Page 57 of Deadly Vows

Aleksandr, now standing behind me, placed his hands on my shoulders, squeezing gently, grounding me with his calm presence.

“Go,kiska. Enjoy the day,“ he said softly, his voice a low, steady hum in my ear. “You deserve it.”

I bit my lip, still feeling a tinge of reluctance, unsure I could relax. But the way the kids stared at me with their hopeful faces made me give in. Maybe a day out wasn’t such a bad idea.

“Alright,” I said finally, my heart melting under their gaze. “Let’s go to the zoo.”

Sasha squealed in delight, and Maxim’s smile grew wider. Sandy clapped her hands in triumph.

“Perfect! I’ll get the kids ready. You finish breakfast,” she said, already halfway out of the room, dragging the children with her.

I turned back to my plate, but my appetite was half gone. Aleksandr took the seat beside me, his eyes scanning my face.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” he asked, his voice low.

I nodded slowly, pushing a piece of egg around on my plate. “I think so. It’s just… I just need time to adjust. It’s been chaotic and traumatic since I arrived in New York. But the kids, Sandy… want me to go, and I don’t want to disappoint them.”

“You’re not disappointing anyone. You’ve been through hell, and we all just want you to heal in whatever feels right.”

His words sank in, and I released a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.

“Thank you, my love, for everything.”

He gave me another one of those sexy smiles and leaned back, crossing his arms. “You can thank me by eating your breakfast.”

I rolled my eyes but obediently took a bite of the croissant. It was buttery and flaky, melting in my mouth in a way almost too good to be real. Leave it to Aleksandr to make even breakfast feel like a luxury.

The zoo was alive with laughter, family chatter, and the excited squeals of children pointing out their favorite animals. Sasha tugged on my hand as we approached the lion exhibit, her eyes round as saucers.

“Look, Talia! They’re so big!” she exclaimed, bouncing on her toes.

I smiled down at her, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin and the simple joy of being surrounded by life and family. With the kids and Sandy, I felt like I could breathe again.

Standing beside me, Maxim pointed out a huge male lion lounging lazily in the sun. “He looks like Uncle,” he said with a small grin, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a moment of humor.

I laughed. The sound felt a bit foreign but good. “He does, doesn’t he? All tough and scary, but secretly he’s just a big softie.”

“Uncle isn’t scary,” Sasha declared, looking scandalized by the very idea. “He’s nice, and I love him.”

“I think it’s safe to say we all love him,” Sandy said, linking her arm to mine.

The day passed in a haze of laughter, ice cream cones, and wide-eyed wonder. At the aquarium, Sasha pressed her face against the glass of the giant fish tank, marveling at the colorful fish swimming just inches away from her. Maxim pointed out the sharks, his fascination clear in his eyes.

Sandy kept up her usual chatter, filling the silence with light conversation and jokes. It was nice to let someone else take the reins, to just exist in the moment.

After the aquarium, we headed to the diner, a 50s-style restaurant with checkered floors, neon lights, a jukebox, and booths lined with red vinyl. The kids immediately loved the place, especially when they saw the milkshakes. Sasha ordered strawberry with whipped cream and a cherry, while Maxim opted for chocolate. Sandy and I shared a vanilla one, just as thick and creamy as I remembered from childhood.

We ate burgers bigger than our hands and laughed when Sasha tried to take a bite but couldn’t fit the whole thing in her mouth. Maxim laughed the loudest.

When we left, the sky was tinted orange and pink, as the sun began to set. The day had passed so quickly, but it had been precisely what I needed. The tension I’d been holding in my shoulders had melted away. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t looking over my shoulder, expecting danger.

Back at the mansion, the kids were exhausted, their excitement finally giving way to sleepiness. Sandy carried Sasha to bed while Maxim trudged up the stairs, barely managing a wave goodnight before disappearing down the hall.

I lingered in the living room, staring out the window at the darkening sky, marveling at how lucky I was. As if sensing my thoughts, Aleksandr appeared behind me. His presence was all I needed to feel completely relaxed and at home.

“I have plans for you tomorrow,” he said, his voice deep and full of promise.

I turned to him, eyebrow raised. “Plans?”

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