“Whoa there, speed demon,” Lenny chuckles, ruffling Niko’s hair.
The kid’s a fucking mini-Luka, I swear. Same intense stare, same confident stance. But those eyes—they’re all Sophia. Bright green, sparkling with mischief and curiosity. It’s like looking at a perfect blend of them both, and it hits me hard how much I’ve missed.
“Alex!” Niko shouts, bouncing on his toes. “Come on, we found a secret place!”
Alex glances back at me, his little face torn between sticking with me and running off to play with his new friends. “Can I go, Momma? But I wanna come back. Promise.”
I smile at him, pressing my forehead against his. “Of course, baby. I’ll be right here when you come back.”
He beams, scrambling off the bed. As he reaches Niko, a small figure peeks around the doorframe. Natalya. She’s all Luka, those piercing blue eyes taking everything in. But there’s a seriousness to her that’s pure Luka.
“Hi,” she says softly, her eyes landing on me. She’s clutching a stuffed unicorn like it’s her lifeline.
“Hey there,” I rasp, my voice still rough from sleep.
Natalya steps into the room, her movements careful and deliberate. She positions herself slightly in front of Niko, like she’s ready to protect him if needed. Smart kid.
“Are you Alex’s mommy?” she asks, her voice quiet but steady.
I nod, not trusting my voice. Fuck, I’m not ready for this. For any of it.
Natalya studies me for a moment, then turns to Alex. “We can show you our hideout,” she says. “But you have to promise not to tell anyone else.”
Alex nods solemnly. “Ipwomise.”
Niko grabs Alex’s hand, already tugging him toward the door. “Come on, come on!”
As they start to leave, a woman’s voice calls out from the hallway. “And just where do you think you’re going, my little troublemakers?”
The woman appears in the doorway, her salt-and-pepper hair pulled back in a neat bun. She’s got laugh lines around her eyes, but there’s a sharpness there, too.
“We’re just playing, Nana Marina,” Niko says, flashing a charming grin that’s way too fucking smooth for a kid his age.
Marina raises an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping over the kids before landing on me.
“Hi, I’m Marina, and you must be Wren,” she says, her accent softening the edges of her words. “I hope these little monsters aren’t bothering you.”
I shake my head, trying to sit up straighter. “Nah, they’re fine.”
Lenny clears his throat, drawing our attention. “Well, I should probably go check on Em,” he says, his eyes flicking between Marina and me. “Make sure she’s eating and all that.”
I nod, grateful for the update on Em but also feeling a twinge of anxiety at the thought of being left alone with these strangers. Lenny must catch something in my expression because he adds, “I’ll be back later, alright? Try to rest up.”
As Lenny heads for the door, Marina turns back to the kids. “Alright, you three. You can play, but stay where I can hear you. And no more climbing on the bookshelves, Nikolai.”
Niko has the decency to look sheepish for about half a second before he’s grinning again. “Yes, Nana Marina!”
As the kids scamper off, their laughter echoing down the hallway, Marina steps further into the room. Her eyes are kind, but there’s a wariness there, too. She’s seen some shit, that’s for sure.
“It’s good to finally meet you,” she says, her voice warm but measured. “Sophia’s told me so much about you.”
I snort, running a hand through my tangled hair. “Yeah, I bet.”
Marina’s lips twitch in a small smile. “All good things, I assure you. Well, mostly good.”
There’s a crash from somewhere down the hall, followed by a chorus of giggles. Marina sighs, shaking her head.
“Duty calls,” she says, already turning toward the door. “Try to rest, dear. You look like you could use it.”
