Page 91 of Viktor

“TioConner is scary, but he no…” The little boy broke off as if searching for words. “He protect us because he is scary. He keep yourpadreaway.”

“Good. I don’t want him to hurt me again.”

“SometimesTioTomás hurt me.” Mateo’s voice lowered. “He love me, but sometimes he hurt me because he had to.”

“No.” The strength in Delia’s voice shocked Viktor. “That is not right, Mateo. If he hurt you, he didn’t love you.”

“He did,” Mateo insisted stubbornly, and Viktor watched that bleak look take over Kade’s expression.

“Uh uh,” Delia rebuffed. “My mommy never hits me. My Nana and Pawpawl don’t hit me either. They love me. They take care of me and sing to me and read to me. My daddy never did that. All he ever did was be mean to me, and he hurt me. That is not love, Mateo.”

“Tionot always mean to me.” They all heard the wistful note in his voice, and Viktor wanted to smash faces.

“Neither was my daddy. Sometimes he was nice, and it made the times he was mean hurt worse. He didn’t love me, and yourtiodidn’t love you. They wouldn’t have hurt us.”

“I don’t know…”

“I do.” The stubborn lilt in Delia’s voice had Conner chuckling.

“Maybe his cousin is exactly what he needs.”

Kade looked over at Conner’s whispered words. “You think?”

“We can tell him all day the same things she is, and because we don’t understand what he went through, it’s not impactful. Delia may not have grown up under the thumb of a cartel, but she grew up with a father who was abusive. Tomás and Roger share the same traits. I think Delia is the best medicine in the world for our kid.”

“Do all of you refer to each other’s children as ‘our kid’?” Sara asked, leaning into Viktor.

Angel answered her. “We do. Our family is tight-knit, and from what Kade tells me, you’re part of that family now.”

Viktor studied his sister-in-law. Her red hair was pulled up in a tight bun, and it only highlighted the dark circles under her eyes. She had on sweats and a t-shirt, a stark contrast to Kade, who was in a suit and tie. Stuffy. He’d have to talk to Kade about making sure she got more sleep. After everything she’d been through over the last year, she needed pampering.

Sara smiled hesitantly, but then Delia started laughing. Mason joined in, and then they heard Mateo do the same. Kade and Angel went completely still. Did the boy not laugh?

“That’s the first time we’ve heard him laugh,” Angel whispered, tears welling up. “She made him laugh.” She lunged at Sara and wrapped her in a hug. “She made my baby laugh.”

Viktor stepped back before he was knocked back. Miracles happening everywhere today. Hisbabushkawould tell him God was paying them back for all the troubles they’d been tested with. He’d count the win and be grateful.

“When are you coming home?” Kade asked, keeping his voice down so as not to disturb the kids.

“We got some shit to handle here first, and I haven’t even talked to Sara about New York. Hell, we just finally decided to give this a go.”

“New York?” Sara asked softly from beside him. She and Angel were still gripping each other like their lives depended on it.

“That’s where I live, baby, where my family is.”

“I…” She took a deep breath, and Angel hugged her.

“It’s a lot, I know, but you won’t be alone if you move up there. You’ll have all of us. Delia will have a big family that’ll love her.”

“I’ll buy a house big enough for your parents to stay with us too.”

“You’d do that?”

“Of course,moye sokrovishche. They are my family now too.”

“What if I’m not ready to move in with you?”

“Then I’ll rent you and our girl an apartment, and you can move in with me when you’re ready. What did I tell you, sweetheart? I’m a patient man, and I’ll wait until you’re ready, but I want you in New York where I know you’ll be safe.”

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