Page 70 of Bought to Bear Bratva Heir

"Papa."

A second after I heard Alec’s sweet, excited voice, the door opened and my son bounded in.

"Mama—Daisy."

Before Ilya could move to catch him, Alec was clambering up onto the bed. Jostling the blankets against my red, raw skin. If it had been anyone else, I would have told them to be careful, but not him.

Wrapping my arms around him, I pulled him against my chest, smothering his face and hair with kisses.

"I’ve missed you so much," I said through the tears flowing down my cheeks. "So, so much."

Wasn’t that the truth.

"Sir."

My head snapped back around to the open door, where one of Ilya's men was hovering and behind him—my eyes narrowed.

Marguerite. Her hair was undeniable.

I didn’t want her here.

Before I could speak, Ilya strode forward, blocking my view. "What is she doing here?"

"She insisted I bring her along when I brought Alexander," the man said quickly. "Do you want me to remove her?"

It might have been my imagination, but he didn’t sound completely against the idea. Not that I could blame him. I didn’t hate many people, but I hated Marguerite.

She was everything I detested in a woman.

And now it seemed like his men felt the same way. It was a nice change not to be the focus of their hatred for once.

"Remove me!" her screech filled the hallway. "Ilya, are you going to let him talk to me like that?"

"What are you doing here, Marguerite?" Ilya's voice was even. Completely monotone and devoid of emotion.

"I came with my stepson. To make sure he was okay."

Stepson? I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat painful. Even after everything, Ilya still hadn’t ended things with her.

They were still going to get married.

Without thinking, I tightened my grip on Alec. I would fight tooth and nail to keep that woman away from my children.

"Leave, Marguerite. This has nothing to do with you." He stepped back and closed the door in her face.

"Papa made the mean lady go away." Alec snuggled into my neck. Keeping my arm around him, I met Ilya's eyes. Those beautiful but cold eyes seemed to warm when he looked at me.

"Yes, he did," I whispered.

"That means you don’t have to go away again, right?"

Not blinking, I smiled. "I’m not going anywhere, Alec. I will not leave you."

Or the new baby, I added silently and tilted my chin up, defiantly staring into Ilya's eyes because he was the one I was mostly talking to.

We had so much to discuss about the future, especially now there was a new baby, but one thing was certain.

"I’m not going anywhere."