Page 82 of Emerald Vices

“Because Andrey is a different man. It’s the family you choose that matters, Misha. And you are the family we choose.”

He blinks and two fat tears drip down his cheeks.

“Now, you’re going to lie down and I’m going to stay with you until you fall asleep, okay?”

I expect some pushback, but Misha just nods and lies down obediently. It takes only a few strokes of his hair before his eyes get heavy. Soon after that, his breathing is a soft, even snore.

By the time I get upstairs, I’m exhausted to my bones, but my mind is whirring.

Andrey is sitting up in bed, waiting for me. “How is he?”

I pull off my clothes and climb under the covers. “Broken.”

Andrey touches my chin until I have to look him in the eye. “How are you?”

I dab away the tears still glistening on my cheeks. “Drained. And pissed. What kind of man—what kind of monster—would use his own son like that?”

Andrey’s silver eyes smolder, and I know he feels the same way I do. “The kind of monster that needs to be stopped,” he grits.

“You have to kill him, Andrey.”

Andrey smiles, though it’s tinged with sadness. “My little bird has talons. Who knew?”

I’m in no mood to make light of things, though. “You need to talk to Misha again tomorrow. He’s convinced that a part of you will hate him now that you know who he really is.”

“Of course I don’t hate him. My only instinct is to protect him. As much as those babies in your belly.”

I throw my arms around him, and he falls back against the bed under my weight. “You’re amazing.”

He snorts. “You’re only saying that because I saved your life.”

“I’m not.” Hiking myself up on one elbow, I look down at him, tracing the lines of his face. “Watching you work today… that was amazing, too.”

He chuckles. “Now, I know you’re tired.”

“I’m being serious. It was actually—” I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. “—kind of a turn-on.”

He stops short, his eyebrow arching. “A turn-on, you say?”

“Don’t get me wrong; I’m still not into violence. But I don’t know—something about the… brutality.” I slap my hands over my eyes. “That didn’t come out the way I meant it to.”

Pushing me down, Andrey slides his body over mine. “Then try again,” he whispers into my ear.

My skin tingles as he pulls at my earlobe with his teeth. “Now, it’s hard to think straight.” Especially with the way his erection is pressing against my thigh.

“Should I get off you?”

I grab his shoulders. “Don’t you dare.”

Smiling, he presses his lips to my neck. “Then I suggest you give it another try.”

I wrinkle my nose in concentration. “Well, it’s just something about seeing you take charge like that. Watching you be the pakhan—you never faltered, never backed down. You were confident and determined and… hot.”

“I knew it. I’m just a piece of meat to you.”

Half-heartedly, I try to push him off me, but he’s circling his lips over my nipple, wetting the thin material of my shirt.

“You’re much more than just a piece of meat to me,” I say softly. “So much more.”

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