Page 92 of Viktor

“My parents…”

“Will move with us. Delia needs her grandparents.”

“Dad might have something to say about that.”

“I can be convincing.”

“Speaking of parents,” Kade interrupted, “our parents andBabushkaare in the air now. They want to meet their grandchildren.”

Viktor’s eyes went wide. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“What’s wrong?” Sara asked.

“Mama is gonna beat my ass.”

“Why would she do that?” Sara tilted her head toward him.

“She’s Catholic, and you’re married.”

“She’s getting a divorce,” Conner reminded him, and he gave his brother a what-the-fuck look.

“Do you think that’ll matter to our very religious mother? Maybe I should hide out with my girls until they’re gone.”

Angel took his hand. “Calm the fuck down, Viktor. Your mother is going to hear you out, and when she finds out what Sara’s ex did, she’ll be the first to tell you the sin is with him. She’ll welcome Sara with open arms. She might tell you not to touch her until her divorce is final, though.”

“Fuck that shit.” He pulled Sara to him and wrapped her up. “I’m touching her anytime I damn well want to.”

“Come on, Romeo, let’s go meet your nephew.” Kade slapped him on the back and tugged Angel into the hospital room behind him.

“You ready?” Sara whispered.

He nodded, and they followed Conner into the room.

Delia was sitting up in bed, and Mateo was sprawled at the bottom. Viktor turned away for a moment to get his emotions under control. He looked so much like Kade. Except for his eyes. He had Angel’s eyes. He was the spitting image of Kade and Nikoli when they were that age. Love and pride swelled in his chest. Mateo was his flesh and blood, and he loved him on sight.

When he was able to breathe, he turned back to the kids.

“Mateo, this your Uncle Viktor.” Kade gestured to him, and Mateo turned around to study him. Those green eyes were piercing and looked right through him. It was chilling. He understood what Conner meant. This boy would need a lot of help. There was something dead in his eyes. As scary as it was, it didn’t make him love the kid any less. It only made him want to protect him more.

“Hi, Mateo.” He scooted Delia over and sat beside her. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You look likeTioConner, but no.” The little boy frowned, looking between the two of them.

“They’re twins,” Delia confided, patting Viktor’s hand. “They’re supposed to look like that.”

Mateo sucked his bottom lip in and worried it with his teeth.

“Mateo.”

The little boy’s head whipped in Conner’s direction. The sheer love in his eyes was breathtaking to behold. Whatever happened between them bonded them for life.

“Sí,TioConner?”

“Delia’s your family now. She belongs to Viktor, which means she belongs to us. Your cousin, but you will treat her like a sister. Your job is to protect her.”

“I can do that.” He looked over at Delia and smiled, resolve burning bright in his eyes.

Kade and Viktor both understood what Conner had just done. Mateo needed someone to anchor him to this side of the demons living in his soul. Delia was nothing but sunshine and rainbows. If there ever was a balm for anyone’s battered soul, it was her. By charging Mateo with her protection, it gave him something to fight for, and she’d help him understand what family and love really were in a way he could handle because he’d learn what it was from a child’s perspective.

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