That was exactly what I couldn’t wait for.
“Preferablybeforeshe has this baby,” he said wryly.
“We’ve got a few months to go,” I replied with a smile.
He deadpanned. “Don’t jinx it.”
Emil chuckled, no doubt recalling how we had gone to stop a secret alliance from forming the very same day both Sadie and Gabriella went into labor.
For the rest of the meeting, we discussed more tactical details. Who would be where. Which person would handle what part of comms. And all the nitty-gritty facts and timelines of how we would carry out the attack.
Emil was more used to calling the shots like this, and I admitted his ability to do so now. He stepped right back into the role of directing the mission and leading. While he had taken a step back since marrying Sadie, he still had it.
“We will move in tomorrow and it’ll be over,” he told me as we later walked out of the room, side-by-side.
“I’m glad I won’t have to wait much longer,” I said.
“And just in case you might be thinking with your heart and not your head, too close to the case, know that I’ll have your back.”
I smiled. “I know.” I would always be able to count on them to keep me safe, and I would return that favor likewise.
In love and hate, in life and death, my family would always be there for me. Once Erik and Yusef were dead, Kalina would understand how much that concept would apply to her for the rest of our lives as well.
Because she would be the mother of my child.
My wife.
Mine.
No one else’s, not because I bought her but because we took the chance to trust in our love for each other.
32
KALINA
Alexsei came back to the room just as I finished preparing a small meal for Misha. He didn’t have any lessons at the “school” today, but he was diligent to keep going with his studies at home and get ahead on a project. All morning, he was in his room working on assignments, but he’d come out here for lunch and I realized I was hungry too.
When he showed up, I took a break from reading up on the material for my courses, and we spent some time chatting and making a simple pasta dish.
Alexsei had already told me that he’d be in meetings for most of the day, so I hadn’t thought to make him a full portion. We had plans to eat with the rest of the family tonight, so there was no sense in wasting food. I hated to waste anything that was given so freely here.
He strode into the room, and I glanced at the clock and cringed. “Oh, wow. I didn’t realize it was this late.” We were closer to dinnertime than lunch.
“You can have some of mine, Dad,” Misha offered.
What a sweetheart.He was always so generous and never greedy. I couldn’t wait for him to be a big brother. And he was just as excited as we were, already talking about what names we might choose.
I had spent so long dreaming of being independent and free, and I’d imagined that as a solitary existence. I’d never given time to consider how rewarding and fulfilling it was to be part of a ready-made family.
“Oh, no,” Alexsei replied. “We ate during the meeting.”
“Good,” Misha said, getting up and taking his second plate to his room to resume his studies, the dish in one hand and an open book in the other.
I smiled, watching as I brought the dishes to the kitchen. Alexsei picked up the rest and brought it over to me.
“Do you have a minute?”
“For you?” I teased. “You can have all of my minutes. What’s up?”
