Page 50 of Keeping My Enemies Closer: Pt. 2

Kasimir’s brows jumped at that.“Who else were you expecting to take on the task?Besides me, of course.”

“I just...”I glanced over at his mother really quickly.“I just don’t know if I’m up to...to raising the kind of children that you...you’re going to need in this life.”

“You’re overthinking what’s expected of you,lepestok,”he replied easily.“You will raise and nurture our children in the best way that you see fit, and when it is time, I’ll take over, giving them the best of both worlds.”

“How am I supposed to just let them...let them choose this life when it’s so dangerous?”I asked seriously.“How do I not go insane, worrying about their safety every time that they leave the house?”

“You trust me,” he answered simply.“You trust me to make sure that they can take care of themselves, and you trust me to make sure that they will always be protected until the time comes when they can protect themselves.”

“That sounds a lot easier said than done,” I muttered quietly.

“Well, maybe Aurora will be able to help you navigate through bratva motherhood a bit,” he suggested.“After all, she’ll be raising the heirs to the heir.”

“But she was born a Marchetti,” I pointed out.“She’s used to this kind of life.She knows what’s expected and how to handle the...the dark parts.”

Kasimir placed a hand on my knee.“Zoya, it’ll be fine.I promise.”

“What if it’s not?”I asked nervously.“What if I mess it up?What if I can’t be the mother that they need me to be?”

“Zoya, calm down,” he ordered, but then he quickly cocked his head a bit.“Is there something that you’re not telling me?Is there something that I should know?”

I could feel my cheeks burn bright.“No,” I answered.“I’d tell you if...if there was anything significant to tell you.”

Before he could say anything to that, the door to the room opened, and in walked Viktor Korolev, and how he could still look so put together was beyond me.I mean, seriously.

“It’s a boy,” he announced proudly.“Makari Roman Korolev, ten pounds, twenty inches, and he appears completely healthy.”

“And Aurora?”Santino and Stefano asked at the same time.

“As if I’d ever let anything bad happen to my wife,” he scoffed.“She is well.”

“Again,” Stefano retorted.“Ever let anything bad happen to heragain.”

Yeah, Stefano Marchetti was definitely a bit of a dick.

Chapter 26