Page 94 of Viktor

“It’s not anything you should worry about,malyshka. It’s a grown-up word that only grown-ups use.”

She frowned, but he distracted her by tickling her. She bumped her newly casted arm against the bed railing and whimpered. He pulled her injured arm to him and carefully kissed her little fingers. “Does it hurt?”

She nodded, that lip wobbling. “Can I have ice cream?”

“Of course, you can have ice cream.” He hugged her again. “I’ll send Uncle Conner to get you some.”

Sara rolled her eyes, but she didn’t say anything. Delia had him wrapped tight. The next twelve years were going to be eventful if he gave in every time that lip wobbled.

Smiling, she settled back and watched the two of them whisper back and forth. Viktor was her forever guy. She wasn’t jumping into marriage with him, but she would go to New York and build on the solid foundation they already had. He would give her the time and the space she needed to heal, and he’d love her the entire time.

For the first time since she was eighteen years old, she had hope for the future and understood the true meaning of love.

It was sitting in front of her holding the most precious thing in the world to her.

Her heart finally opened, and that pressure she’d felt on her chest eased and went away, leaving only love behind in its wake.

She was home.

One Year Later…

“Stop fidgeting.”

Delia’s lower lip wobbled, and Viktor picked her up. They’d been sitting with her for over an hour, waiting on the judge. The clerk had told them the case he was currently hearing was running longer than expected. They were all tired, but none more than Sara, who was six months pregnant. Her back ached, and she was larger than she should be because of the twins she carried. His wife looked beautiful even when she was cranky.

All his brothers and their wives were here with them. Mason and Conner lounged against the back wall as the only bachelors in the room. Mateo had his head buried in his Nintendo DS, something Delia had given up on a few minutes ago. They were both tired and hungry, and as soon as they finished here, they were going to Saul’s to eat. It was Angel’s favorite pizza place. Her baby daughter was at home with Sara’s parents, who’d taken over as grandparents for Arielle since Angel’s parents were no longer with them.

He paced the floor, Delia on his hip. The last year had been a whirlwind for him. He and Sara had gotten married three days after her divorce from Roger was finalized, and they were here today for him to sign the adoption papers, officially making Delia his and getting that bastard’s name tossed into the trash. She would be Delia Rose Kincaid.

That hadn’t been an easy feat. Roger might not have been able to stop the divorce, but he sure as hell held onto his rights as a father. He’d been convicted of assault and battery on Delia, attempted murder on Sara’s parents, Delia, and Gabe, as well as the fire that destroyed the Grafton family farm. He’d be in prison for a long time. The deal the DA made with him ensured he’d be there for at least twenty years before he had a possibility of parole.

He’d also been convicted of conspiracy for kidnapping and assault on Sara herself. Carter Moore, Roger’s buddy from college, admitted everything when the police hauled him in for questioning. Roger’s brother Ben informed them Moore had been hanging around the garage around the time of the attack on Sara. Bastard only got two to ten for his part in the crime. Viktor didn’t think it was enough, but he had to accept it.

Even after all that, Roger still refused to sign his rights away. The legal fight would have taken years. Conner took matters into his own hands a month ago. He told Viktor he made a call. Two weeks later, Roger’s attorney called and said he’d agreed to sign the paperwork.

Viktor went with his attorney to meet Roger in the jail. The man looked like shit. Someone had been beating his ass on a daily basis, from the looks of him. He’d bet good money Conner’s call had been to someone who made sure Roger was getting a visit or three every day until he agreed to sign the papers.

While it didn’t sit well with Viktor, he wasn’t going to complain about his brother’s methods. He wanted Delia to be his legally, and this seemed to be the only way.

Now, here they were, waiting on the damn judge to come in and do just that.

“This shit is taking too long.” Conner fell into step beside him, Mateo attached to his back. When had the kid climbed on? Viktor shook his head. His attention to detail was worthless today.

“Fucker better get here soon,” he agreed.

All the women shot them warning glares. He rolled his eyes. Their women should be used to their mouths by now. It wasn’t going to get any better.

“You find out what the twins are yet?”

A smile crested his face. Twins. Sara nearly had a heart attack when the OB announced that little fact. “Boys.”

“At least your troopers knew how to shoot straight.”

“Hey, now!” Kade glared and shoved off the wall. “You saying shit about my daughter?”

“No. We’re saying shit about you.” Conner shifted Mateo a little higher so the kid could climb over to his dad. “Not my girl’s fault her daddy isn’t a straight shooter.”

Nikoli snickered, and they all gave him the finger. He’d know soon enough what it felt like to be a daddy. Even though the kid hadn’t said anything, Lily’s green complexion all this week said more than any words could. Fucker would be a daddy before long.

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