Page 22 of Ruthless Daddies

He chuckles, the sound dry and humorless. “Svetlana,” he says, shaking his head. “She’s Ivan’s mistake. A woman he got involved with after Elena died. His…girlfriend, I suppose, though she never deserved the title. More of a mistress, really.”

I bite my lip, unsure if I should press further, but the curiosity gnaws at me. “Why is she still around?”

“Because she doesn’t know how to stay gone,” he says simply, his tone edged with irritation. “She’s like a weed. She’s been trying to worm her way back into Ivan’s life ever since he cut her off, but he won’t have it. She’s nothing more than a reminder of a time he’d rather forget.”

The bitterness in his voice surprises me, and I glance up at him. “Do you hate her?”

“Hate?” He looks at me, his smile returning, though it doesn’t reach his eyes. “No. Hate’s a strong word. But I don’t like what she brings out in my brother. And I don’t like the way she looked at you.”

The last part is said softer, almost like an afterthought, but it makes my heart skip a beat. “Me?” I ask, feigning innocence.

Nikolai stops, turning to face me fully. His gaze is sharp, intense. “Yes, you. Svetlana doesn’t like anyone she sees as a threat, and you, Alice, are new. Different. That makes you a target in her eyes.”

I swallow hard, the weight of his words settling on my shoulders. “I’ll keep my distance,” I say quietly.

“Good,” he says, his smile softening just a little. “But don’t worry too much. She may bark, but she knows better than to bite.

The driveto the park is quiet, tension riding in the car as Nikolai keeps a watchful eye on the children and the surrounding streets. I sit beside Mila and Luka, who seem more excited than I’ve seen them in days. Mila chatters away, asking me about what games we’ll play and whether she can stay on the swings forever, while Luka stays quiet, staring out the window, but I can see the faintest hint of a smile on his lips.

When we pull up to the park, I see the children’s faces light up. Poor kids, they have acres and acres of lands to play in, but no real friends.

There are a few families scattered around—a couple of kids playing tag, a group gathered near the jungle gym, and afew parents chatting by the benches. It’s peaceful, the kind of normalcy Mila and Luka probably don’t get enough of.

The car door opens, and Nikolai steps out first, scanning the area with sharp eyes. Two other men follow, part of the ever-present security detail that never seems far from the Morozovs. They’re not as overtly intimidating as Nikolai or Ivan, but their broad shoulders and silent stances are enough to draw attention.

As I step out with the children, I glance at Nikolai, hesitating for a moment before speaking. “I think…maybe you and the others should keep a bit of distance,” I say carefully, knowing he won’t like it.

He raises an eyebrow, his expression hardening. “Distance?”

“It’s just…” I glance toward the other parents, who are already stealing curious glances at the car and the men stepping out. “We want Mila and Luka to socialize, right? If people see you and the others standing there like bodyguards, it might make them uncomfortable. It’s a park. The whole point is for the kids to feel normal, at least for a little while.”

Nikolai stares at me for a moment, his jaw tightening. I can tell he wants to argue, but then his gaze shifts to Mila, who’s tugging on my hand, her excitement barely contained, and Luka, who looks more curious than he usually does about his surroundings.

“Fine,” he says at last, his voice clipped. “But we’re not going far.”

I nod, grateful. “Thank you.”

He steps aside, motioning for me to go ahead, and I take Mila’s and Luka’s hands, leading them toward the playground. I can feel Nikolai’s eyes on me the entire way, and I know he’s alreadycalculating the best vantage point, the places he can watch from without drawing too much attention.

As we approach the playground, Mila lets go of my hand, running toward the swings with an excited squeal. Luka hesitates, looking up at me as if seeking permission, and I give him a small nod. “Go ahead,” I say softly. “Have fun.”

He walks off slowly, more reserved than Mila, but he heads toward the group of kids playing near the jungle gym, and I take that as a win.

I find a bench nearby, sitting down with a clear view of the playground. The sun is warm, and the sound of laughter makes me smile. I love kids, always have. I guess that’s one of the reasons I graduated in education. I always wanted to be a teacher, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do once I save enough money.

Mila is already making friends, taking turns pushing and being pushed on the swing.

Luka, meanwhile, has joined a small group of boys climbing the jungle gym. He’s not laughing yet, but he’s talking, and that’s more than I’d hoped for.

It’s a good day.

I glance over my shoulder and spot Nikolai and the other men standing a little way off, blending in as best they can. Nikolai catches my eye, his expression unreadable, but I give him a small smile, hoping he can see that this was the right decision. He doesn’t smile back, but his stance relaxes ever so slightly, and that feels like progress.

I’m watching Mila giggle as she swings higher and higher when something catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. Luka, who had been sitting atop the jungle gym moments ago, is now on the far side of the playground, being led by another boy—slightly older, maybe eight or nine—toward the edge of the park.

My brow furrows, a strange sense of unease creeping into my chest. I rise slowly from the bench, my eyes scanning for Nikolai, but he’s still standing at a distance, watching the other side of the playground. When I turn back, I see a man standing just beyond the park boundary, near the tree line. He’s dressed too neatly for the park—dark pants, a pressed shirt—and something about the way he stands, just far enough out of view, makes my stomach churn.

And then I see him crouch, talking to Luka, his hand resting lightly on the boy’s shoulder.

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