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But I know that Demyan’s strong, the strongest man I know. And I saw what he did to Niko for me. Demyan can take care of himself. Still… have I gone and just made everything harder for my man?

“Demyan,” I whisper, “I heard. What Sergio said. I didn’t think, didn’t realize just exactly how serious all this was. I was selfish. If you need more time, maybe you can go to him and work?—”

He holds up a hand. “Stop.”

“Have I caused even more problems in your life?”

He comes up to me and offers me a small smile, his pale-blue eyes glittering with warmth. And he cups my cheek with the palm of his hand. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

“But—”

“What, you think I’m scared of that ass? No, Erin. I was looking for the easiest route, but sometimes that’s not the right one. I’ll find the way. It’ll be a harder road, but I guarantee it’ll be better in the long run.”

“That doesn’t sound like it’s okay,” I say.

He kisses me softly. “I’m a big boy. I thrive on the difficult, on challenges. And more importantly, I can take care of those I love and myself.”

“But—”

“Ask Alina, ask Ilya, ask anyone here, and they’ll tell you they’re with me the entire way and that I’ve always taken careof things. I’ve built my father’s empire into something bigger and better and I’ll be fucked if I’ll let a small fry like Sergio take it all away from me. It’s done, and I feel better about it.”

“You said that the reason you were sticking with it was not to rock the boat.”

He sighs and strokes his other hand through my hair. “The thing is, trouble was coming because, as I said, I had no intentions of marrying her. I’m still working on it all, but I just finished the sham of the engagement. That’s all.”

At the door, Ilya speaks. “He’s right. Better it’s done now.” Then he turns to Sasha, who’s pressed against the wheelchair, all puppy dog like he’ll get a go in it if he keeps it up. “Leave Ilya be, Sasha,” I say as Demyan steps away.

“Okay, Mama!” He looks at Ilya. “I love you more if you take me for a ride.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Ilya says, chuckling.

Demyan meets the man’s gaze. “Anything?”

“Not yet.” And he wheels off, grumbling about not being allowed to walk.

I want to keep talking to Demyan, but it’s clear he’s said his piece on it, so I bend down to Sasha. “Uncle Ilya’s hurt, Sasha, so he can’t give you a ride yet.”

“When he’s better.” Demyan ruffles his hair.

Sasha looks from me to Demyan. “Tomorrow?”

“This kid,” he groans. “Soon, Sasha.”

He picks up our son and Sasha hugs his daddy.

My heart swells at that. My boy’s taken to his father in such a short time frame, and more than that, Demyan’s bloomed with Sasha’s pure love. He dotes on him and doesn’t care who sees. He’ll break a man in two, but he loves Sasha.

I don’t know, maybe he’s a bad man like my brother said, but he’s so good to our son, and he’d been good to me, too. Even when he was so furious he locked me in that room, he never lifted a finger, and he’s apologized for the rest. Thatmeans something to me. Right or wrong, it means the world.

“You know,Lyubimaya, I haven’t spent enough time with Sasha over the past week. I feel bad, so why don’t we go out? Dinner? Ice cream?”

Sasha’s eyes light up. “Ice cream!”

“Okay,” Demyan says, laughing. “Ice cream for dinner, just the three of us.”

And it’s time. I think. Time to let Sasha know. To get him used to the idea he won’t be an only child.

“Well, the four of us,” I say, smiling at the confused look on Sasha’s face.