Page 139 of Fall into Savagery

She paused when she noticed everyone looking at her, her shoulders relaxing and her eyes soft.

I could get lost in that softness and never come out.

“Hey,” she said, her voice tinged with sleep.

“Hi, pet. Why don't you come here and help us build a castle.”

She smiled, her eyes meeting mine before walking over to Damien, who immediately pulled her into his lap.

He held her close.

His apology, I realized.

I watched them for a beat before Konstantin grabbed my attention by patting his hand on my chest.

I looked down at him, my heart pinching at the sight of his big green eyes.

“Yes, buddy?”

“Do you like Catalina?” he asked in whispers. I knew Damien heard him because he tilted his head slightly toward us while Catalina remained oblivious, talking with Dmitriy.

I looked back at Konstantin. The kids were way more perceptive than I had ever given them credit for.

I nodded. “Yeah. I love her,” I replied, my voice the same tone as his.

“Daddy loves Catalina, too.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. I wondered if they knew Catalina was in a relationship with the three of us and how they felt about that.

They were old enough to know what the norm was, and to understand that our relationship with her wasn’t it.

But they seemed to take it well.

“Cool,” he said.

Damien let out a small laugh, and I smiled.

“Cool,” I repeated.

The elevator doors dinged, drawing our attention, and a tired but triumphed-looking Nikolay walked out.

Catalina squealed and pushed off of Damien’s lap.

“Nikolay!”

He dropped his bag on the floor in time to catch her. “Princess,” he said, cupping the back of her head and hugging her tight.

Dmitriy and Konstantin got to him next, jumping up and down in excitement. Nikolay leaned down and brought them into the hug too.

I walked over to Damien when he stood, and we both looked on, letting them have their own little reunion.

It wasn’t just the three of us anymore.

Back then, in situations like this, Nikolay would come home, reeking of death and blood, and we would welcome him with a drink and a discussion of our plan for the next step.

Now, there was excitement over his homecoming, even if he had only been gone for a couple of days.

I knew we needed to address Catalina’s separation anxiety sooner rather than later, but right now, I was just fucking happy my family was here.

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