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My arm goes soft and he gets his way as the shock of the word hits me.

I don’t say anything because I’m not sure I can.

“Mine,” he says, taking the pink trunk in triumph and adding it to his pile. Then he glances at me, worry spreading, and he picks out a toy and a car and gives them to me.

My heart’s so big, it could burst. This fucking little kid.

Daddy.

I’m sure it’ll be back and forth, between Dino, Dane, and Daddy, but he said it. And that’s mine.

My eyes blur and I blink hard as Erin comes in and kisses Sasha.

“You’re gonna be good today for Daddy?”

“Yes, Mama.”

And then she kisses me and whispers, “How good did that feel?”

Fuck, she heard. Did she coach him?

She gives me another kiss.

“Did you…?”

“What? Tell him to say that?” She smiles. “Nope, that was all him.”

“Go, Mama,” Sasha says, shoving at her. “Dino is playing.” Then he flicks his gaze at me. “Good Daddy.”

“Are we ready?” Alina’s at the door. She doesn’t quite look at me.

“Yep.” Erin gets up and they leave.

I’m guessing they’re going for coffee or something, first as the appointment isn’t for a few hours.

We play a little longer, and then I take Sasha up to change him from his pajamas. “What do you want to do today?”

“Climb a hill! Play!” Then he frowns and suddenly his entire face lights up. “Park! Park!”

I chuckle. This kid loves that park. I’m guessing hill and the generic play were his lead up to park.

“Okay, we’ll go to the park. Do you want to go to a new park?”

“New?”

“One you haven’t been to.”

Sasha thinks about this. “Slide?”

“It’s got a slide,” I say gravely. “And swings.”

“Okay.”

The park I’m thinking of is on the other side of the city, in a rich area, and one where I can get close to the doctor’s office. Not to mention it’s an easy trip to the hospital to drop in on Ilya.

Because I’ve got Sasha for the morning, I stop and get fries and milkshakes. Fries because I’m a fucking pushover when it comes to this kid and he loves fries and milkshakes because I’ve decided it’s got milk in it, which is good for him.

It’ll never hold up in court, but then again, I’m the fucking head of a powerful bratva so I can do what I like.