Page 45 of Forgotten Vows

Alexsei nodded. “And I don’t blame her for that. She’s a protective mother from what I’ve seen. But still, there are answers to be found yet.”

I knew that, but it didn’t mean I had to like it. I didn’t want anyone in the Dubinin organization to see her as the enemy. She was the mother of my child. That inherently had to make her okay.

“A spy for the Italians…” I shook my head, annoyed at the ludicrous thought.

“And some are just concerned that Lev could be seen as a Dubinin heir.” Emil cringed. “Because he’s a bastard child and all…”

“No one is going to tell me that my son isn’t an heir just because he was born out of fucking wedlock.”

Emil grinned. “Too bad I hadn’t officiated a real ceremony that night.”

I shot him a beady stare.

“I think what he’s trying to say,” Alexsei remarked with a smirk for our cousin, “is that it’s implied Konstantin wouldn’t have ever been okay with Lev being a Dubinin heir. He wouldn’t have approved of you and Raisa being together at all.”

No shit.

“I also overheard from a few supervisors that there is more talk among the men about whether Raisa’s being here and being under our protection will spark more tension from those who were always the most upset about the feuds between the Petrov and Dubinin lines. No one wants that old bullshit to resurface.”

Petty fights from long ago were better left alone. Emotions could twist even the most straight-laced and common-sense soldier.

“I can’t see how that’s even a concern anymore.” I didn’t want to be overly dismissive. Having that kind of a relaxed attitude could be stupid. “Konstantin was believed to have been found dead years ago.”

“After a fight with the Cartel, right?” Alexsei asked.

“Yes. And my father and I have a few spies working on finalizing whether Konstantin is dead or alive.”

“If anyone were to ask me, Luka’s never given a shit one way or another. He’s just been happy and relieved that he doesn’t have to deal with him.”

Neither of them argued with me about that.

“Have you asked her about her father?” Emil asked.

I rolled my eyes. “Of course, I have.”

“Oh.” Emil almost smiled, like he was amused. “Hard to tell if you’ve ‘talked’ with her at all or if you’ve just been making up for lost time in the bedroom.”

I stared him down, daring him to smile and joke about this.

“Since you’ve seemed so much happier lately…”

I punched him. “Shut up.”

“He’s happy because he’s getting to know his son,” Alexsei said, backing me up against Emil’s teasing nature.

“She’s not…” I stood, hating to have to explain. “She still hasn’t forgiven me for the way I left her.”

“Ah…” Emil sipped his drink. “Well, then you'd best get started on groveling, huh?”

“Hey, she’s the one who hid my son from me.”

He tilted his head from side to side. “You’re both in the wrong then. Go on. Go make up and figure out if her father is still alive and a threat.”

I turned away from them, wanting to talk to her about anything, really. But when I checked in her room and saw both her and Lev fast asleep in the big bed, I wished I could do nothing more than slip in with them and be a real family.

Instead, I dragged myself to my room, determined to take this slowly and not scare off Raisa. The last thing I needed to do was let her think she could run away and avoid me again.

In the morning, while Lev was eating breakfast with Gabriella and baby Andre, who easily entertained my son with lots of laughter, I urged Raisa aside.