Page 57 of Viktor

“Give me kisses!” Mason demanded, and Delia swung forward off Viktor’s forearm and placed a sloppy kiss on Mason’s cheek. “Love you, my little monkey Princess.”

“Love you too!” She swung back up and wrapped her arms around Viktor’s neck. “Can I have a cookiebeforewe get home?”

Viktor roared with laughter. He loved this kid. So much.

“How about I have Gabe swing by Subway and get you one? They’re your favorite.”

“You remembered my favorite cookies?”

“Of course,malyshka.”

She studied him a long moment and then kissed him almost reverently on the cheek. “I love you too.”

Viktor’s knees went a little weak, and he sat down, not trusting them. His heart spasmed and contracted painfully. He loved the kid, accepted it, but to hear her tell him those words made his heart swell with love. “I love you too,malyshka, so much.”

She grinned. “Take me to the cookies!”

He looked at his brother, who nodded, giving him his approval. The kid might be an ass, but he understood family. Not only did he accept that Viktor had found his, Mason welcomed them both wholeheartedly.

“I’ll be back up as soon as I get them settled in the car.”

“Pfft, I don’t need a babysitter. You need to go take care of your woman.” Mason gestured toward Sara. “She needs you more than I do.”

“I’m not leaving you alone,brat. Not after what happened.”

“Fine, let Gabe babysit me. Sara needs you tonight.”

He glanced at her. She looked shell-shocked. It had to be a mixture of the attack and listening to Mason tell her she belonged to the Kincaids when she hadn’t come to accept it yet.

They needed to talk, and she needed to be taken care of.

And that was exactly what he was going to do.

Viktor pulled into the farmhouse driveway and yawned. Sara was out of the car before he even put the Jeep in park. Not that he blamed her. She’d been subjected to a lot today. Delia was jumping up and down in the back, hopped up on cookies. He grabbed the bag from Subway and got out, waiting until Delia unstrapped herself and jumped out when he opened her door. She had chocolate smeared around her mouth and on her chin. Cute as a button.

“You are a chocolaty mess.”

“It was soooo yummmyyy!” She rubbed her belly, content.

“Well, let’s hope you saved room for your sub. Your mother won’t speak to me for a week if all you eat is sugar.” He took her hand and walked with her up the front porch steps. Sara’s father was standing in the doorway watching him, a speculative look in his eye. He’d need to sit down and have a conversation with the man, but not tonight. He was wiped.

“Roy, I hope you’re hungry. We brought subs for supper.”

Roy moved out of the way and let them in the house. He could hear Sue Anne in the kitchen talking a mile a minute. She must be asking about Sara’s face. “Go on in the kitchen,malyshka. I’ll be right there.”

When Delia ran off toward the kitchen, he turned to face Roy. “She was attacked at the hospital. Local police are looking into it, but we both think Roger was behind it. I have more men coming down to try to find proof.”

“How did it happen?”

“She wanted coffee, and Delia was asleep in my lap. I asked her not to go, but she promised not to go farther than the nurses’ station. I should have known better. Sara does what she wants. She decided to stroll up and down the hall. He grabbed her and pulled her into the stairwell. When she wasn’t back, I went looking for her. Guy ran off when he heard me.”

“You didn’t follow him?” Roy’s tone came out hard and gruff.

“I wanted to, but Sara came first. She needed medical attention.”

“Good man.” Roy slapped him on the back. “Thanks for taking care of my girls.”

Viktor nodded. “I plan on doing it for a long time to come, but that conversation can wait. I’m tired, starving, and I need to make sure Sara puts ice on her face.”

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