Ivan laughs—low, warm, real—and pulls me into his lap, careful of the half-eaten porridge. I wrap my arms around his neck and bury my face in his shoulder, breathing him in.
We stay like that for a long minute—tangled together, safe, loved.
The city hums outside the windows.
I’ve never felt a love like this—and my new life is only just beginning too…
Later that week the city feels different.
Not safer, exactly—there’s no such thing as safe in our world—but quieter at least.
The shockwaves from my father’s death have settled into a tense, watchful truce.
Volkov men patrol their territories with fresh confidence. Galkin loyalists have either scattered or quietly bent the knee. The other families—Armenians, Italians, Irish—have backed off for now, content to let Viktor claim the crown unchallenged. At least for a little while.
Ivan and I arrive at the diner together just after dusk.
Tonight the diner is closed to the public. A single “PRIVATE EVENT” sign hangs crookedly on the door. Viktor’s blackEscalade is already parked in the side lot, two discreet security men standing outside like bookends.
Ivan squeezes my hand once before we step inside.
Viktor is waiting in the back booth—same one he always takes, back to the wall, full view of the entrance. But he’s not alone.
Beside him sits a boy who can only be Eddie.
“There he is,” Ivan says, smiling.
“Cool,” I reply, doing my best to stay relaxed ahead of the prospect of meeting the man who ordered my kidnapping. “He looks nice.”
Eddie is wearing a soft pink sweater and jeans, and there’s a milkshake already sweating on the table in front of him, two straws poking out of the whipped cream.
Viktor stands when we approach. He doesn’t smile, but there’s no hostility in his posture either. Just calm authority.
“Ivan,” Viktor says, offering his hand.
Ivan shakes it—firm, brief, no lingering tension.
Then Viktor turns to me.
“Landon.”
I lift my chin. “Viktor.”
He gestures to the seat opposite him. “Sit. Please.”
We slide into the U-shaped booth. Eddie scoots closer to Viktor to make room. He gives me a shy, genuine smile.
“I’m Eddie,” Eddie says. “Viktor’s… well, hisForever.” He blushes a little as he says it, but there’s pride in his voice too.
I smile back—real, warm. “I’m Landon. Ivan’s…Forevertoo, I guess.”
Eddie’s eyes brighten and I feel an immediate bond between us. It feels good, real, and actually pretty damn exciting.
Before I know it, Eddie pushes the milkshake toward me. “I already ordered one for us to share. Chocolate with extra whipped cream. And cookies are coming… chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin. Viktor said we could have whatever we want tonight.”
I laugh—soft, surprised. “Perfect.”
The waiter appears almost immediately with a fresh tray: two tall milkshakes, napkins, extra straws. He sets everything down without a word and disappears again. Viktor waits until he’s gone before he speaks.
