Page 184 of The Enemy Protector
Nelson is the last to go. “Get some rest, boss. Both of you. We’ve got this.”
Then it’s just us. Me and Sofia and our sons.
I look at Sofia. She’s fighting sleep, her eyes drifting closed then snapping open again.
“Sleep,” I tell her. “I’ve got them.”
“You need to sleep too.”
“I will. Later.”
She doesn’t have the energy to argue.
I’m left alone with two sleeping babies on my chest.
I should put them in the bassinet. That’s what the nurse said to do. Let them sleep separately so they learn to self-soothe.
But I tried. I managed to put baby Kirill down without waking him. Then when I tried to put Anton down, he woke up screaming. Which woke up Kirill. Who also started screaming.
Two screaming babies is not a sound I like.
So now they’re both on my chest. One on each side. Both sleeping peacefully. No one will tell me I can’t hold my children. If I want to spoil them, I will.
My sons are safe. My wife is safe. That’s all that matters.
I close my eyes and let myself feel it. The weight of them. The tiny breaths against my shirt.
This is what peace feels like.
I never thought I’d have this. Never thought I deserved it. Men like me don’t get to keep precious things. We get blood and violence and empty beds.
But somehow, against all odds, I have everything.
I have a family.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I ignore it. Whatever it is can wait. The empire can wait. The business can wait. My brothers can wait. They’ve sent along their congratulations. That’s enough for now.
Right now, I’m exactly where I need to be.
Baby Anton makes a small sound and shifts against me. His hand reaches up and grabs a fistful of my shirt. Even in sleep, he’s holding on.
I cover his tiny hand with mine.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper in Russian.
It’s a promise I intend to keep.
No matter what it costs me.
45
Sofia
One Year later
The driver pulls to a stop in front of our home. Nelson hops out of the front passenger seat and comes around to open the door. Anton stands at the curb to accept me like a package being handed off.
“See you tomorrow,” I say to Nelson.
