Page 54 of The Bratva Queens' Kings

Maxim looks up, relief washing over his face. "Mom, fractions are evil."

Roman chuckles, pulling up a chair. "Let's tame them together, then. What do you say? You, me, and the evil fractions?"

Maxim nods eagerly, the earlier despair replaced by the excitement of a shared mission. "Okay, but if we beat them, do I get a reward?"

Luca leans against the doorway, arms crossed, a playful smirk on his lips. "Only if you can explain them to me after because I swear they were the bane of my existence in school."

Maxim's eyes widen at the challenge. "Deal!"

We all gather around, the homework turning into a team effort. Roman simplifies the problems with quirky analogies, Luca interjects with offbeat humor, and Grigori, despite his earlier protests, offers sharp insights. I watch over them, my heart full.

As the evening wears on, the fraction problems gradually surrender to their efforts, and Maxim's triumphant smile lights up the room. We celebrate his victory with high fives and promises of extra dessert after dinner.

"It's settled then," I announce as we prepare to leave the room. "Tonight, ice cream for our brave fraction warrior—and his equally brave uncles."

"Make sure there's enough for the head of the family too," Roman jokes, winking at me.

"Always," I reply.

Descending the stairs, I can't help but marvel at the unlikely family we've created. Each of us from different walks of life, yet here we were, bound by something stronger than blood—by choice and fierce loyalty.

This, right here, is home—not just the place, but the people.

And as we sit around the kitchen table, sharing stories and dessert, I feel a profound gratitude for these moments of unexpected, perfect normalcy in the middle of our crazy lives.

This is what we protect, what we fight for. Not just survival, but the chance to have nights like this, where the hardest thing we face is elementary math.

THE END