Page 121 of Maxim

“I want to thank everyone too. Especially Uncle Nikolai for the new doggy he is buying me.”

I shoot my eyes to Nik and see him smiling as he shakes his head.

“A dog?” I hear Olena whisper as Daryna babbles on.

“I also want to thank my new daddy for being the best daddy and making my sister happy.”

My heart catches in my throat. I never asked them to call me Dad, but hearing her say it has me fighting to hold back the tears. The little girl is going to make me cry in front of my men, and I can’t even be mad about it.

“And to Olena. You are my sister, but you are more like my mom, so I want to call you Mommy. Can I?”

Olena is full on sobbing as she nods.

“Yes, baby. You can if that’s what you want.”

“Yay. I have a mommy and a daddy now. That’s all. Za zadovy or whatever Daddy said.”

She butchers the saying, but nobody cares. They are too busy hiding their own tears as they hold up their drinks before tossing them back.

“Why is everyone crying? Did I do it wrong, Daddy?” Daryna asks, dropping back into her seat.

“No way. You did amazing. Everyone loved it,” I tell her as Olena sobs into my chest.

Alek gets up, moving around us to hug Olena from the other side. Daryna moves in, climbing into my lap to hug Olena too.

“It’s okay, Mom,” Alek whispers to her, only making her sob more.

Everyone leaves us to our little bubble as Olena feels all of the emotions. I know this means the world to her. She has tried to be the best for these kids from the moment they were born. She truly has been their mother in every way, so to hear those words come from their mouths? It has to be something special. Hell, it was to me, and I have only known them a few months.

Once she is able to get a hold of herself, she wipes away her tears, kissing each kid on their cheek.

“I’m honored to be your mother, but I will always be your sister too. No matter what.”

“You have always been our mom,” Alek says. “It’s time for it to be official.”

She squeezes him tight. He doesn’t say a word. He lets her.

After the heavy moment has passed, Olena pulls away and looks toward Daryna.

“So what’s this I hear about a puppy?”