Page 50 of Toxic Salvation (Krayev Bratva #2)

VESPER

It’s not fair. It’s really not.

It’s not enough that he’s six-foot-something of gorgeous muscle. It’s not enough that he’s a dangerous mob boss with excellent taste in jewelry. It’s not enough that he can cook like he studied under celebrity chefs.

The man can sing , too.

Kovan has Vitalii cradled in his arms, and he’s been singing sweet Russian lullabies for the last fifteen minutes. His deep voice melts around foreign words I don’t understand, but the melody is hauntingly beautiful. Soothing. Perfect for our tiny son who blinks sleepily up at his father.

Honestly, it’s enough to make me forget about the ache between my legs. At least temporarily.

I didn’t think it was possible to feel anything sexual down there. Not for weeks. But apparently, normal rules don’t apply to Kovan Krayev. Because my battered body is already responding to him, despite everything it’s just been through.

“I think his eyes are blue,” Kovan says, turning to me with a soft smile. “He opened them just now, and I’m pretty sure I saw blue.”

I can’t help but smile back. My heart does this little extra thump that I’ve come to associate with watching Kovan be a father.

“What are you grinning about?” he asks.

“You,” I sigh. “It’s really rude of you to look like that while I’m stuck here, bleeding and sore and unable to do anything about it.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Don’t worry. I promise to stay this handsome until you’re healed and ready for me.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

He winks and carries Vitalii over to me, placing him gently in my arms. The little one yawns and stirs but falls back asleep almost immediately. So far, he’s been an easy baby. I’ve fed him twice already, and he usually just falls asleep at my breast after he’s had his fill.

A nurse appears in the doorway. “Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Krayev, you have visitors.”

“They’re here,” I say, sitting up with excitement despite the soreness. “Maybe we should introduce him to Luka first? Give him some alone time with his brother?”

Kovan rubs my back. “Perfect idea. I’ll go get him.”

While Kovan is gone, I stare down at our son, breathing in his delicious newborn scent and admiring his downy dark hair. I search his tiny features for traces of myself, but right now, all I can see is his father.

I’m not upset about it.

“Mom?”

I look up to find Luka standing at the foot of the hospital bed, his hand clasped in Kovan’s. He looks nervous and excited and completely adorable in his Christmas sweater.

“Hey, sweetheart!” I croon. “Come meet your little brother.”

Luka approaches carefully, and Kovan lifts him onto the bed so he can look down at Vitalii. Luka’s expression is pure wonder.

“So?” I ask gently. “What do you think?”

“He’s so small!”

“Any bigger and he might have ripped me in half,” I laugh. “He’s eight pounds, three ounces. Not exactly a small baby.”

“He looks like Papa.”

“I think so, too,” I agree. “Actually, I think he looks a little like you, too.”

“Yeah?” Luka grins, delighted by the possibility.

“Do you want to hold him?”

Luka’s eyes go wide. “Really? What if I drop him?”

“You’re not going to drop him. You’re going to sit right here beside me and hold him carefully. Think you can do that?”

He nods and Kovan makes sure he’s sitting securely before I place Vitalii in his arms. Luka goes very still as the baby’s weight settles against him.

“There you go. You’re a natural.”

“He’s really cute,” Luka says, dropping a kiss on Vitalii’s forehead the same way I do with him.

I blink back tears and watch them together. Kovan takes several pictures, then catches my eye. I give him a nod.

“Time to introduce Vitalii to the rest of the family.”

“Vitalii?” Luka gasps, looking between us. “You named him after Dad?”

“We did, malysh ,” Kovan says, ruffling Luka’s hair. “Is that okay with you?”

“Yeah!” He nods enthusiastically. “It’s a great name. This way, Dad and my baby brother will have a special connection.”

“That’s a beautiful way to look at it, honey.”

Kovan opens the door, and within seconds, my hospital room fills with familiar faces. Charity, Pavel, Osip, and Waylen hang back to let Mom have first access to the baby.

Holding Kovan’s arm for support, Mom approaches the bed. Her features are softer and more relaxed than I’ve seen them in months.

“Oh, sweetheart, he’s an angel. So beautiful. He reminds me of Waylen when he was a newborn.”

“He’s handsome then?” Waylen pipes up from across the room.

“He is handsome,” Osip says. “Which means he definitely doesn’t take after you, Waylen.”

“I disagree. It’s clear he looks like his paternal uncle,” Pavel insists, grinning. “Look at that dark hair. He’s a mini-me for sure.”

Charity pushes the boys aside and rushes to my bedside. “Oh, V, I can’t believe it. You’re a mama!”

“I was a mom the day I met Luka,” I say, giving him a wink. “Now, I’m a mom of two.”

“You haven’t told us his name yet,” Mom points out, stroking Vitalii’s cheek.

I nod to Kovan, and he makes the announcement. “Everyone, meet Vitalii Thomas Krayev.”

“Thomas?!” Mom says in shock, her hand flying to her mouth. “Vesper, honey, you named him after your father?”

“It was Kovan’s idea,” I admit. “What do you think?”

Mom stares at me, then bursts into tears. Full-on sobs that shake her whole body.

“Oh, Mom,” I whimper. “Someone hug her. I can’t get out of this bed.”

Waylen rushes to her side and wraps his arms around her shoulders. “Come on, Mom. This is no day to cry. We have to celebrate the latest addition to the family.”

“I’m sorry,” Mom hiccups. “I just… I didn’t expect that.” She leans toward me and lowers her voice. “I thought you were still angry with him.”

“I am,” I say. “But that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped loving him. I just wish things had been different. I’m hoping Vitalii will be the best of both men he’s named after.”

Mom shakes her head, eyes still filled with tears. “I’m so proud of you, honey. You deserve a happily ever after.”

“Speaking of happily ever afters,” Kovan says, squeezing my toes under the blanket, “there’s something we need to tell everyone.”

I slip my engagement ring back on under the covers, then pull my hand out to reveal the enormous diamond. “We’re engaged!”

Charity squeals so loudly that Vitalii nearly wakes up. Mom bursts into fresh tears, and the boys start congratulating us with whoops and hollers. I watch happily as Waylen gives Kovan a hearty hug that doesn’t even look forced.

Luka passes Vitalii to Mom, and she sinks into the armchair by the window, cooing at him. The boys form a loose circle around Kovan to chat as Charity slips into the bed beside me and hooks her arm through mine.

“How are you feeling?” she asks, though her eyes keep drifting to Pavel.

“Tired. Sore. But mostly, happy as hell.”

“I am so happy for you, hon,” she says. “You make motherhood look good. So good that I think I might try it someday, too.”

“Oh, yeah?” I raise an eyebrow. “Are you sure you’re not moving too fast? You and Pavel haven’t been together very long.”

“No, we haven’t,” she agrees. “But I can’t stop picturing a future with him. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I want the white picket fence and the suburban home and the minivan parked in the driveway.”

I snort with laughter. “Please. Pavel would never be caught dead driving a minivan.”

“He’d drive one for me,” she says confidently.

“Jeez, Char. You’re serious.”

“I’m falling for him, V. Hard. If he asks me to marry him, I won’t be able to say no.”

“You think that’s a possibility anytime soon?”

She shrugs. “All I know is that I was ready to marry him on our first date.”

“Charity!”

She shrugs again. “When you know, you know.”

I turn toward the boys. Kovan stands in the middle of Waylen, Osip, and Pavel, his face animated as he describes the moment Vitalii was born. His hands move as he talks, and his eyes are bright with pride and joy.

Charity’s right about that much: When you know, you know.

And looking at Kovan with our son sleeping peacefully in my mother’s arms, surrounded by all the people we love most in the world, I know with absolute certainty that this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.