Page 160 of Hidden Empire

“Do whatever it takes.”

I want to get home to my wife more than anything, but if Nico can give Nina even a sliver of the pain she caused my little sister, a few more days away will be worth it.

Chapter 43

Dmitri

As I walk into the East Coast mansion, Jade is the first thing that I see. She’s with my brother on a large couch, and she looks as radiant as ever. Ivan is peppering kisses all over her face, making her giggle and squirm around; the sound breathes new life into me. When they don’t notice me, I continue to watch.

“I wish you had stubble like Dmitri,” Jade sighs, still smiling softly as she thinks of me. Happy to see I’m still firmly on her mind, I smile too.

“I couldn’t grow stubble if I tried,” Ivan jokes, poking the tip of her nose.

“I know, I know,” she teases. “Don’t worry, I like your silky soft face just the way it is. You actually do skin care with me, unlike Matteo.”

Ivan snorts. “I miss Dmitri too, Jade. He’ll come home soon.”

“Yeah,” she agrees sadly. “Soon.”

“Sooner than expected, Krasotka,” I say, announcing myself and stepping into the living area.

Jade shoots up from the couch, mouth wide open, as she stares at me.

“Holy shit, am I dreaming again?”

“If you are, so am I,” Ivan answers, equally surprised to see me.

Jade doesn’t need anymore convincing that this is real. My girl runs at me as fast as she can, and I catch her when she falls into me, protecting her stomach.

Her body radiates warmth as she climbs up me, wrapping her legs tightly around my waist. “You’re here,” she squeals, lips brushing against the side of my throat.

We breathe each other in, her sweet scent cascading around me.

“Fuck, I missed you,” I groan, inhaling with my nose buried in her hair. The slightest lingering of Ivan’s scent remains in her smell, but it doesn’t bother me one bit.

The relief I feel knowing that he’s kept her close enough for his smell to rub off on her is indescribable. I trust no one with her like I trust my brother. He’s kept her happy and safe, I know it, before even getting a debriefing. I can feel it in her hug.

My hands splay over her stomach as if being drawn there by magnets. “The babies?”

“Happy and healthy,” she reports, smiling at my touch. “They’re sleeping now, I think, but they’ll make me hungry in about an hour. Snack time is routine at this point with them.” The laugh following her words is stunning.

“Good,” I murmur, caressing her stomach over her t-shirt. “Are you sleeping?”

She snorts. “Mostly during the day lately. We’ve got a pair of night owls on our hands, babe. Just like you.”

“Yeah?” I ask, hearing words that are like music to my ears.

As soon as I can get a doctor here, I will. I need to see them again. The way my wife’s face lights up when she hears their heartbeats, it’s everything to me.

“Yeah, they’re too little to kick, but I feel them moving all the time.”

“Good,” I comment happily.

As my eyes flick over her shoulder at Ivan, Jade pokes me in the ribs and nods back at him. Silently giving me permission to leave her, I move to greet him. Closing the distance between Ivan and me, I feel like it’s been ages when it’s only been two weeks. My love and respect for him has never been greater.

“She smells like you,” I say, watching his eyes widen with a hint of fear.

“Dmitri, we don’t—it’s not like that.” He’s worried, obviously. The two of them have only gotten closer, and he doesn’t want me to think lines have been crossed. Ivan is too pure for words. Of course, I don’t think he’s gone too far.

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