Page 33 of Accidental Bratva Daddy

The fierce protectiveness in his voice should frighten me. Instead, it makes me feel cherished, treasured in a way I've never experienced before. I lean up to press a soft kiss to his lips, pouring all the emotion I can't voice into the gesture.

When we part, Luka's expression has softened into something almost tender. "Sleep now, my little kitten,” he murmurs, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "We have much to discuss in the morning, but for now, rest. You're safe with me."

As I settle back against his chest, lulled by the steady beat of his heart, I can't help but wonder what the morning will bring. Will Luka regret this moment of vulnerability? Will he push me away, retreat behind the cold, ruthless facade of the mafia boss?

Or will he let me in, let me see the man behind the mask—the man I'm quickly realizing I could fall in love with, despite all the reasons I shouldn't?

With those questions swirling in my mind, I surrender to exhaustion, wrapped safely in Luka's strong arms. Whatever comes next, I know one thing for certain: nothing will ever be the same again.

16

Luka

The soft glow of the computer screen casts eerie shadows across my office as I scan through financial reports. Two weeks have passed since the incident at the Governor's mansion, and an unsettling quiet has settled over my operations. It's the kind of silence that makes my teeth itch, my instincts screaming that something is coming, that I’m missing something crucial.

I rub my eyes, fatigue weighing heavily on me. The wound in my side has mostly healed, but the memory of that night—the pain, the fear, the revelation about Natalia's pregnancy—still lingers. So much has changed in such a short time, and I'm still struggling to find my footing in this new reality. What I do know is this much: I have more to lose than ever, and I’m going to make sure that nothing happens to my wife and children. Which is why I’m burning the midnight oil when I should be sleeping and healing.

A sharp knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. "Come in," I call out, straightening in my chair.

Alexei, my most trusted lieutenant, enters with a file tucked under his arm. His face is carefully neutral, but I can see the tension in the set of his shoulders. Whatever news he brings, it's not good.

"Report," I command, gesturing for him to sit.

Alexei remains standing, his posture rigid. "We've located Viktor, boss," he says without preamble. "He's in Seattle."

I lean back in my chair, processing this information. Viktor Orlov, Natalia's uncle and the man responsible for the hit on her father. The puppet master pulling strings from the shadows. "Seattle? What's he doing there?"

"Officially, he's there on business for his coffee company," Alexei explains, handing me the file. "But our sources indicate it's just a front for money laundering."

I flip through the documents, my jaw clenching as I take in the details. Bank statements, travel records, surveillance photos—all pointing to a massive operation that goes far beyond a simple coffee business.

"How long has he been there?" I ask, my mind already racing with possibilities.

"About a week," Alexei replies. "He's scheduled to return to Moscow in three days."

I nod, closing the file with a sharp snap. "Good work. Keep monitoring his movements. I want to know every step he takes, every person he meets with."

Alexei hesitates, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. "Boss, there's something else. We've intercepted some chatter... it seems Viktor might be looking for his niece. He’s has something planned for Mrs. Volkova.”

My blood runs cold at the mention of Natalia. Instinctively, my hand goes to the healing wound on my side, a reminder of how close I came to losing everything. "What kind of 'something'?" I demand, my voice low and dangerous.

"We're not sure yet," Alexei admits. "But whatever it is, he’s pulling back on other business to concentrate on it. Has some of the rival families nervous.”

I stand abruptly, needing to move, to do something to quell the restless energy suddenly coursing through me. "Double the security detail on the house," I order, pacing the length of my office. "I want eyes on Natalia at all times. And get me everything you can on Viktor's operation in Seattle. Bank records, property deeds, shell companies—all of it."

Alexei nods, already turning to carry out my orders.

Natalia. My wife, the mother of my unborn children. The woman who has somehow wormed her way past all my defenses, awakening feelings I thought long dead.

She deserves to know the truth about her uncle, about the danger we're all in. But the thought of causing her any more pain, of potentially harming the twins with the stress of this revelation... it makes something twist painfully in my chest.

As the door closes behind Alexei, I sink back into my chair with a heavy sigh. My gaze drifts to the framed photo on my desk—a candid shot of Natalia laughing at something off-camera, her eyes sparkling with joy. It was taken just a few days ago,at a moment when she thought I wasn't looking. For some odd reason I can’t quite name, I was drawn to take the photo and have it printed, so I could remember her like this forever.

The sight of it now sends a pang through my heart. How can I tell her that the uncle she loves, the man she trusts, is responsible for so much pain and destruction? How can I shatter her world yet again?

With another sigh, I push away from my desk. Sitting here brooding won't solve anything. I need to see Natalia, to remind myself of what I'm fighting for.

I make my way downstairs, my footsteps echoing in the cavernous halls of the mansion. As I approach the newly designated nursery, I hear Natalia's voice drifting through the partially open door. She's humming softly, an old Russian lullaby that tugs at some long-buried memory.

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