“Can I call you Mommy?” Misha tugged on my hand with a pleading smile.
“I would love that, Misha.” I wrapped him in a hug once more, my heart that much more healed and whole with the fact that this boy wanted me to be his parent. That he saw me as the motherly figure he’d been missing out on.
I wasn’t here to butt in. Interfering with them was not my goal. And that wasn’t what was happening, anyway.
Nothing could break me away from Alexsei, and that commitment of course extended to his son.
Marriage was a whole other topic to wade into, but I resolved to myself to take this all one step at a time.
Before I could start dreaming about going through the official process of adopting Misha legally or becoming Alexsei’s wife to share the responsibility of raising our children, I had to first ensure that the cruel and evil men who had tried to dictate who and when I could marry were no longer an obstacle in the way.
35
ALEXSEI
“You’re bringing her with us?” Emil asked me as we all moved outside.
I nodded.
“I thought it was just an idea,” he whispered.
I shook my head, aware that Kalina was nearby and could hear. I didn’t want her to think I was regretting my compromise to let her come today.
I’d texted them all that she would accompany us, but that she’d stay back and not be close to the danger zone. Maybe they thought I was being ridiculous and careless. But Luka didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. That was how much he trusted us all.
Still, Iwastense. This was the love of my life. The mother of my unborn child. As of a few minutes ago, the mother Misha wanted too. When he asked her that pivotal question, I swore my heart would burst from overflowing with love.
“Nothing can happen to her,” I whispered back to him as we all got into the cars.
“Well, no shit.” He gave me a stern look. “It would obviously be safer for her to behere.”
I shook my head. “I can’t deny her a part in this. It matters to her.”
“Yeah, it matters that the fuckers are dead, but?—”
I put my hand on his chest and shook my head again. “No. It matterstoomuch to her. She’s thought about escaping and getting revenge for so long. I think it was all that kept her going. And I won’t refuse her a chance to be involved. Even as a witness close up. Toseethem be killed.”
“Ifthey’re there.” He furrowed his brow.
I nodded. “She’s aware that they might not be.”
“And what if they’re watching and they?—”
“Whatever you want to say, we’ll be there to protect her.” I raised my brows, daring him to argue.
He let out a deep breath, hesitant. Then he nodded. “We will. I’ll keep an extra eye on her. On you both.”
I patted his chest once and moved to join her in the car.
Maybe he was uneasy about bringing her, but I was confident I wouldn’t fail her. We were one step ahead. We had plenty of backup and resources.
She’d already put a vest on just in case. Luka had handed her a gun to use, again, just in case. After the farewell with Misha,we stopped in the garage to suit up and it proved how ready we were.
On the ride there, she didn’t go back to that shell of quietness. No vacant stare was shining from her eyes. While she didn’t speak, it was more like she was getting into the mood. It was go-time. Time to focus. To be ready to move and think quickly.
This was a critical moment for her, a huge turning point of her taking charge of her life in such a fashion that I wouldn’t be able to replicate or do for her.
Holding her hand didn’t seem appropriate. I didn’t want to placate her. I didn’t want to coddle her.
