Page 119 of Brutal Reign
As I watch him splash around, clearly in no hurry to leave our little water paradise, I make a decision. Tonight, after Kin goes to bed, I’m going to tell Pavel everything. About Chen, about the inheritance, about the timeline that’s been moved up, and the danger my father’s old friend is in.
And more than anything, I need to tell him about Kin being his son.
It’s time to stop trying to handle everything on my own. It’s time to trust the man who’s proven over and over that he’ll put us first, no matter what.
The inheritance is still important; it’s my security, my safety net, my father’s final gift to me. But it doesn’t have to be used to escape. It can mean freedom in a different way. Freedom to choose this life, this man, and this unexpected family we’ve built.
“Okay, time to get out,” I finally say, though part of me could stay here all day, floating in this perfect bubble of happiness.
“Just as I’m about to join you, you’re getting out!”
The deep, resonant voice sends a shiver down my spine that has nothing to do with the water temperature. I turn to see Pavel emerging from the house, and my heart stutters.
He’s wearing navy-blue swim trunks that sit low on his hips, revealing every inch of his incredible torso. The way the light catches on his damp skin makes him look like some kind of Norse god who decided to take a vacation from Valhalla.
“What are you doing out here?” I manage, breathless. “I thought you had work.”
“I did,” he says, a smile spreading across his face as he catches me staring. “Still do, actually. But I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to swim with this little water dinosaur over here.”
Kin’s face lights up. “You came to swim with us!”
“Sure did,” Pavel says, diving cleanly into the deep end and surfacing near us with barely a splash. “Can’t let you have all the fun without me.”
The sight of him cutting through the water with powerful strokes is impressive. I swear, everything about this man turns my insides to liquid heat.
Kin paddles over to Pavel like an eager puppy. “Pavel, can you do tricks? Can you hold your breath for a really long time?”
“Slow down there, water bug.” Pavel laughs. “Let’s see what you’ve been working on first.”
I float nearby, watching Pavel give Kin his complete attention while my son demonstrates his ‘swimming skills’.
But watching them together, seeing how naturally Pavel fits into this role, how much Kin clearly worships him, solidifies what I have to do. I can’t keep lying to either of them. They deserve better. They deserve the truth.
Even if it terrifies me. Even if I’m not sure I want Kin growing up in this world of violence and danger. Because the alternative—continuing to live this lie—feels worse than taking the risk. Knowing Pavel the way I do now, I trust that he wouldn’t force this life on Kin.
Kin swims up to me. “Pavel says we can go to the ocean one day and see the fish swimming!”
Pavel’s eyes find mine over Kin’s head, and he winks.
“That does sound pretty cool,” I agree. “Although, I might be better at lying in a lounge chair with a margarita on the beach. But I’ll watch you two.”
Kin shakes his head. “You won’t see any fish that way.”
“Alright, little man,” Pavel says. “I think it’s time we capture your mama and drag her to our underwater lair.”
“Yeah!” Kin shouts with glee. “Make Mama our prisoner!”
“Your wish is my command, Your Majesty,” Pavel says with mock solemnity.
Before I can escape, Pavel’s arms wrap around my waist, pulling me flush against him. Fire shoots through me at the skin-to-skin contact, and I bite my lip to keep from making a sound.
“Looks like you’re coming to our underwater kingdom, angel moy,” he murmurs in my ear, his voice like gravel. “No escape.”
“Oh no,” I say with exaggerated drama for Kin’s benefit. “Whatever will I do?”
Pavel’s mouth finds mine in a soft, claiming kiss that makes my toes curl. When we break apart, Kin makes gagging noises, but there’s a big smile on his face.
“Yuck.”
