Page 113 of Paved in Fire

“Nice,” I say, laughing and grabbing a few chips from the bowl that Vitaly’s brought out and set by the grill so he can cook and snack.

“Pantry,” he says, raising a brow at Matvey. “That’s all I’m going to say.”

Matvey laughs, and I know better than to ask, because that’s my sister he’s talking about. I’m glad they’re happy, but I don’t want details about whatever the hell happened in the pantry.

“When’s Dominic getting back?” I ask Lev, noticing the way Vitaly gives a soft laugh at my not-so-subtle change of subject.

“In two weeks. He wants to get together to talk about things when he’s back in the city.” Lev lets out a soft laugh and crosses his arms over his chest. “Who would’ve thought that one day we’d be working with the Italians?”

“Not me, that’s for damn sure,” Vitaly says, taking the hot dogs off the grill.

“Make sure you let a couple get really dark,” Danil remindshim.

Vitaly scowls at him. “You think I’d forget how Max likes them? Need I remind you that I’ve wiped all your kids’ asses. I know every detail about my nieces and nephews.” He laughs and adds, “That’s why I’m their favorite uncle.”

I share an eye roll with my brothers, because we’ve all heard this speech before. Before he can turn around and catch us, he points the spatula that one of us really needs to take from him and says, “My god, he’s such a little Roman.”

I look at where he’s pointing and smile. Luka is passing out paper plates and making sure all the little ones have one before he grabs one for himself and starts leading them into the kitchen.

They all start laughing and Lev nudges my shoulder when Luka helps his baby brother put some potatoes on his plate.

“Already taking care of everyone else,” Matvey says with a smile.

“If he’s like his daddy, which obviously he is, then he’s never going to let them forget that he’s the oldest,” Danil says, giving me a smile. “You used to be so damn proud of that.”

“Yeah, how’s that working out for you now?” Vitaly’s laugh and smug grin have me shaking my head. “Hitting eighteen first was awesome. Hitting forty first? Not so much.”

They all have a good laugh at my expense while I finish the last of my drink and grab the plate of burgers.

“Get the hot dogs, assholes,” I tell them, laughing as I walk back inside. Forty is still several years away, and I’m not about to start worrying about it now.

I walk past the kids, smiling at the mix of Russian and English I hear between them and set the plate on the counter right before Vitaly and the others come in to join us. While the kids fix their plates, I work on cutting several hot dogs into teeny tiny slices so they’re toddler safe. Emily stands beside me, scooping out mac and cheese to anyone who wants it. When I look down at her, she smiles and discreetly grabs my ass, making me laugh and shake my head.

Leaning down so my lips are by her ear, I whisper, “Behave,solnishka.Be a good girl and you’ll get your reward later.”

The soft moan she gives is only loud enough for me to hear, and when I give a soft laugh and suck her earlobe, she whispers, “Not fair, Roman.”

I stand back up and give her another wink, already thinking about all the things I want to do to her later.

We’ve had enough family dinners together to have this down to a science. The older kids sit at the kitchen island on barstools while the adults pack around the large table and the toddlers get buckled into highchairs. It’s chaotic and loud and so fucking perfect. Six years ago, my brothers and I were stressed to the limit, terrified of what might be happening to Alina and worried we might not find her in time, and now we’re surrounded by our wives and kids and running the most successful Bratva in America.

If someone had told me this would one day be my life, I never would’ve believed it. I never would’ve believed that anyone could ever be this happy. Looking around the room, I see the smiling, laughing faces of the people I love most in this world, theonlypeople I love in this world, and it makes my damn chest ache because I know how fucking lucky we are to be here. I watch my sister smile when she sees Evgeny laugh as he sneaks a piece of hot dog to Finn and the way Matvey watches her reaction with so much love in his eyes—the same ones that looked lifeless while she was gone.

“What are you smiling about?” Emily whispers, leaning in close to me.

I kiss her head and wrap my arm around her shoulder. “I’m just happy,solnishka.”

She squeezes my thigh and smiles up at me. “Me, too. I’m so glad you crashed my dad’s fundraiser all those years ago.”

I smile even bigger at the memory of her in that yellow dress, so fucking beautiful and innocent and in way over her head. “I am too, baby, but even if I hadn’t, I would’ve still found you. You were always meant to be mine, little sun.”

She rests her head on my shoulder while we laugh and visit and eat way too fucking much. By the time we get everything cleaned up andvisit some more, the youngest ones are asleep, and the older ones are barely keeping their eyes open. Emily and I hug everyone goodbye, even though I know for a fact I’ll be seeing my brothers tomorrow and we’ll most likely do another family dinner in a couple of days. We want our kids to grow up together, just like we did, and oddly enough, I never get sick of seeing my brothers. I can’t imagine my life without any of them.

Brothers in blood, in life, and in death.

The oath we took when we were just kids was one of the best decisions of my life, and I’ve never once regretted it. They’re my brothers, and I love the bastards.

Picking up a sleeping Damien, I carry him against my chest while Emily grabs Luka’s hand.

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