SERGEI
After Owen was born, nothing seemed to darken our days. Claire was handling the post-partum process well. Mikhail was a doting father. Andre was all smiles at his new half-brother. Anya was so maternal as a big sister.
When Mikhail and Claire got married, it was impossible to miss the sense of family in the room. NottheFamily. But this closeness. Kindred relations. Goodwill and everyone getting along.
A baby made everyone happy, it seemed. And it also prompted further insight for who could have a baby next.
The night after Owen came home, Mikhail celebrated with the three of us, Andre, Roman, and I.
“Who’s next?” Mikhail asked jokingly as before he puffed on a cigar.
I smirked. “Me?”
Andre raised his brows. “You? Natalie’s pregnant?”
I shook my head. To the best of my knowledge, she wasn’t. But with how often I took her and with our never using protection, I imagined it was only a matter of time.
“I meant me. With Maisie. I’ve started the paperwork to officially adopt her.”
They congratulated me, agreeing with each other that it seemed like nothing more than a formality. She clearly viewed me as a father.
“I can’t finalize that process until Natalie and I are married, though,” I added.
“When? Not if?” Mikhail laughed again, shaking his head.
Last year, when it was up for debate about how far we’d protect Natalie and Maisie, my uncle had put pressure on me whether I’d claim her as mine. To fully bring her into the Orlov connection.
“Yes, when.” I nodded and faced him directly. “I plan to marry her.”
“And who’s actually surprised to hear that?” Roman joked.
“Good,” Mikhail decided. “Good for you. It’s about time.”
“I wanted to give her time. After Maisie’s abduction and getting her to move into my room and all.”
“And that way, the pressure for us to start having families will be put on hold,” Andre teased, lightly smacking the back of his hand on Roman’s chest.
“Oh, don’t look at me.” My brother shook his head. “I’m not done yet.”
“Done what?” Mikhail asked. “Fucking your way through the city?”
“The state?” Andre joked.
“The country?” I added.
He laughed it all off. “But seriously, I’m glad for you,” he told me sincerely.
“Took you long enough,” Andre quipped.
I had to take my time, though, so as not to scare her off. And I was rewarded for my patience because I knew I’d never have to doubt the love Natalie and I now shared.
“I want you to understand that my loyalty to the family—to you—will never change,” I said to my uncle. “No matter where my life takes me, even into marriage and adoption and starting my own family, you can always count on me.”
He sighed before he reached over to hug me and pat my back. “You don’t need to give me a speech. Iknowthat you are loyal and always will be. But I wouldn’t be a fair leader and halfway decent boss if I didn’t emphasize that your happiness with your woman and your child or children should come first. You work for me. But you live for them.”
I smiled, patting his back in reply. “Thanks for your blessing.”
“Is that what that was? Asking for my permission?” he joked.
