Page 78 of Toxic Temptation (Krayev Bratva #1)

KOVAN

“What’s the fucking delay?” I check my watch for the tenth time in five minutes. “We’ve been sitting in this godforsaken hallway for over an hour.”

I’m sick of this place. The courtroom is barren and old.

Badly flickering lights, ceiling tiles missing in the hallway, and the most uncomfortable waiting room chairs that human society has ever produced.

I’m half-tempted to smash them to bits and use the rubble to beat my way into the judge’s chambers.

Derek adjusts his tie for the hundredth time. “Let me check with the clerk again.”

I get to my feet and start pacing. Vesper picked out this Armani suit, said I needed to look respectable for the judge.

Right now, I couldn’t give a shit if I showed up in a potato sack.

All that matters is the custody decision that will determine whether Luka comes home with me or gets dragged back to hell.

My phone pings with another text from Vesper.

VESPER: Just built the world’s greatest pillow fort. Luka says it’s “structurally sound” thanks to his robotics lessons with Waylen. How’s it going?

I type back quickly: Still waiting. Tell him I’ll be home soon.

The courtroom doors swing open, and Derek emerges looking oddly satisfied. “We’re starting now. And Kovan? You’re gonna want to hear this.”

I follow him into the courtroom. It’s oddly empty. Usually, these custody battles draw extended family, character witnesses, the whole fucking circus. Today, it’s just me, Derek, and Yana’s scrawny lawyer—who looks like he’s about to vomit all over his cheap suit.

“Where’s their team?” I ask Derek under my breath.

He grins. “There was a development this morning. A significant one.”

The bailiff calls for everyone to rise as Judge Latimer enters. He’s a stern man in his sixties, a dour, salt-of-the-earth type who’s probably seen every sob story and manipulation tactic in the book. Today, he looks particularly irritated.

The courtroom doors burst open again, and Ihor stalks in alone. His face is placid, but I know him well enough to read the signs. The muscle in his jaw is twitching. His hands are tight fists. Whatever just happened, it wasn’t part of his plan.

“Mr. Makhova,” Judge Latimer says coldly. “How generous of you to grace us with your presence.”

“My humblest apologies for the delay, Your Honor.”

Even the judge can tell when Ihor is being condescending. He frowns, but says nothing for now.

Latimer shuffles through the papers on his desk, taking his time. “This hearing was scheduled to begin an hour ago. Unfortunately, we had to postpone due to your wife’s rather inconvenient arrest.”

I keep my face neutral, but inside, satisfaction blooms warm in my chest. Derek is practically shimmying with excitement beside me.

“My wife is innocent of any wrongdoing,” Ihor interrupts icily. “We’re confident her name will be cleared once the facts come to light.”

“‘The facts’?” Judge Latimer’s eyebrows rise. “You mean the facts that include a substantial quantity of cocaine found hidden in your eight-year-old stepson’s bedroom?”

The pieces click into place. Osip’s harebrained plan, the way he and Pavel were both avoiding work this morning… All to do this?! It’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard.

It’s also fucking brilliant.

“The drugs were planted,” Ihor asserts through gritted teeth. His gaze slides to me, cold and murderous. “I’m certain of it.”

“Are you making an accusation, Mr. Makhova? Because if you are, I’ll need substantially more evidence than loaded glances across my courtroom. And if you don’t have any evidence, then I suggest you keep your eyes to yourself.”

Ihor’s jaw works silently. “No accusation at this time, Your Honor.”

Judge Latimer nods curtly. “Very well then. Given the circumstances surrounding Mrs. Makhova’s arrest, and considering the thorough evaluation provided by Social Services, this court awards full custody of the minor child Luka Krayev to his uncle, Kovan Krayev.”

The gavel comes down with finality.

That’s it. I’ve won.

Derek claps me on the shoulder. “Congratulations, Kovan. That was even easier than expected.”

Judge Latimer fixes me with a serious look.

“Mr. Krayev, custody cases involving the removal of a child from their birth parent are never taken lightly. However, the evidence presented—including glowing reports from Ms. Murphy and the clear stability of your home environment—makes this decision clear-cut.”

I give him a half-bow, still reeling with shock. “Thank you, Your Honor.”

“Mrs. Makhova will be permitted supervised visitation at public locations—pending the resolution of her legal troubles, of course. I strongly suggest she seek rehabilitation and distance herself from any individuals who might compromise her son’s wellbeing.”

His pointed look at Ihor makes it clear who he’s referring to.

“Understood, Your Honor.”

“Mr. Makhova, I recommend you return home and reassess your priorities. We’re adjourned.”

The gavel bangs again, and it’s over.

Ihor pushes past his useless lawyer without a word, shooting me one last look of pure hatred before disappearing through the courthouse doors. He knows he’s been outmaneuvered, but this isn’t over between us.

Men like Ihor don’t accept defeat gracefully.

I’ll deal with that problem later, though. Right now, I have more important things to focus on.

I find Osip and Pavel waiting by my car in the courthouse parking lot, both trying to look casual and failing miserably.

“You beautiful, idiotic bastards.” I pull Osip into a rough embrace, slapping his back hard enough to bruise.

“The drugs were already in the house,” Osip explains, clearly proud of himself. “We just needed them relocated to somewhere that would guarantee Yana’s arrest.”

“How?”

“Pavel’s new girlfriend.” Osip smirks. “Emelda, the housekeeper. Promised her a better job with us if she moved a few packages from the master bedroom to Luka’s room before the social worker’s surprise visit.”

I stare at my brother. “You seduced the maid to win a custody battle?”

“I prefer ‘charmed,’” Pavel says innocently.

“And lest you think I’m not a man of my word, I’m absolutely going to follow through on that job offer.

She deserves better than working for those rabid animals.

I’ll follow through on the date, too, although that’s got a little bit more of a selfish motive. She’s got curves that do not quit.”

I can only shake my head, amazed by their ingenuity. “And the social worker just happened to do a surprise inspection?”

“She received an anonymous tip about drug activity in the home and was all too eager to investigate.” Pavel shrugs. “Funny how these things work out, isn’t it?”

For the first time in months, the knot of tension in my shoulders loosens. Luka is safe. Yana can’t touch him. Ihor’s main source of power over us is broken.

I start to stride toward my car, but I pause when I realize that my brother and Osip aren’t following. “You aren’t coming back to the house?” I ask them.

They both grin. “This is family time,” Pavel answers for the two of them. “Go tell your kid and your girl the good news.”

Your kid. Your girl.

I fucking love how that sounds.

I find them in the living room. Or rather, what used to be the living room. They’ve transformed the entire space into an elaborate fort constructed from couch cushions, throw pillows, and bedsheets. Only their feet are visible, sticking out from under a sheet that serves as the roof.

“Engineering at its finest,” I call out.

“Kovan!” Vesper’s voice is muffled by fabric. The sheet roof collapses as both she and Luka scramble from their hideout.

Luka’s face is flushed with excitement and anxiety. “What happened? Did the judge decide? Do I get to stay?”

I pause, letting the moment stretch. This is the most important news I’ll ever deliver, and I want to remember every detail—Luka’s hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, Vesper holding her breath, the late afternoon sunlight turning the French doors into a dozen little squares of glowing gold.

“I got you, malysh . You’re mine now. Officially.”

“YES!” Luka launches himself at me, wrapping his arms around my waist with enough force to knock me backward. “I’m really yours? Forever?”

“Forever,” I confirm, lifting him off his feet in a crushing hug.

Vesper reaches us a second later, her arms circling my neck as she presses close. I can feel her trembling against me. When I look down, tears are streaming down her face.

“Happy tears,” she confirms before I have to ask. “The happiest.”

I hold them both, these two people who somehow became my entire world without me noticing. Luka’s excited chatter fills the air as he asks a dozen questions about what happens next, whether he needs to change schools, if Yana can ever take him away again.

They both cling to me as though I’m the buoy in a storm. But they’ve got it the wrong way around.

Because I’m starting to realize that I’m not their lifeline.

They’re mine.