Page 62 of Runaway Queen

“Rad vstreche, Dyadya,” she said, her accent passable.

“A ty,”I responded. “If you ever want to practice speaking Russian with someone, I’m your man,” I told her.

She nodded, shaking my hand with a serious expression.

She jerked her head toward her little brother. “This is Ruslan. He’s shy.”

“Is he? That’s all right, it’s okay to be shy sometimes,” I said quietly.

Crouched there on the floor, I watched the little boy peek out from behind his big sister. Then he emerged, one timid step after another. I marveled at how normal the children were. Untouched by the violence that had destroyed my life, and Kirill’s. Somehow, despite their father beingpakhanof a powerful bratva, they still smiled with perfect innocence. That kind of innocence had to be preserved. As Ruslan approached, and solemnly put his hand in mine, shaking it with intense concentration, I vowed to myself that I’d help preserve it, any way I could. I’d make sure Leo also had the same kind of innocence. I could tell Sofia had fought hard to protect it, and so would I.

“Okay, now, I’m going to give your uncle some tea. Why don’t you two go and play,” Molly said.

“Can’tDyadyaNikolai come with us to the playroom?” Kira challenged her mother. “I thought he was here to meet us, not you.”

“Miss Chernova, stop being such a handful and give me a minute. You’ll get him all to yourself soon,” Molly said, a stern look on her face, though her lips were twitching.

She and Kirill headed in the direction of the kitchen.

I got up to follow them, heading toward the distant clank of dishes. “Don’t tell me Olga is still the housekeeper here.”

Molly snorted, an elegant sound. “Just try and take away the best nanny I’ve ever had. She’s housekeeper supreme these days, and in charge of every single person, myself and Kirill included most days.”

“Nikolai Viktorovich,” a voice called to me as I entered the kitchen. Olga hadn’t changed much since I’d last seen her. She was standing at the kitchen island, her hands white with flour.

“Proshlo mnogo vremeni,” I said.

She smirked at me. “Dobryy den.”

“And for the idiots in the audience who can’t learn Russian no matter how hard they try?” Molly perched at the island and looked expectantly at me.

“She’s missed me,” I translated wrongly.

Olga huffed. “I’m glad to see prison hasn’t made you any more bearable.”

I looked at the pastries she was arranging on the baking tray. “Don’t tell me you’re makingpelmeni?”

Olga shrugged and avoided my eyes.

I couldn’t stop my grin. “So, you did miss me, then.”

“You caused Kirill Viktorovich and Mallory so much worry. Of course, I’m glad you’re out, so they can stop thinking about you all the time.”

“Right, whatever you say,” I murmured and winked at her.

She huffed and bustled off.

Molly was laughing at the back and forth.

Kirill was standing on the balcony outside, and I went to join him, the wind instantly buffeting me. I peered over the high railing down at the city below. Central Park was a huge green square, outlined in gray city blocks.

“I was surprised by your call,” Kirill said, studying me.

“I was surprised that you answered.”

Kirill shrugged. “I’m glad you’re out.”

“I’m surprised you trust me around the kids. I got the impression that you didn’t.”

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