Page 146 of Caged

I never imagined my life as a widowed father, let alone finding another woman.

I can never bring her mom back, as much as that kills me, I know I have to look to the future.

I’ve seen firsthand with Jax what grief can do if you stay in that cycle.

“Are you not going to help Mila?” I ask as Elena still sits next to me, chewing on her lip. The same thing her mom used to do when she was deep in thought.

“Princess, tell me what’s on your mind, daddy will fix it.”

There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.

“Daddy, is Mila staying? You know, for good?”

I frown, wondering why she is asking and wrap my arm around her shoulder.

“Yes. She’s not leaving us. Why do you ask?”

“It’s just, she left us before, and you were really sad. I don’t want her to go again. I love her. It’s like I have a mom again.”

Fuck. My heart.

She needs stability.

“I’m sorry you were upset before. I’m sorry I left too.”

She shakes her head.

“You brought her home, I’m happy.”

I smile at her but deep down, this hurts. Knowing, even by accident you made your child upset, when all you live for is to see them smile.

“I promise, I will do everything in my power to keep you that way. Deal?”

She taps on her chin, as if to debate my statement.

I bet she learned that from Alexei.

“I think you should marry her.”

My eyes go wide and my heart almost skips a beat. It’s not something before Mila I had ever considered.

Except now, I’d do anything to keep her. To officially make her one of us, a Volkov. And bring more children into the world to love.

Maybe Elena is right.

“Now?”

“What do you mean, daddy?”

“I can ask her.”

I tug at the collar of my shirt.

“But, do you have a ring?”

I know Mila won’t want anything flashy, it isn’t her. She would rather I carve her name into my thigh next to the stab wound.

I’m prepared, but Elena doesn’t know that.

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