Page 30 of Mountain Daddy (Broken Boss Daddies #1)

NIKOLAI

I wake to sunlight on my face. And Lilly’s hair. Soft. Warm. Spilling across my chest like a damn silk curtain.

She’s still asleep. Bare skin against mine. Her breathing slow. Steady.

Safe.

Last night crashes through me in flashes?—

Her nails. Her moans. The way her body clung to mine like it was made to fit.

Fuck.

My cock stirs, hard and ready again just from the memory. From her.

But it's not just that. Not just lust in my blood. It’s something quieter. Deeper. The weight in my chest isn't heaviness. It’s stillness.

Peace.

And goddamn it… I think it’s her.

Her eyes flutter open, catch me watching her.

“Morning,” she whispers sleepily.

I brush hair from her face, letting my fingers linger on her cheek. “Morning.”

She stretches against me and for a moment I consider pulling her under me again. Taking her slow this time. Making her beg.

Then my phone buzzes.

Text from Rosa: On our way with the little man. 20 minutes.

“Rosa's bringing Chleo,” I tell Lilly, showing her the screen. “Twenty minutes.”

Her eyes widen. She bolts upright, sheet falling away from her naked body. “Twenty minutes? The place is a mess. We're a mess.”

I grab her wrist before she can leap from the bed. Pull her back to me. “Calm down.”

“But—”

I silence her with a kiss. Feel her melt against me before I release her. “Shower. I'll clean up.”

Ten minutes later, I'm collecting torn clothing from the floor when I hear it. The sound of tires on gravel. A car door. Then?—

“Mom! Dad!”

My heart stops. Just for a second.

Dad.

Did he just?—?

I’ll never get used to that.

The front door flies open. Chleo bursts into the cabin like a hurricane. His eyes find me immediately.

“Dad!” he shouts again, racing toward me.

It's not the first time he's called me that, but it still hits like a bullet to the chest. A good bullet, if there is such a thing. One that expands instead of destroys.

I crouch down, catch him as he launches himself at me. His small arms wrap around my neck, squeezing tight.

“Hey, buddy,” I smile. “Miss me?”

“So much!” He pulls back, eyes wide with excitement. “Rosa let me have chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. And I stayed up late watching movies. And?—”

“Sounds like you had fun,” I laugh, standing up with him still in my arms.

Rosa appears in the doorway, smiling. “Morning, lovebirds. Hope you two had a... restful night.”

The way she emphasizes “restful” makes it clear she knows exactly how we spent our evening.

I'm not embarrassed.

“Very restful,” I confirm, shifting Chleo to my hip.

Lilly emerges from the bedroom, hair damp from the shower, wearing one of my t-shirts and a pair of jeans. She looks soft. Domestic. Mine.

“Mama!” Chleo squirms in my arms, reaching for her.

I set him down, watch him race to her. She scoops him up, covers his face with kisses until he giggles and protests.

“Did you behave for Rosa?” she asks.

“Perfect angel,” Rosa says, winking at Chleo. “Except for the part where he convinced me he's allowed ice cream before bed.”

Lilly raises an eyebrow at our son. “Is that so?”

Chleo's face scrunches in a look of pure innocence. “Dad lets me.”

I laugh. “Nice try, kid.”

The sound of another car approaching breaks the moment. I tense automatically. Remember I don’t have my gun on me.

“Expecting company?” I ask Lilly.

She shakes her head, moving closer to Chleo. Protective.

I step to the window, peer out. Relief floods through me when I recognize the black Audi.

“It's Maksim,” I tell them, relaxing.

Rosa perks up. “The tall, scary one with the nice arms? Your friend?”

Lilly shoots her a look. “Rosa!”

“What? I have eyes. Seen him helping around when the bakery was being fixed up for opening day.”

I hide my smile as I open the door. Maksim climbs out of his car, casually dressed in jeans and a henley.

For him, that's practically pajamas.

“Didn't know you were coming,” I say as he approaches.

He shrugs. “Day off. Thought I'd check on the kid.”

What he doesn't say—doesn't need to say—is that he's been keeping tabs on all of us. Making sure we're safe. He's been my best friend for years. Knows my weaknesses. Knows what losing Lilly and Chleo would do to me.

“Uncle Maksim!” Chleo shouts, barreling past me to greet him.

I raise an eyebrow. “Uncle?”

Maksim looks almost embarrassed. “Kid started calling me that. Didn't correct him.”

I watch as he crouches, lets Chleo climb on him like a jungle gym. This man—who I've seen snap necks without blinking—gently swings my son around, making monster noises that have Chleo screaming with delight.

Inside, Rosa's already making coffee. Moving around the kitchen like she owns it. Lilly sits at the counter, watching Chleo through the window.

“Hope you don't mind company,” I tell her, coming up behind her. My arms slide around her waist, pulling her back against my chest.

She leans into me. “Not at all. It's nice.”

Rosa sets coffee mugs in front of us, then calls out the door. “Coffee's ready if you boys are done roughhousing!”

Maksim carries Chleo in, the boy perched on his shoulders. His eyes land on Rosa, and I see something shift in his expression. Interest. Appreciation.

“Don't think we've been properly introduced,” he says, extending a hand to her. “Maksim.”

“Rosa.” She takes his hand, holds it a beat too long. “I know you. You were watching over this little monster.” She reaches up to tickle Chleo, who squeals.

“I was,” Maksim says, voice softer than I've ever heard it. “He told me you bought him dinosaur pajamas.”

“A boy needs his dinosaurs in times of crisis,” she says solemnly.

The corner of Maksim's mouth twitches. Almost a smile. For him, that's practically a declaration.

“Hungry, buddy?” I ask Chleo, breaking the moment.

“Starving,” he declares dramatically. “Could eat a whole elephant.”

“Fresh out of elephants,” I say. “How about pancakes?”

“Again?” Lilly laughs.

“Always pancakes!” Chleo shouts, bouncing on Maksim's shoulders.

So that's what we do. Make pancakes. All of us. Chleo “helps” by spilling flour everywhere. Rosa directs traffic in the kitchen, ordering Maksim around like he's a new recruit instead of a feared Bratva enforcer.

And he lets her.

Watching them—Maksim and Rosa teasing each other, Lilly and Chleo setting the table—makes for one the happiest memories of my life.

“Earth to Nikolai,” Lilly says, waving a hand in front of my face. “You okay?”

I blink, realize I've been standing still, watching them. “Yeah. Just...” I don't have words for this feeling. This lightness.

She seems to understand anyway. Stands on tiptoes to press a kiss to my jaw. “I know.”

Breakfast is chaotic.

Loud.

Messy.

Perfect.

Chleo talks non-stop.

Maksim listens with surprising patience. Asks questions. Seems genuinely interested in the ramblings of a five-year-old.

And Rosa... Rosa watches Maksim with the same interest.

“So,” she says during a lull, “what exactly do you do, Maksim?”

His eyes meet mine briefly. Asking permission.

I nod slightly. Rosa's Lilly's best friend. She knows enough.

“Security,” he says simply. “For powerful families.”

“Hmm.” She studies him. “And what does that mean, exactly?”

“Making sure problems disappear before they become problems.”

She sips her coffee, watching him over the rim. “Sounds mysterious.”

“It's not,” he says, but there's a hint of amusement in his voice. “Just messy sometimes.”

“I bet you're good at it,” she says. “The scary face helps, I'm sure.”

“Scary?” he repeats, looking genuinely confused. “I have a scary face?”

The table erupts in laughter. Even Maksim cracks a smile.

“Terrifying,” Rosa confirms, but the way she's looking at him says she finds it anything but.

I catch Lilly's eye across the table. She smiles, knowing exactly what I'm thinking.

They'd be good together.

Fire and ice.

Light and shadow.

Maybe balance each other out.

After breakfast, we move to the living room. Chleo pulls out his coloring books, spreads them across the floor. Maksim sits with him.

Rosa and Lilly clean up, their voices drifting from the kitchen. Soft. Familiar.

I watch my son—my son—teaching Maksim the proper way to color a stegosaurus. “You have to stay inside the lines,” he insists. “Or it looks messy.”

“Maybe I like messy,” Maksim counters.

Chleo considers this, head tilted. “Sometimes messy is okay,” he decides. “But not for dinosaurs.”

I can't help but smile. The logic of children. Simple. Clean. Black and white in a world of grays.

That's when I hear it. Another car. Not slowing. Coming fast up the gravel drive.

Every muscle in my body tenses. I'm on my feet before I realize I've moved.

“Nikolai?” Lilly calls, sensing the change.

I don't answer. Move to the window. Scan the approaching vehicle.

Red Jeep. Familiar.

Ivan.

Rage floods my system like gasoline on embers. Ignites. Burns.

“Stay inside,” I order, already moving toward the door.

“Who is it?” Lilly asks, coming out of the kitchen.

“Your cousin,” I growl.

I'm out the door before she can respond. Down the porch steps. Across the yard toward the Jeep now pulling to a stop.

Ivan climbs out. Sees me coming. His face hardens, but he doesn't back down. Stands his ground.

“Vetrov,” he greets me, voice carefully neutral.

“You've got nerve,” I say, stopping a few feet away. Close enough to strike if needed. “Showing up here after telling me to leave town.”

“I came to talk,” he says. “Just talk.”

“Nothing to talk about.” My hands curl into fists at my sides. “You made your position clear.”

“Things have changed.”

“Have they?” I step closer. “Or are you just here to threaten me again? To tell me I'm putting them in danger?”

His jaw tightens. “I was trying to protect them. Lilly and Chleo. My family.”

“They're my family,” I say, voice dropping dangerously low.

“Uncle Ivan!”

The voice stops me cold. I turn to see Chleo racing across the yard.

Within seconds, he's already at Ivan's side, arms wrapping around the man's legs in a familiar hug. One he's given many times before.

Uncle.

The realization hits like a slap. Ivan isn't just Lilly's cousin passing through. He's been part of Chleo's life. Part of their family.

“Hey, little man,” Ivan says, ruffling Chleo's hair with easy affection. “You being good?”

“The best,” Chleo announces proudly. “Dad took me fishing!”

Ivan's eyes flick to me. Something passes between us. Understanding, maybe.

“Chleo, honey,” I say. “Why don't you go show Rosa and Maksim your new rock collection? I need to talk to Uncle Ivan for a minute.”

“But I just saw him,” Chleo protests.

“I'll be here when you're done,” Ivan promises. “Go on.”

Chleo considers this, then nods. “Okay. But don't leave without saying goodbye.”

“I won't,” Ivan says softly.

I watch Chleo head back to the cabin. Only when he’s inside do I turn back to Ivan.

“You've been in his life,” I say. Not a question. A realization.

“Since he was born,” Ivan confirms. “Someone had to be the man in his life.”

The words should anger me. Should make me want to put my fist through his face. Instead, I feel something unexpected.

Gratitude.

“Thank you,” I say, the words rough in my throat. “For being there for him.”

Ivan looks surprised. “Wasn't expecting that.”

“Neither was I,” I admit. “Why are you here, Ivan? Really?”

He runs a hand through his hair, sighs. “I'm here because Chicago's not an option for me anymore. The families there— they're always going to want me involved. And I'm done with that life.”

“So you came here.”

“To be near family. To start over.” He meets my gaze steadily. “Same as you.”

“I'm not starting over,” I say. “Just continuing what I've always done. Protecting what's mine.”

“And what happens when the Kozlovs send more men?” The questions hit hard because they're the same ones keeping me up at night.

“I deal with it,” I say.

“Alone?” He shakes his head. “That's not how this works, Vetrov. Not when you've got family involved.”

I study him, trying to read behind the words. “What are you suggesting?”

“You should leave,” he looks pained. “They’ll find you here.”

“I can’t upend their life,” I refuse.

We both stand in silence for some time. Thinking of ways to make this work. Then, I remember he said something.

“You said the people in Chicago? They’d want you involved.”

“They like me,” he shrugs. But then, the wheels turn.

In his head, and mine.

“Do you think you could bring them to the table?”

He lets out a low whistle. “I still have connections in Chicago. People who owe me favors.”

He crosses his arms after thinking. “I could help finalize a truce with the Kozlovs. Make them understand that coming after you—after us—isn't worth the cost.”

The offer surprises me. “You’d do that?”

“Not for you,” he says bluntly. “For them. They deserve peace.”

I can't argue with that. “And what do you want in return?”

“Nothing.” He shrugs. “Except maybe your word that you're in this for the long haul. That you won't disappear on them again.”

“I never disappeared,” I say, voice tight. “I didn't know about Chleo.”

“I know that now,” he admits. “But intentions don't matter much to a kid growing up without a father.”

“I'm not going anywhere,” I tell him. “They're my family now.”

“Then we want the same thing.” He extends his hand. “Peace.”

I look at his hand. At the man offering me a way out of this mess. A chance to give Chleo the life he deserves.

I take his hand. Grip it firmly. “Peace.”