Page 140 of Fall into Savagery

Damien patted my shoulders.

“Definitely not how it used to be,” he said with a laugh as if he had just read my mind.

I smiled and nodded just as Nikolay approached us, Catalina and the boys right behind him.

He looked at Damien, then me, and smiled.

I already knew by the look in his eyes how much he enjoyed the raid.

While he went out where all the fun was, Damien and I stayed back and played with toys with the boys.

I laughed over that and put my hand on his shoulder. “Welcome home, brother.”

“It’s good to be back. Fuck, is it good to be back.”

He reached behind him and pulled Catalina to his side. Her eyes were wet with unshed tears.

Nikolay made a small protesting noise in the back of his throat. “Princess. I’m home, so no more tears, do you understand?”

Her lower lip trembled. “He never learns,” she said. “Don’t you know telling me not to cry only makes me want to cry harder?”

His eyes widened, and he looked at Damien and me helplessly.

Damien laughed, and Nikolay pulled her closer into his arms. The boys stayed close to his side.

“All right, princess. Cry as much as you want. I won’t say anything.”

She let out a teary laugh. “I’m just glad you’re home safe and with me.”

I looked over and met Damien’s eyes. I was sure his expression mirrored my own.

Both of us looked at them with soft eyes.

Home safe and with us.

I supposed that was all we could really ask for in this world.

* * *

I saton the balcony and looked at the twinkling lights below.

New York always looked different from up here in the penthouse.

It was still early.

The sun had barely set, casting the sky in a dark twilight blue.

Nikolay and Catalina were busy getting the boys ready for bed—not an easy feat, considering how much excitement was in the house from Nikolay’s return.

Damien was holed up somewhere in his room, trying to fight off his demons. As for me, I stayed on the balcony, thinking, my phone twirling aimlessly in my hand.

The glass door slid open then, and I didn’t need to look to know who it was.

I smiled when she approached me and climbed on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I grasped onto her waist and looked up at her brown eyes, twinkling underneath the golden porch light.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

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