by Helen Bright
Roman Barinov was enamoured. But then again, so was everyone who’d seen my precious baby girl.
“How is my daughter-in-law? I would have liked to speak with her.”
I proceeded to tell my father and Yuri everything that had happened today. When I ended the conversation they were more impressed than ever with my strong, resilient wife. They already adored her, and now she’d given my family another child to love. There was no greater gift than that in my father’s eyes.
Lily turned her head and began rooting against my shirt. She was hungry. Though the midwife had helped Tess get our little one latched on and suckling, she hadn’t been at her mother’s breast long before she’d fallen asleep.
When I entered our bedroom, Tess was just beginning to stir.
“Lily’s getting hungry again. She’s been so busy charming our staff and my father and brother, it’s no wonder she needs sustenance.”
Tess got herself comfortable and unbuttoned her pyjama top. She removed the breast pad then exposed her left breast and held out her arms. It took her a couple of tries before Lily latched on. Catherine hadn’t breastfed James so I found the whole process a fascinating and moving experience.
“How’s Ivan now?” Tess asked as I adjusted the pillows so I could sit on the bed beside her.
“Drunk, and Franco is well on his way. Jonesy said he’ll make sure they don’t have any more.” Ivan had hit the vodka hard in celebration of my daughter’s birth.
“I can’t believe how much he cried. First when she was born, and then when he knew her middle name was going to be Ivana. He’s going to spoil her rotten, Kolya.”
“I doubt he’ll be the only one doing that. Everyone I’ve spoken to is smitten with her already. James dropped everything to fly over here as soon as I told him you were in labour, and Yannis and Jean are arriving in the morning. It took me a while to get Jonesy and Nate to hand Lily back when they’d held her.”
“It’s good to know she’ll have so many people to love and care for her, Kolya. All children should have that.”
“They should, my love. You should have had that, too. But what you lacked then you have in droves now.”
“I do,” she replied, gazing down at our daughter. “I have a family to love and care for and it’s all thanks to you.”
“If it wasn’t for you saving my life, I probably wouldn’t even be here, Tess. And I wouldn’t have Lily, either. If there is thanks to be given it should go to you.”
I turned her face to mine and kissed her softly. She tasted of sweet familiarity. She tasted like she was mine. My future, my always.
There was nothing I would not do for this woman and the child feeding at her breast. And my son who is flying home to be with us. They are the reason why my heart overflows with love, pride, and joy.
They are my family. They make me want to be a better man—a good man. But that’s not always such an easy task when you are the son of a bratva king.
Since meeting Tess I have become more like a pakhan, and though it disturbs me, I do not regret killing the men who threatened my wife.
If anyone tries to harm my family, they will die at my hands. That is something that will never change. Protecting them should not be a crime, no matter how that’s done.
Family is everything. Always.
The End
Coming Soon
The Runaway’s Ruin — Book 3 in The Runaway Trilogy
Also by Helen Bright
The Night Movers Vampire Series:
My Love Forever
Blood & Secrets
Gregor’s Reason
Sergei’s Angel
Cian’s Journey: A Night Movers Vampire Novella
Books 5, 6, and 7 TBA
The Runaway Trilogy
The Runaway & The Russian
The Runaway In Love
The Runaway’s Ruin — TBA
About the Author
Helen Bright is forty something, married, mum of two grown up daughters, and has grandchildren that are the light of her life.
She lives in Yorkshire, UK, and often bases her novels in and around the county.
For more information:
www.helenbrightauthor.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/groups/757712931284614/
