Page 46 of Bratva Daddies for the Single Mom

I winced internally at the question, sure that Viktor’s machines would need money to play.

Viktor chewed his food and winked at me. “I’ll talk to your mother about it once you’re finished eating. Will you bowl one more game while we work it out?”

“Okay.” Hannah seemed more than ready to start a new game, but Hailey wrinkled her nose and huffed just enough to show her annoyance.

“Did you know that I am the best bowler of all three of us?” Fyodor tapped his fingertip on the table. “I challenge both of you to try and beat me.”

“Okay.” One thing Hailey could not pass up was a challenge.

I wiped my mouth and set my napkin on top of the plate.

The excitement of a new place, a new game, and a challenge kept the girls interested in everything except the food on their plates. They finally ate enough to be satisfied and hopped up from their seats.

Viktor strolled around the table and filled Hailey’s seat when Fyodor led the girls back to the wooden platform where the lanes stretched out in gleaming rows. Happy laughter mingled with Fyodor’s rumbling voice.

“I can set the games as free to play, but I wanted to check with you before I agreed they could play. Didn’t want to step on your parental rights.” He stacked my plate with Hailey’s and pushed them to the center of the table.

My earlier concern rushed up, then fell away. In one sentence, he’d destroyed my fear. Of course, he was talking about children he had no right to. What would happen if he knew the truth about my pregnancy? Would he change then? Would he become the dangerous Mafia Boss I envisioned?

“They can play. It’s fine with me.” I stopped the whirling thoughts and pushed back from the table. “Ready to play? I might not be as good as Fyodor, but I used to be pretty good.”

“Really?” A challenge lit his eyes. “Show me what you can do.”

I’d love to, but not on the bowling lanes. If the girls were not here, I’d have them upstairs in the bedroom. But I’d agreed to introduce the girls to the three of them, and I’d almost calledand canceled five times. The girls needed more men in their lives who were loving and kind, even if those were the same men who protected me with threats of violence. Ilya did more than threaten.

Hours later, after several games of bowling and the girls had played every game in the arcade, Ilya gave us a ride home. He walked us to the door and followed me inside despite my attempts at protesting.

Hannah and Hailey found it hilarious and chatted with Ilya the whole time. He left after making a sweep of the apartment, checking every nook and cranny, even going into the bathroom and looking behind the shower curtain.

“What was the plan if you found someone back there?” I crossed my arms and propped my shoulder on the door. The girls were changing into their pajamas in their room, and I needed to read them a bedtime story, but Ilya’s actions put me on edge.

“I’d take care of it.” The dangerous smile crooked his lips.

“Do you really think someone would be here? Viktor said we were safer now that people knew.” I stopped there and raised my eyebrows.

Ilya filled in the rest with a nod. “You are safe. I am paranoid and this is something I do every time I enter a place after leaving. Even my own home.” He kissed my cheek. “I’ll go now. It was good spending time with you and the girls.”

“We had a great time.” It was true, and I didn’t bother even trying to hide the truth from Ilya on this. I moved out of the way and turned to follow Ilya to the door, closing and locking it behind him and waiting for his retreating footsteps before I returned to the girls’ room and tucked them in.

“When can we go back there?” Hailey tugged the covers up to her chin and yawned.

I brushed her hair from her cheeks and settled in at the foot of the bed. “You had a good time, huh?”

“The best time,” Hannah said with a sharp nod. “Fyodor is funny.”

“Yes, he is.” Quiet, solemn Fyodor came out of his shell around the girls. He’d surprised me tonight. They all had. I’d trusted them enough to let the girls meet them, and I think part of me expected the men to fail in some way so I had an excuse not to allow them around. Talk about getting bit in the ass by my own assumptions. “Okay. Book time.” I flipped the book around and read, looking over the top to make sure I didn’t skip anything.

Thirty minutes later, they were sound asleep. I slid off the bed and tiptoed into the living room. The saggy sofa dented when I sat on the middle cushion and leaned my head back on the edge. My phone rang, the vibrations running down my leg. Groaning, I checked the time on the screen. “Unknown number. I should make you leave a message. It’s too late for scheduling appointments.” I answered anyway, knowing full well that I continued to set myself up for the late calls. “Annie’s Massages.”

“Hello, Annie.”

A dark shiver prickled my skin into goosebumps. “Who is this?”

“Someone who’s concerned with your health.” The robotic voice laughed long and low. “I wouldn’t get mixed up with Viktor and his men. You don’t know what they do to women once they’re finished with them.”

Heart in my throat, pulse roaring and palms sweating, I dug my nails into my thigh, using the sting of pain to focus. “What do you mean?”

“Dead, honey. Just like all the other girls they pretend to want before they toss them aside.” The call ended, the click ominous in my ear.

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