Page 123 of Fall into Savagery

I blinked.

Dmitriy added, “Mom always comes back, but sometimes, she takes a long time to come back.” He looked down at my chest. “We don’t like that.”

“Hey, I’m not leaving you home alone. Catalina, your uncles, and Linda will be here, okay?”

Dmitriy nodded, but they still looked sad.

Fuck,Catalinastill looked sad.

She probably knew more than she let on, and if she didn’t know, she would have guessed.

We decided not to tell her where I was going, but I wondered just how accurate her guess was.

“Baby, kiss me,” I said softly.

She closed her eyes, the tears falling through her closed eyelids when she pressed her lips sweetly against mine.

I closed my eyes and savored her taste, which was mixed with the saltiness of her tears.

When she pulled away, her eyes were red, but she seemed calmer.

My sweet, brave girl.

“Kiss Daddy goodbye,” I told my boys. They kissed each of my cheeks at the same time. I smiled and looked at Catalina before setting the boys down. Dmitriy grabbed my hand, and Konstantin grabbed Catalina.

“Don’t worry,” he told her. “Daddy will be back soon, he promised.”

She let out a teary laugh. “Yeah,” she agreed, turning around and meeting my eyes.

We walked out to the elevator, where Mikhail, Damien, and Gabriel were already waiting.

Before I could say anything, Gabriel engulfed Catalina in his arms. “Princesa, you look even more beautiful every time I see you.”

Catalina smiled and hugged him back. The bastard looked at me over her shoulder. I narrowed my eyes at him. He knew I wouldn’t say anything with my kids around.

Fucker.

Gabriel laughed and pulled away. “Can’t hold on to you for long. Don’t want thebastardoto stab me in my sleep.”

She shook her head as if to say that would never happen.

One of my eyebrows rose at that. Catalina might think that because I didn’t show her all of my ugly sides, but Gabriel knew better.

I grinned viciously at him.

He laughed and turned toward my kids. “You boys remember me?” he asked.

They both nodded their heads.

He smiled. “You’re both looking better now. I’m glad to see that.”

Gabriel held out his hand.

The boys shared a look before they stepped forward and grabbed his hand simultaneously.

Gabriel looked up at me, the bond we shared strengthening in that small moment.

I might want to kill him half of the time, but I was fucking thankful for his friendship.

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