Page 128 of Fall into Savagery

26

CATALINA

It had beentwo days since Nikolay left for his “business trip.”

Damien and Mikhail refused to tell me where he was headed, though I guessed it was Mexico or New Mexico.

He had called on his first night traveling. I didn't know where he had been calling from, but it was noisy, and we didn’t get to talk much.

Otherwise, he had been radio silent.

Mikhail and Damien told me not to worry so much, but I wondered how they thought that might be possible.

They were both home.

It was still early yet, barely five in the evening, and I knew they were both home to distract me from my thoughts.

It worked some, but the fact that Nikolay wasn’t here would always be in the back of my mind.

I stood by the threshold between the hallways leading to the bedroom and the living room, watching as Damien sat on the floor and played with Dmitriy and Konstantin.

When I first laid eyes on Damien, there had always been something intimidating about him, and it had nothing to do with his size, though that certainly didn’t help.

Never in a million years would I imagine Damien sitting on the floor, playing with toy cars with the kids.

He was so good with them.

So natural.

My hand came down to my stomach.

Things were better now that they knew about my infertility, but it was hard to keep the self-doubt out.

Would Damien, or even Mikhail, resent the fact that they might never have any biological children?

I didn’t know.

Arms wrapped around me from behind, and I sank into his huge body, instantly recognizing his scent.

I smiled, feeling my heart calm like it always does with him nearby.

There had always been something sturdy about Mikhail that kept all my erratic thoughts at bay.

Things were just better with him around.

“Are you okay,kotyonok?”

I nodded. “I am now.”

“Yeah?” he asked softly.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

We both looked out when Dmitriy and Konstantin giggled about something Damien had just said. Damien, for his part, smiled at them indulgently.

“Is this supposed to be the feared Pakhan of Vasiliev Bratva?” Mikhail asked, somewhat amusedly.

I tapped the arm he had wrapped around my middle. “Hush, you. I think it’s sweet.”

---