Page 53 of Viktor

“Language, Viktor Kincaid!” Sara shot up. “I don’t care how much I hurt, if you don’t stop cussing, I swear to God, I’m going to wash your mouth out with soap.”

“You can try.” He shot her another grin.

“She sounds feisty. I like her already. Put me on speaker.”

“Why?” Viktor asked suspiciously.

“Motherfucker, just put me on speaker.”

Viktor sighed loudly and did as he asked. “My brother wants to say hello.”

“Hello, ladies.”

“He talks funny too!” Delia’s singsong voice was followed by a giggle.

Kade gasped. “I do not. You talk funny!”

Delia laughed. “Who are you?”

“I’m your Uncle Kade, and I can’t wait to meet you. I have a little boy about your age. His name’s Mateo.”

“Uncle?” She cocked her head curiously.

“Mmm hmm. You belong to us now, little one, and no one will ever hurt you again. I promise.”

Viktor ignored the utter shock on Sara’s face and listened to Kade talking to Delia.

“I’ve never had a niece before,” Kade went on, “so if I mess up, you have to promise to forgive me.”

“I will.” Delia turned her attention to Viktor, who reached out and took her hand, a sense of peace settling within him. It was like a missing piece finally clicked into place. A light went on, and he understood in that moment, this kid was his. She belonged to him. Sure, she might not have come from his loins, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t meant to be her father.

Convincing her mother of that was going to take some doing, though.

“I just wanted to tell you both one thing.” Kade cleared his throat. “Dobro pozhalovat' v sem'yu.”

“What does that mean?” Delia frowned.

“It’s Russian. It means welcome to the family.”

The grin that lit up her face brightened the whole room. Viktor took the phone off speaker. “Thanks,brat.”

“They belong to us now, whether they know it or not. You tell me what you need, and you got it. I can send Dylan down, if you want. He can help you dig up dirt and find some evidence.”

“That would be great. I’ll pay his salary myself.”

“I don’t think you’ll have to. Dylan has strong feelings about kids.”

“I know.” Dylan Jenkins was one of his squad members from the Marines. They’d gone through some shit together, and he knew all about how Dylan lost his family to a drunk driver. Even though his wife lived, she couldn’t bear the death of their daughter and had killed herself. “If he can catch the first flight out here, I’d appreciate it. Either myself or Gabe will pick him up at the airport.”

“I’ll have him call you with the details,brat. I have to go. They’re calling for our flight to board.”

“See you soon,brat.” Viktor disconnected the call and avoided looking directly at Sara. He didn’t want to see the anger sparking in her eyes. She had to know what that conversation was about, and he wasn’t up for a fight right now. He just wanted to be thankful she and Mason both were going to be okay.

“Do I belong to you, Viktor?”

Delia’s question caused her mother to gasp.

Viktor hauled the little girl up and pulled her into his lap. “Yes,malyshka. You and your mother both belong to me and to the whole Kincaid clan. We just have to convince your mama of that.”