Page 119 of Stolen By The Bratva King

Flashbulbs dazzle me, and I have to turn away for a moment. Leon holds up a palm in silent rebuke, and the photographers slink away to take pictures of the higher-profile guests.

“It’s okay, Emery,” Leon says, taking my hand. “But it’syouthey want to see. Does anyone need a photo of the Mayor’s bald spot?”

“I know.” I tuck myself beneath his arm. “What a crazy time it’s been, getting this together. It all happened so fast, but everything did.” I grin up at him. “Turns out a lot can happen in a month.”

“You still thinking about our deal?” he asks. “You’re a long ways overdue to leave me now. Whatever you’ve seen of me is all there is, so you better have made your mind up.”

Roman appears from behind us. “I heard that,” he says, handing me a glass of Prosecco. “You really gonna stay hitched to this idiot?”

I shrug. “Meh. He hasn’t watched a single Studio Ghibli movie, and he has shitty taste in friends, but I can fix him.”

Roman smirks at my sass. “I got news for you. Leon here watched all the Ghibli films while you were missing.”

I stare open-mouthed at my husband, and Roman bursts into laughter.

“Yep. He was fucked out of his skull on whisky, so he probably doesn’t remember much about them. But I know he cried at Howl’s Moving Castle.”

Leon rolls his eyes. “I was emotional, drunk, and yes—I was worried about Sophie, okay? Howl dragged his dumb ass into danger without a thought for the consequences.”

I arch a brow at him. “Wow,” I say, a teasing edge creeping into my voice. “Who’d do something like that?”

“Alright,moya zhena,” he says, nudging me. “You said you can fix me, so it’s on you.”

Viktor approaches with a plate full of buffet food. “Fucking excellent, this,” he says, stuffing a canapé in his mouth. “The place looks amazing. Demyan Brodsky said he’s gonna split his time between here and the hospital, help get the facilities up and running?”

“That’s the plan,” I say. “And Leon is taking some time off.”

Viktor’s eyes widen. “Woah. So, who’s holding the fort while you’re away?”

“Me,” Roman says, stealing a mini fruit tart from Viktor’s plate. “The things I do for you assholes, honestly. I retired for areason, Leon.”

“Roman, back in the fray!” Viktor says, through a mouthful of crumbs. “There goes the neighborhood.”

“For fuck’s sake, Viktor.” Roman pinches the bridge of his nose. “Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

He turns back to Leon. “My point—unless Viktor ate it—was that you need to relax. You’d better be having the best sex of your life while I’m back in town, being a better pakhan than you could ever?—”

“I’m not gonna discuss my intimate life with you,” Leon says, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. “But if you’re stepping up, I’ll take that as an order.”

I blush, and Leon decides that’s our cue to take our leave.

Leon leads me away from the scrum and down one of the corridors that leads off from the building’s foyer.

Before I can ask where we’re going, he opens a door into a play lounge, one of the new areas that’s off-limits to the guests.

To my surprise, Desi is already there, motoring a small toy car around on the striped rug.

“How does he do that?” I ask. “The guy justappears. Wasn’t he next to us two minutes ago?”

“I told him to come meet us here,” he says. “He has something to tell you. I’m sorry, but he insisted on doing it himself.”

Desi puts aside his toy and pulls me to the floor. It’s difficult to sit in my fancy dress, but I manage, and he crawls into my lap, his head on my chest.

“Emery.” He runs his fingertips over the fold of fabric at my neckline. “I found my family.”

My breath catches. I glance up at Leon, but his expression gives nothing away, and I curse inwardly.

Damn him.What a time to be stoic. We’re about to lose the little boy we’ve grown to love, and he’s gonna give me the poker face?

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