it will be my Daddy Viktor who comes out on the other side triumphant.
But then I remember… Daddypromisedit would be okay.
“Yup, a promise is a promise,” I say, doing my best to manifest my happy ending.
The penthouse is quiet as I pad out of the bedroom, Goldie clutched under my arm.
Robbie is already up, lounging on the couch in his lavender onesie, scrolling through his phone. He looks up and smiles.
"Morning! Viktor and Ivan left super early,” Robbie says. “Said we'd be safe here. Coffee?"
"Yeah," I say, rubbing my eyes. "Thanks."
“Cool,” Robbie says. “Ivan has a cool setup here. Not bad for a… whatever he is.”
He fiddles with the stainless steel coffee machine while I curl up on the rug, staring out at the city sprawled below.
The view is breathtaking—skyscrapers piercing the sky, rivers of traffic below—but it feels isolating too, like we're in a glass cage high above the danger.
Robbie hands me a mug… strong, black, with a splash of oat milk just how I like. "You okay? You look...thoughtful. And I know what that usually means as far as you’re concerned."
I sip, nodding. "Just worried about Daddy. I mean, Viktor."
He sits beside me, crossing his legs. "He'll be fine. The man is like a tank." He pauses, then grins mischievously. "Wanna play hide and seek? Or explorers?Penthouse edition? It'll distract you. Come on. It’ll be wicked cool."
I laugh despite myself. "In rompers? Hell yeah. Why not."
We finish our coffee, then start…
“Wahooo!” I giggle, darting around, bursting up the stairs.
The penthouse is huge. It’s even bigger than I’d guessed last night. Open-plan living area, hallways leading to bedrooms, a home gym, even a small library.
Robbie hides first.
I count to fifty, eyes closed, then prowl the space, giggling as I check behind curtains and under tables. "Come out, come out, Robbie!"
His laughter echoes from somewhere down the hall.
I follow it to Ivan's office… sleek desk, locked cabinets.
But no Robbie.
Then a closet in the corner looks ever so slightly ajar. I swing it open. It’s empty. But wait… the back panel looks off, a seam where there shouldn't be one.
