Page 67 of The Disputed Legacy

“Of course, you are,” Maxim said impatiently as if he was bothered that it would be questioned. “But we’ll run a paternity test just to shut them the fuck up.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Father is furious about this,” he added. “As if he needs one more reason to revisit that part of our past and have another reason to be mad.”

“Watch over him,” I said, torn between going home to reassure my father that, yes, hewasmy father and I was his son and the need to be with Willow and make sure her association with me wasn’t putting her in the line of fire.

“Now it makes sense,” I said, thinking back to what that Romano soldier had said in the hallway before I shot him. He’dtold me that he was bringing me in, and this had to be what he’d meant. To bring me “home” to them.

No fucking way.

Nik took a sample of my blood that he’d have used for a paternity test. Even though he’d played devil’s advocate in suggesting I might not be his brother, I knew he wasn’t seriously thinking that. None of them were. It really was laughable to make up a tall tale that I was the son of an enemy.

“Don’t worry about this, Brother,” Maxim said before they left. “We’ll get this sorted and throw this proof in their faces. It’ll make them look like the liars and dumbasses they’ve always been.”

I nodded, unrolling my sleeve.

“And while you’re busy trying to get this mystery woman so we’ll have anothersister-in-law,” Nik added with a wry smile, “this should help.”

I accepted the duffle bag of clothes, guns, and other necessities.

I had nothing to worry about. These men were my brothers, through thick and thin. I knew that deep down, not just because they’d think to help me out with my plans to stay with Willow and win her over.

I knew I belonged with them and always would be an Ivanov because of this. This deep love and bond of brotherhood that nothing would ever break.

They’d have my back, even from a distance. And it would give me the freedom to pursue this love I wanted to build upon with Willow.

27

WILLOW

Iwould’ve thought that after I told Saul he could stay with me, instead of expecting me to move to somewhere he wanted, that we’d be together more. That I’d see more of him.

The opposite happened.

He was there, now with a bag of clothes he must have obtained from wherever he lived. But we were too busy to be a couple.

I was working at the diner.

He was off… working with his consultation and security affairs. Nothing changed about my needing to be on the go, working so many hours. Just because he was staying with me at my apartment didn’t mean that I suddenly had free time to spend with him.

I still had my obligations to work, to pay bills, to make sure Oscar was safe.

Saul seemed just as busy with whatever he did for a living. His job spilled over into the time we shared at my apartment, too. If he wasn’t listening to a phone call, he was checking texts and replying to them.

Each time I noticed him focused, I struggled with the need to ask what was wrong or what he was dealing with. But whenever I opened my mouth to question him directly about a detail, I was swamped with the consuming fear of having to tell him what my deal was. Still, despite the way we were getting closer together, I couldn’t release the bonds of keeping my secrets. I’d done all I could in the name of survival and I failed to let go now.

But how can he not be trusted?

He saved Oscar’s life.

He’s willing to compromise and be with me here, on my terms, instead of expecting me to do what he wants.

We were both busy with work, and with Oscar as he prepared for the first round of state testing he’d need to endure, but at night, after he walked home with us from collecting us at the diner, it was so clear to me that this enigma of a strong man was falling for me.

I saw it in the depth of adoration in his eyes.

I felt it in the possessive hunger of his hands on me.