by Apryl Baker
He looked. Bullet nicked him. “It’s a flesh wound, baby. Nothing serious.”
“What do you want me to do with this asshole?”
Dylan had Roger in a choke hold. The gun lay several feet away. Viktor stood and helped Sara to her feet. “It’s up to you, Sara Jane. Do you want us to beat the shit out of him or not?”
She considered it. He saw it in her face, but then she shook her head. “No. I don’t want him to be able to press charges against any of us. It’ll give him back some of his power, and I want him to know what it’s like to feel trapped and helpless.”
Viktor hoped she’d say to beat his ass, but he understood where she was coming from. Roger had taken so much from her already. He wouldn’t take anything else. Instead of plowing a fist into his face, he texted his Uncle Pete to send in the police to arrest him.
“This was easier than I thought it would be.” He noticed the blood dripping down his arm. He pulled his shirt off and used it to hold pressure on the wound.
“Don’t you think we deserve a little easy, though?” Sara took the shirt from him and pressed down. “After everything he’s put me and my family through, it would have been cruel for this not to have been easy. Luck was on our side. Don’t question it.”
His lips tilted. She was right. He was a Marine, and he expected the worst and planned for shit to go sideways. For this to be easy boggled his mind, but he sent up a prayer of thanks and took the easy win.
“You’re right, baby. I need to stop borrowing trouble.”
The state police took over the crime scene, for which Viktor was grateful. They also took possession of Roger. His buddies hadn’t even handcuffed the fucker. Once the state boys arrived, all his special privileges went out the window.
While Viktor was getting seen to in the ER, he introduced Sara to Dylan, another member of his squad from the Marines. She seemed nervous, not that he blamed her. Dylan was imposing and gave off a cold vibe. The man had a right to lock down his emotions, though. He’d lost his wife and child to a drunk driver. Viktor hoped one day he’d meet another woman who could peel back all those layers and find the man he knew beneath that cold exterior. He wanted his “brother” to be as happy as he was.
Conner found him in the ER. There was panic on his face until he found Viktor, who noticed Conner was clutching his arm. Twin thing. Each of them always knew when something was wrong with the other, and they usually felt it too. He grinned at his brother, who looked ready to murder him.
“What the fuck?”
“Bastard is in cuffs on his way to the county lockup.”
“And you couldn’t text me?”
“It’s a flesh wound. Not even important.”
Conner grunted and leaned over to inspect the wound the nurse was cleaning. Her hand started to shake, and Viktor laughed. His brother inspired either fear or lust, or sometimes both. He was affecting the poor girl. “Delia still asleep?”
“No. Kade and Angel are with her. I came to find your sorry ass and haul you back.”
“They’re here already?”
“It’s not a long flight, brat.” Conner finally leaned away and checked Sara over. “You didn’t get hurt, sestra?”
“No.” Sara ducked her head against Viktor, and Conner rolled his eyes. The nurse might be thinking lustful thoughts, but Sara’s were too raw after what happened.
When they finally released him, the three of them went back up to pediatrics. Kade and Angel were at the door to Delia’s room, listening. When they saw him, they put a finger to their lips. Curious, he stepped closer. The kids were talking.
“Your padre do this?”
The sound of his nephew’s voice almost crippled him. It was a sound he thought he’d never get to hear. Kade grasped his arm, the same emotion mirrored in his brother’s expression.
“Uh huh. He’s mean. Viktor and Conner said I don’t have to see him again.”
“Tio Conner will make it so.”
The surety in the child’s voice pulled a chuckle out of Viktor, but the feral look that flashed in Conner’s eyes killed his laughter. He had a feeling Mateo and Conner had an understanding about something. He’d dig into that later.
“He scares me.”
“Tio Conner is scary, but he no…” The little boy broke off as if searching for words. “He protect us because he is scary. He keep your padre away.”
“Good. I don’t want him to hurt me again.”
“Sometimes Tio Tomás hurt me.” Mateo’s voice lowered. “He love me, but sometimes he hurt me because he had to.”
“No.” The strength in Delia’s voice shocked Viktor. “That is not right, Mateo. If he hurt you, he didn’t love you.”
“He did,” Mateo insisted stubbornly, and Viktor watched that bleak look take over Kade’s expression.
“Uh uh,” Delia rebuffed. “My mommy never hits me. My Nana and Pawpawl don’t hit me either. They love me. They take care of me and sing to me and read to me. My daddy never did that. All he ever did was be mean to me, and he hurt me. That is not love, Mateo.”
“Tio not always mean to me.” They all heard the wistful note in his voice, and Viktor wanted to smash faces.
“Neither was my daddy. Sometimes he was nice, and it made the times he was mean hurt worse. He didn’t love me, and your tio didn’t love you. They wouldn’t have hurt us.”
“I don’t know…”
“I do.” The stubborn lilt in Delia’s voice had Conner chuckling.
“Maybe his cousin is exactly what he needs.”
Kade looked over at Conner’s whispered words. “You think?”
“We can tell him all day the same things she is, and because we don’t understand what he went through, it’s not impactful. Delia may not have grown up under the thumb of a cartel, but she grew up with a father who was abusive. Tomás and Roger share the same traits. I think Delia is the best medicine in the world for our kid.”
“Do all of you refer to each other’s children as ‘our kid’?” Sara asked, leaning into Viktor.
Angel answered her. “We do. Our family is tight-knit, and from what Kade tells me, you’re part of that family now.”
Viktor studied his sister-in-law. Her red hair was pulled up in a tight bun, and it only highlighted the dark circles under her eyes. She had on sweats and a t-shirt, a stark contrast to Kade, who was in a suit and tie. Stuffy. He’d have to talk to Kade about making sure she got more sleep. After everything she’d been through over the last year, she needed pampering.
Sara smiled hesitantly, but then Delia started laughing. Mason joined in, and then they heard Mateo do the same. Kade and Angel went completely still. Did the boy not laugh?
“That’s the first time we’ve heard him laugh,” Angel whispered, tears welling up. “She made him laugh.” She lunged at Sara and wrapped her in a hug. “She made my baby laugh.”
Viktor stepped back before he was knocked back. Miracles happening everywhere today. His babushka would tell him God was paying them back for all the troubles they’d been tested with. He’d count the win and be grateful.
“When are you coming home?” Kade asked, keeping his voice down so as not to disturb the kids.
“We got some shit to handle here first, and I haven’t even talked to Sara about New York. Hell, we just finally decided to give this a go.”
“New York?” Sara asked softly from beside him. She and Angel were still gripping each other like their lives depended on it.
“That’s where I live, baby, where my family is.”
“I…” She took a deep breath, and Angel hugged her.
“It’s a lot, I know, but you won’t be alone if you move up there. You’ll have all of us. Delia will have a big family that’ll love her.”
“I’ll buy a house big enough for your parents to stay with us too.”
“You’d do that?”
“Of course, moye sokrovishche. They are my family now too.”
“What if I’m not ready to move in with
you?”
“Then I’ll rent you and our girl an apartment, and you can move in with me when you’re ready. What did I tell you, sweetheart? I’m a patient man, and I’ll wait until you’re ready, but I want you in New York where I know you’ll be safe.”
“My parents…”
“Will move with us. Delia needs her grandparents.”
“Dad might have something to say about that.”
“I can be convincing.”
“Speaking of parents,” Kade interrupted, “our parents and Babushka are in the air now. They want to meet their grandchildren.”
Viktor’s eyes went wide. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“What’s wrong?” Sara asked.
“Mama is gonna beat my ass.”
“Why would she do that?” Sara tilted her head toward him.
“She’s Catholic, and you’re married.”
“She’s getting a divorce,” Conner reminded him, and he gave his brother a what-the-fuck look.
“Do you think that’ll matter to our very religious mother? Maybe I should hide out with my girls until they’re gone.”
Angel took his hand. “Calm the fuck down, Viktor. Your mother is going to hear you out, and when she finds out what Sara’s ex did, she’ll be the first to tell you the sin is with him. She’ll welcome Sara with open arms. She might tell you not to touch her until her divorce is final, though.”
“Fuck that shit.” He pulled Sara to him and wrapped her up. “I’m touching her anytime I damn well want to.”
“Come on, Romeo, let’s go meet your nephew.” Kade slapped him on the back and tugged Angel into the hospital room behind him.
“You ready?” Sara whispered.
He nodded, and they followed Conner into the room.
Delia was sitting up in bed, and Mateo was sprawled at the bottom. Viktor turned away for a moment to get his emotions under control. He looked so much like Kade. Except for his eyes. He had Angel’s eyes. He was the spitting image of Kade and Nikoli when they were that age. Love and pride swelled in his chest. Mateo was his flesh and blood, and he loved him on sight.
When he was able to breathe, he turned back to the kids.
“Mateo, this your Uncle Viktor.” Kade gestured to him, and Mateo turned around to study him. Those green eyes were piercing and looked right through him. It was chilling. He understood what Conner meant. This boy would need a lot of help. There was something dead in his eyes. As scary as it was, it didn’t make him love the kid any less. It only made him want to protect him more.
“Hi, Mateo.” He scooted Delia over and sat beside her. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You look like Tio Conner, but no.” The little boy frowned, looking between the two of them.
“They’re twins,” Delia confided, patting Viktor’s hand. “They’re supposed to look like that.”
Mateo sucked his bottom lip in and worried it with his teeth.
“Mateo.”
The little boy’s head whipped in Conner’s direction. The sheer love in his eyes was breathtaking to behold. Whatever happened between them bonded them for life.
“Sí, Tio Conner?”
“Delia’s your family now. She belongs to Viktor, which means she belongs to us. Your cousin, but you will treat her like a sister. Your job is to protect her.”
“I can do that.” He looked over at Delia and smiled, resolve burning bright in his eyes.
Kade and Viktor both understood what Conner had just done. Mateo needed someone to anchor him to this side of the demons living in his soul. Delia was nothing but sunshine and rainbows. If there ever was a balm for anyone’s battered soul, it was her. By charging Mateo with her protection, it gave him something to fight for, and she’d help him understand what family and love really were in a way he could handle because he’d learn what it was from a child’s perspective.
Delia saw the bandage on his arm and gasped. “You’re hurt!”
“It’s okay, malyshka. Remember I told you we wouldn’t let your daddy hurt you again?”
She nodded, her lower lip starting its signature wobble.
“Well, he’s in jail now. We took care of him, and he can’t hurt you anymore.”
“Good.” She stuck her lip out. “I don’t want him to be my daddy anymore. I want you to be my daddy.”
That was it. His emotions broke, and a tear slipped free. He hugged his kid to him so tight, he knew she’d have issues breathing in a minute, but to hear her tell him that…it knocked him on his ass. God, he loved her.
Sara’s heart stuttered hearing her daughter tell Viktor she wanted him to be her daddy.
“Why don’t we all go outside and give them some privacy?” Angel suggested, and she shot her a grateful look. Even Mason left, dragging his IV stand behind him. Once they were alone, she sat on the foot of the bed.
“Viktor, she needs to breathe.”
He reluctantly let her go, but not far. He kept her in his lap.
“Viktor wants us to come to New York with him. That’s where he lives,” she told her daughter.
“Do Mason and Mateo live there too?”
“Yes.”
“What about Nana and Pawpawl?”
“I’m going to ask them to come too. They can live with us if they want to.”
She thought about it. It was quite comical to see her twist her head this way and that way while she mulled it over.
“Your mom might need some time before she does that, malyshka.”
“But why?” She turned to look at Sara, clear confusion written all over her face. “Viktor loves us. We belong to him. We should be where he is.”
From the mouths of babes.
Leave it to her daughter to bring it all into perspective for her.
“I do, you know.” He reached for her hand, connecting all three of them together.
“What?”
“Love you. I think I started to fall the moment I met you, and once I stopped fighting, it became easy. You are so easy to love, Sara Jane. It didn’t take any effort for you to steal my heart. I know you think it’s too soon, and it’s okay if you need more time, but I do love you, and I want to spend every minute of the rest of my life showing you just how much I love you.”
“See, Mommy?” Delia patted his stomach. “He’s a keeper, and he loves us.”
“I do see, poppet. He really loves us.” Sara wiped at her eyes. She was going to get out of her own way. “Mommy loves him too, him and his bossy ways.”
“You do?” The surprise in his voice made her laugh.
“I was getting in my own way again out in the hallway. I let old fears try to shackle me, but then you went and chased all those memories away, Viktor Kincaid. You’re kind and gentle. You love with your whole heart, and you will do anything for those you love. I’ve seen it in the way you are with your brothers, with Delia, and with me. You make it hard not to love you. I’m scared, but I’m willing to give this a try, to let you be my forever guy.”
“Thank fuck,” he whispered, and Delia giggled.
“What does fuck mean?”
Viktor’s mouth formed a silent O. Sara raised a brow. “Go ahead and explain it to her.”
“It’s not anything you should worry about, malyshka. It’s a grown-up word that only grown-ups use.”
She frowned, but he distracted her by tickling her. She bumped her newly casted arm against the bed railing and whimpered. He pulled her injured arm to him and carefully kissed her little fingers. “Does it hurt?”
She nodded, that lip wobbling. “Can I have ice cream?”
“Of course, you can have ice cream.” He hugged her again. “I’ll send Uncle Conner to get you some.”
Sara rolled her eyes, but she didn’t say anything. Delia had him wrapped tight. The next twelve years were going to be eventful if he gave in every time that lip wobbled.
Smiling, she settled back and watched the two of them whisper back and forth. Viktor was her forever guy. She wasn’t jumping into marriage with hi
m, but she would go to New York and build on the solid foundation they already had. He would give her the time and the space she needed to heal, and he’d love her the entire time.
For the first time since she was eighteen years old, she had hope for the future and understood the true meaning of love.
It was sitting in front of her holding the most precious thing in the world to her.
Her heart finally opened, and that pressure she’d felt on her chest eased and went away, leaving only love behind in its wake.
She was home.
One Year Later…
“Stop fidgeting.”
Delia’s lower lip wobbled, and Viktor picked her up. They’d been sitting with her for over an hour, waiting on the judge. The clerk had told them the case he was currently hearing was running longer than expected. They were all tired, but none more than Sara, who was six months pregnant. Her back ached, and she was larger than she should be because of the twins she carried. His wife looked beautiful even when she was cranky.
All his brothers and their wives were here with them. Mason and Conner lounged against the back wall as the only bachelors in the room. Mateo had his head buried in his Nintendo DS, something Delia had given up on a few minutes ago. They were both tired and hungry, and as soon as they finished here, they were going to Saul’s to eat. It was Angel’s favorite pizza place. Her baby daughter was at home with Sara’s parents, who’d taken over as grandparents for Arielle since Angel’s parents were no longer with them.
He paced the floor, Delia on his hip. The last year had been a whirlwind for him. He and Sara had gotten married three days after her divorce from Roger was finalized, and they were here today for him to sign the adoption papers, officially making Delia his and getting that bastard’s name tossed into the trash. She would be Delia Rose Kincaid.
That hadn’t been an easy feat. Roger might not have been able to stop the divorce, but he sure as hell held onto his rights as a father. He’d been convicted of assault and battery on Delia, attempted murder on Sara’s parents, Delia, and Gabe, as well as the fire that destroyed the Grafton family farm. He’d be in prison for a long time. The deal the DA made with him ensured he’d be there for at least twenty years before he had a possibility of parole.