Page 173 of The Bratva King

The SUV speeds away. I kiss the top of his head, his cheeks, and his nose. He’s alive. I don’t see any blood. Nothing looks broken.

Luke grunts. “You’re squishing me.”

I realize he’s been pushing away from me, and relax my grip.

I pull back to look at his face. “Did he hurt you?”

Luke shakes his head. “The man had a bad voice. Too loud.”

My throat closes. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”

“Nik got me.”

I nod. “Yes, he did.”

I look over at Nikolai, who’s sitting in the other seat. He’s staring at both of us. He’s not stimming. Not moving. Simply staring but not seeing.

I reach over and touch his arm. “You got him. Thank you.”

I take my first real breath since Nik called me. “You’re safe now. We’re going home.”

Nikolai looks at me, and I see him coming back. “He’s okay.”

I nod. “He is.”

Luke is pressing his face against my neck. He’s trembling. I’m trembling. We’re falling apart and holding each other together.

Nikolai rests his hand on Luke’s back, a steady presence.

“Nik?” Luke’s voice is muffled against my shirt.

“I’m here.”

Luke pulls back to reach for him, and the sight of them together nearly undoes me. Not jealousy but gratitude so complete that it hurts.

Nik holds out his arms, and Luke goes into his lap.

Now I’m really crying. Joy. Relief. Everything I’ve been holding in finally breaks loose.

I watch them hold each other, communicating in their special way. I love these two boys of mine with my entire being.

At the estate, we go straight to Luke’s room.

“He needs clean clothes,” Nik says. “And a bath, with bubbles.”

“That can wait.”

“No. It can’t. I promised him.”

I look at Luke. He’s exhausted, with deep circles under his red-rimmed eyes. And then, I smell it, and understand. Nik would understand why Luke needs that bath. Potty training Luke was far easier than I expected. His little mind couldn’t tolerate the idea of being wet.

I want to cry over what my baby went through.

But I have to be strong.

I smile. “Hey, that’s right! You got new bubbles.”

“I need to check on things,” Nik says.