Viktor

by Apryl Baker

  Even after all that, Roger still refused to sign his rights away. The legal fight would have taken years. Conner took matters into his own hands a month ago. He told Viktor he made a call. Two weeks later, Roger’s attorney called and said he’d agreed to sign the paperwork.

  Viktor went with his attorney to meet Roger in the jail. The man looked like shit. Someone had been beating his ass on a daily basis, from the looks of him. He’d bet good money Conner’s call had been to someone who made sure Roger was getting a visit or three every day until he agreed to sign the papers.

  While it didn’t sit well with Viktor, he wasn’t going to complain about his brother’s methods. He wanted Delia to be his legally, and this seemed to be the only way.

  Now, here they were, waiting on the damn judge to come in and do just that.

  “This shit is taking too long.” Conner fell into step beside him, Mateo attached to his back. When had the kid climbed on? Viktor shook his head. His attention to detail was worthless today.

  “Fucker better get here soon,” he agreed.

  All the women shot them warning glares. He rolled his eyes. Their women should be used to their mouths by now. It wasn’t going to get any better.

  “You find out what the twins are yet?”

  A smile crested his face. Twins. Sara nearly had a heart attack when the OB announced that little fact. “Boys.”

  “At least your troopers knew how to shoot straight.”

  “Hey, now!” Kade glared and shoved off the wall. “You saying shit about my daughter?”

  “No. We’re saying shit about you.” Conner shifted Mateo a little higher so the kid could climb over to his dad. “Not my girl’s fault her daddy isn’t a straight shooter.”

  Nikoli snickered, and they all gave him the finger. He’d know soon enough what it felt like to be a daddy. Even though the kid hadn’t said anything, Lily’s green complexion all this week said more than any words could. Fucker would be a daddy before long.

  Which brought Viktor’s attention to Dimitri. He was sitting in the chair over in the corner, Becca sound asleep in his lap. Asleep in the middle of the day. She’d either been up really late or was potentially pregnant as well. Hell, they might soon all be saddled with more nieces and nephews than any of them were prepared for.

  His mama was right.

  God would get even with them for all the shit trouble they caused their mother growing up by cursing them with girls.

  Guns, knives—hell, any weapon would do if it kept the pecker-heads at bay.

  The judge entered the small courtroom a few minutes later, looking like he’d rather be on his way home. Viktor’s lip curled in disgust, but he took a seat by Sara, Delia in his lap.

  The court reporter came in, and the case was announced. Well, it wasn’t really a case, more a paper that just needed a signature.

  The judge took a moment to read over the paperwork in front of him. The family behind Viktor all shifted nervously. They were as eager to get this over and done with as he was.

  “Are all the parties present in this matter?”

  Their attorney stood. “Yes, Your Honor.”

  The judge looked at Viktor and then Sara. “Mr. Kincaid, it is your request to adopt the child and become her legal parent.”

  “He’s the only daddy I want.” Delia looked fierce when she looked at the judge, and his face softened.

  “Is that so, little one?”

  Delia nodded, clinging to Viktor, who finally answered the judge. “She’s already mine. I just need the paperwork to prove it.”

  A ghost of a smile crossed the judge’s face. “I have three adopted daughters myself. I hope you know what you’re getting into.” He picked up his pen and signed the document. “Good luck to you and your family, sir.”

  After that, there were congratulations all around. The rest of the family took off for Saul’s, but Viktor lingered a moment with his girls.

  “You’re both legally mine now.” He swooped in and kissed his wife, Delia giggling between them.

  “You happy with that, malyshka?”

  “Da,” she said, mimicking the men’s Russian accent perfectly. They were slowly teaching her and Mateo Russian while they all learned Spanish, Mateo’s first language. It was hard, but they were doing it because they loved him. The kid was getting better, especially with Delia’s help, but that dead look still came back into his eyes sometimes. Thank God for Delia. She always managed to chase it away.

  Thank God for Mateo too. They were in the same class at school, and he’d stopped an older boy from bullying her. Kid even taught her to throw a punch right then and there. He’d warned them both that day to never start a fight, but never back away from one either. Mateo was adamant Delia know how to throw a punch. He said he might not always be there, and she needed to learn to protect herself.

  All the Kincaid men agreed. Any daughter of theirs would be able to fight as well as, if not better than, the boys. God help them all.

  Sara rubbed at her back. Viktor frowned. He shouldn’t be lingering. His woman needed to sit. He picked up the manila folder that contained Delia’s adoption paperwork and walked them to the car where he secured them both. He made a habit to buckle them both in. It was something that came naturally to him, just one more layer of protection.

  “You happy, baby?” He looked over at Sara before he started to the car.

  “More than I’ve ever been.” Her fingers brushed his cheek. “Thank you for that.”

  “No, thank you for giving me something I’ve always wanted. A home and a family. I love you, Sara Kincaid.”

  “I love you too.”

  Viktor put the car into gear and headed toward Saul’s where his family waited, content and happy, everyone safe and secure.

  What more could a man ask for?

  This book means a lot to me for personal reasons. Viktor is based entirely on someone I knew who has since passed. He was just like Viktor, from his bossiness to his foul mouth, and I miss him every single day. It feels like he left a hole in my heart that can’t be plugged. Putting him down on paper and giving him a happily ever after that will live on for forever feels fitting.

  Domestic violence is something I feel strongly about, since it’s something my family has been affected by. I’ve witnessed firsthand what it does, and how women can get trapped in an abusive relationship. It’s so easy for those of us not in that relationship to judge and swear we’d never get caught in that trap.

  But you don’t know that’s what you’d do. Abusers don’t start out that way. They’re charming, and they make you love them. It’s not until after you’ve come to love them that they begin to break you down until there’s nothing left but him. Even the strongest of us can be broken down when it’s done with stealth by the people we love.

  I wanted to bring a light to domestic violence, and Sara’s story felt like the one to do it with. I hope I was able to showcase her emotions and her struggle to trust Viktor and finally let him love her. Their story is one that tugged at my heart and one I obsessed over because it was so very important to me. I truly hope y’all are as touched by Viktor and Sara as I was.

  I’m the first person to admit romance is not my genre. It’s so hard for me to write it, even though I love reading romance novels. My aunt Jo gave me my first Harlequin romance when I was twelve, and I’ve been reading them since. But writing them? Whole other set of problems.

  So, when I sat down and started the journey of all the Kincaid brothers, I was a little terrified. And every time I release a new romance novel, I’m still shocked at how well received it is because it’s so freaking hard for me to write.

  And for that, I want to thank every single reader who picked up one of my romance novels. All the reviews, the messages, and the emails mean the world to me. They give me the courage to keep writing in this genre that makes my heart hurt every time I pick up a pen to write.

  I love all my romance readers. Thank you so very, very much.

&n
bsp; And I want to give a special thanks to my publisher, Limitless Publishing. Jen, you pushed me to write romance, even when I was so hesitant. It made me go outside my comfort zone, and for that, I’m thankful.

  My editor, Lori Whitwam, you’ve taught me more about writing in the two years I’ve been working with you than every single English teacher and college professor ever did. You make me a better writer. Thank you.

  Nathalie and Kay…I’d be lost without you two. You take so much off my plate so I can focus more on writing. Every author needs PAs like you guys. Thank you.

  And for my own version of the Kincaid brothers…thank you for supporting me all these years. I love y’all. Thank you.

  Well, that’s it for now. Remember to please leave a review if you read and enjoyed Viktor!

  Love,

  Apryl Baker

  So who am I? Well, I'm the crazy girl with an imagination that never shuts up. I LOVE scary movies. My friends laugh at me when I scare myself watching them and tell me to stop watching them, but who doesn't love to get scared? I grew up in a small town nestled in the southern mountains of West Virginia where I spent days roaming around in the woods, climbing trees, and causing general mayhem. Nights I would stay up reading Nancy Drew by flashlight under the covers until my parents yelled at me to go to sleep.

  Growing up in a small town, I learned a lot of values and morals, I also learned parents have spies everywhere and there's always someone to tell your mama you were seen kissing a particular boy on a particular day just a little too long. So when you get grounded, what is there left to do? Read! My Aunt Jo gave me my first real romance novel. It was a romance titled "Lord Margrave's Deception." I remember it fondly. But I also learned I had a deep and abiding love of mysteries and anything paranormal. As I grew up, I started to write just that and would entertain my friends with stories featuring them as main characters.

  Now, I live in Huntersville, NC where I entertain my niece and nephew and watch the cats get teased by the birds and laugh myself silly when they swoop down and then dive back up just out of reach. The cats start yelling something fierce…lol.

  I love books, I love writing books, and I love entertaining people with my silly stories.

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