Page 176 of The Bratva King

“You built this without us. You proved what you needed to prove a long time ago, Nikolai.”

“Thank you.”

He turns to face me. “And you have a family now.”

“Yes.”

A smile touches his lips. “About damn time you found someone.”

I shrug.

“I’m happy for you. Both of you. The whole family situation.” He pauses. “Bring them to New York. Sofia wants to meet them. The boys would like Luke.”

“Soon,” I say.

“Good.” He grips my shoulder. “You deserve this, Nikolai. You deserve to be happy.”

I don’t know what to say. I’ve never thought about what I deserve. I’ve only thought about surviving the day.

The people who love me think I deserve it. That’s what matters. And I don’t intend to lose the two people who bring me happiness.

“Thank you for backing me.”

“You don’t have to thank me. That’s what family does.” He checks his watch. “I have to go. If they put one foot over the line, call me.”

“I will.”

“I have to get going, too,” Maksim says. “The new club’s opening this week, and I have the final walkthrough tomorrow.”

“Thanks for your help.”

He pats my shoulder. “I like her,” he says. “We’ll spend more time together soon.”

He leaves, and now, it’s just Pasha and me.

Pasha stands. “I’m going to get my mom and Mila. They’re anxious to get home. Take some time with your family. You need to be with them.”

I don’t know how not to work. But for the first time since I started this venture in Vegas, I don’t want to work. I want to be home. I want to play dinosaurs with Luke while Gabby smiles at us.

I don't know when Luke stopped being Gabby's son and became mine, too.

Maybe the first time he reached for me.

Maybe the first time I carried him. The “when” doesn’t matter. It’s forever now.

I'm going home.

To my family.

45

Gabby

My body is molded against Nikolai’s, every inch of me fitted to him. His arm is around me, holding me close. He does that now. I hear him breathing slowly and steadily, but neither of us is asleep.

It’s been a week since we brought Luke home. A week of nightmares and healing and learning how to breathe again. Luke sleeps in his own room, surrounded by dinosaurs and weighted blankets and every comfort we can give him. He’s doing better than I expected. Better than I’m doing, if I’m honest.

Better than Nikolai.