Page 83 of Her Courage

Ryan sat across from Lottie, his wife Bryanna beside him with her hand resting on her slightly rounded belly. She was four months along now, glowing with that particular radiance expectant mothers seemed to have.

Ryan had warmed considerably toward our relationship with his sister over the past weeks. Seeing how we'd protected her, how we'd moved heaven and earth to keep her safe—it had earned his grudging respect.

"—and then Lottie actually told the senior VP that his projections were 'optimistically delusional,'" Bryanna was saying, her eyes dancing with mischief. "I thought David was going to have a stroke."

"In my defense," Lottie protested, her cheeks flushing, "his projections were optimistically delusional. Someone needed to say it."

"That's my girl," Kaleb said proudly, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Never afraid to speak truth to power."

"Even when power is your boss's boss's boss," Andrei added with amusement.

Lottie stuck her tongue out at him. "You're just mad because I was right and you had to admit it in front of the board."

"I'm never mad when you're right, kroshka," Andrei countered. "I'm mad when you're right and smug about it."

"I wasn't smug!"

"You were absolutely smug," Kaleb confirmed. "You did that little wiggle thing you do when you're pleased with yourself."

Lottie's blush deepened. "I do not wiggle."

"You absolutely wiggle," I chimed in, unable to resist. "It's adorable."

She threw a dinner roll at me. I caught it, grinning.

"No food fights at the table," Andrei said sternly, though his eyes danced with suppressed laughter. "Or someone's going to find herself over a lap."

Lottie's breath hitched audibly. Ryan cleared his throat, suddenly very interested in his plate.

"Anyway," Bryanna said loudly, clearly trying to redirect, "Lottie's been amazing in her new role as department director. The team loves her."

"Of course they do," Monica said, speaking up for the first time. "She's brilliant and kind. That's a rare combination in leadership."

Lottie looked like she might cry from the compliment. "Thank you, Monica. That means a lot."

"It's true," Sierra added, bouncing Keeley gently. "I've heard nothing but good things from people who work with you."

The praise made Lottie squirm—in a good way this time. She still struggled accepting compliments, still defaulted to self-deprecation when uncomfortable. But she was getting better.

We were all getting better.

"Uncle Kae-Kae!" Keeley suddenly shouted, reaching for Kaleb. "Up! Up!"

Kaleb immediately stood, circling the table to scoop his niece into his arms. "There's my favorite princess. Did you eat all your dinner?"

Keeley nodded enthusiastically, her curls bouncing. "All gone! I good girl!"

"The best girl," Kaleb confirmed, settling her on his hip. She immediately grabbed his tie, examining it with intense toddler focus.

Mikhail watched the interaction with an expression I couldn't quite read. Longing, maybe? Or protectiveness extended beyond Sierra to include Keeley?

Definitely something to watch.

"How's the new security system working out?" Ryan asked Andrei. "The one you installed at Sierra and Monica's places?"

"Perfectly," Andrei replied. "State of the art. Motion sensors, cameras, panic buttons in every room. Nothing gets within fifty feet of those houses without us knowing about it."

"Overkill," Monica muttered, but without heat.