Page 45 of Bratva Daddies for the Single Mom

Viktor moved to the computer screen and typed in our names, lining each of us up on the lanes. Rails rose on lane two, giving the twins an advantage that would keep their balls from rolling into the gutters.

Fyodor rolled up his sleeves. I couldn’t look away from the sight of his long fingers working with deft precision. He grinnedfrom the side of his mouth and dropped to a knee beside Hannah. “Which one do you like?”

“Purple.” Hannah popped up onto her toes with her arms wide. “Purple is my favorite.”

“And what about you, Hailey?” He turned to Hailey while sliding a small purple ball off the rack and handing it to Hannah. “Try that one.”

Hailey pointed. “Yellow.”

Fyodor handed her a yellow ball and rocked to his feet. “And what is Annie’s favorite color?”

My cheeks heated at the look he gave me, a look so full of emotions that it locked my throat. I rubbed it to ease the feeling.

“Green.” Hailey answered for me. She heaved her yellow ball close to her stomach and carried it over to the ball return. She dropped it with a clang and pushed her hair back from her face with the backs of her hands. I’d braided their hair in matching French braids before the men picked us up, but their constant action and adventurous spirits loosened their hair and sent it around their faces in loose curls.

Fyodor held out a green ball in one hand, hefting it in my direction. “Green it is.”

“Thank you.” I took the ball and cradled it at my stomach. Soon, I’d look like I swallowed a bowling ball. Already, I noticed a slight swelling in my stomach, small enough that most people wouldn’t notice. Viktor, Ilya, and Fyodor were not most people. They noticed things no one else did, especially Ilya. My time to tell them before they found out for themselves was running out.

“Dinner is served.” Ilya strolled in, two large paper bags in each hand. He sniffed appreciatively. “Italian was an excellent choice.”

“I can feel the heartburn already.” I laughed while adding my ball to the ball return.

“Can we play first?” Hannah picked up her ball and walked toward the lane. “I’m not hungry yet.”

“One game. Then food.” I welcomed a chance to sit down and eat in relative peace before having to help the girls with their meals. They were still messy enough that they required constant supervision with things like spaghetti. Any noodle, really.

“You eat. I’ll watch them.” Viktor nudged me toward the table where Ilya set containers out on a long black table. Matching leather chairs circled the table, and I spotted a bar tucked into the back corner, the lights around it dark and cold so that it wasn’t noticeable at first glance.

Fyodor caught me looking and slid a hand around my back, ducking to whisper in my ear. “We wanted the place to be as kid-friendly as possible.”

“You did great.” I meant every word. “This is the most fun we’ve had together in months.” My play dates with the girls usually consisted of trips to the park, sometimes the movies when we had enough money. Seeing them enjoy the simplicity of a night out bowling—even if it was in Viktor’s luxurious mansion—caused the conflict I’d been fighting about telling them I was pregnant to twist tighter and tighter until eating became impossible. I slid into my seat anyway and propped my elbows on the table. Who cared about proper manners tonight? Not me. What was I going to do about my secret? If I admitted one of them was the father, I might lose all my parental rights.

“Nice.” Viktor’s voice rang out in a temperate cadence.

I glanced over my shoulder in time to see him holding out his hand to Hailey, who slapped a high-five to his palm. “I did it.” Hailey jumped and twirled. “Your turn, Hannah.”

Viktor stayed beside the computer. He motioned for Hannah to go ahead. My shy daughter grinned and stuck her tongue between her teeth in her thinking pose. She released the ball,watched it bang against the rail, then spin straight at the pins, knocking down six.

Hannah squealed and clapped, then high-fived Viktor and jumped up and down while waiting on her ball to come back for her next roll.

Tears burned the back of my throat. How did a man as fierce as Viktor turn into a marshmallow with my girls? I almost wouldn’t have believed it, except he looked so comfortable talking to them.

Ilya nudged a plate in front of me. “Eat.”

“Bossy.” I rolled my eyes for dramatic effect but picked up my fork and took the first delicious bite. After that, I inhaled the entire plate of chicken Alfredo, along with three garlic knots.

Hannah and Hailey joined us at the table, taking up chairs on either side of me. Ilya grinned from across the table and handed each of them a garlic knot. “Excellent games. You must be professionals.”

Hailey giggled. Hannah twirled her pasta around her fork tines and kicked her feet back and forth. “What else can we do?”

“Are you tired of bowling already?” Fyodor asked.

Hailey lifted one shoulder in a perfect imitation of my shrug. “Not really.” She leaned forward and pointed. “Is that an arcade?”

Ilya laughed loud enough to startle everyone at the table. “Yes.”

“Can we play?” Hannah asked.

---