Page 99 of Unbroken

Chapter 20

RUTHIE

Tension’s rising,and while the rest of the guys I’ve known in the Kopolov family would be on edge, Vadka is steady. Calm. Determined and alert, but a rock.

And I would follow this man to the ends of the earth, I would.

“I have a bag already packed for you and Luka,” he says. “Front hall closet. Are you good to get them?”

Of course he does.

The pain in my ankle has subsided enough by now. It’s still there, but I know we have to move.

I nod, pushing through the lingering ache as I head for the closet. There’s no time for hesitation, no room for weakness.

I can hear Vadka behind me, always present, always watching, ready for whatever comes next.

I find the bags in the closet right away—two duffel bags, one stuffed with folded clothes and toiletries, the other a few toys and various items that would occupy a little boy. I grab them from the closet, their weight solid in my hand, and turn to find him watching me, his expression unreadable, but his eyes soft. His gaze drops to Luka, still asleep, now nestled in his arms, the quiet, fragile peace a stark contrast to the world we’re thrust into.

“You’re doing good,” Vadka says quietly, his voice low enough that only I can hear. I lean my head on his shoulder and look down at the sweet boy asleep in his arms. If I loved Vadka before now, watching him hold his son against his chest, looking down at him with unfettered love and affection, makes me love him even more.

I manage a faint smile, but inside, my heart feels like it’s slamming against my chest. There’s so much uncertainty ahead. So much that could go wrong. But I can’t afford to let any of that show, not now, not in front of Luka.

I take a breath, steadying myself. “Let’s go.”

We move quickly, silently. Vadka’s presence at my back is like a shield, his steady footsteps matching mine as we head toward the car. Luka stirs in his sleep but doesn’t wake. The quiet rhythm of his breathing is a small comfort, a reminder of why we’re doing all this. For him.

For our little family.

Our family.

By the time we arrive at the Kopolov estate, everything has shifted. The air is thick with the weight of what’s to come,but there’s a hushed reverence in the house as everyone gathers. The atmosphere is heavy with unspoken tension, but also something else—preparedness. This is what they’ve been waiting for, what they trained for.

After settling little Luka in bed, Vadka moves through the house with ease, a quiet authority about him as he greets everyone, checking in and making sure everything is in place. I can see the respect in the eyes of the men here. They trust him. They know he’s the calm in the storm.

“Luka is having a hard time settling down,” Vadka says in a low voice to me. “He woke up a little.”

“Poor little guy. Let me bring him something to drink.”

I move to the kitchen and prepare a warm cup of milk for him. It’s a small act, but one that brings a little bit of peace in the midst of all the chaos, and it makes me feel good to mother him. As I hand him the cup, his sleepy eyes flutter open, and for a moment, it’s just us—no guns, no violence, just him and me.

Luka sips the milk slowly, his little body curling against mine as I stroke his hair, whispering soft words of comfort. He doesn’t ask questions, doesn’t sense the danger. He just trusts me, like he trusts Vadka. And that’s enough. For now, it’s enough.

I watch his eyelids flutter closed.

I glance over at Vadka, who stands in the doorway, watching us with that protective, quiet intensity of his. His gaze softens as he sees me holding Luka, and I swear, for a moment, the world seems to slow down. All the noise, allthe urgency, fades away, and I see him—really see him. Not as my brother-in-law, not as some guy in the Bratva. I see him as…mine.

His eyes are warm, but there’s a hardness to them too. A resolve that comes from everything he’s been through, everything he’s seen. But in this moment, he’s just Vadka. The man who’s going to protect us, no matter what.

My heart swells with a mixture of love and gratitude. He walks over, his steps quiet, purposeful. He crouches down beside me, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair from my face. His touch is warm, grounding, and in this moment, with Luka in my arms and Vadka beside me, everything feels right.

For a brief moment, it’s just the three of us, a family.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice barely above a breath.

He doesn’t answer with words. Instead, he simply presses his lips to my forehead, a soft, lingering kiss that speaks volumes. His strength, his steadiness—it’s everything I need. Everything I didn’t know I needed until now.

“Let’s get some rest,” he whispers. I’m exhausted.