Page 128 of The Bratva King

I laugh. “Not tomorrow. But someday.”

Luke chatters the whole way back to the estate. I pray he does not become obsessed with helicopters. I watch Nik listen. Treating Luke’s interests like they matter.

Something warm twists through my chest.

We get home, and Luke runs inside to tell Kylie about the helicopter. I start to follow, but Nik catches my wrist.

“Thank you,” he says.

“For what?”

“For trusting me. With him. I know you were scared.”

“I was terrified,” I admit. “But you were right. It was amazing.”

He pulls me closer and kisses me. Soft and slow and perfect. When he pulls back, I’m dizzy for different reasons than the helicopter.

“I have to go to the casino,” he says. “There’s a meeting I can’t miss.”

“Okay.”

“You’ll be safe here. Security knows to call me if anything seems off.”

“We’ll be fine.”

He hesitates like he doesn’t want to leave. Then he heads back to the SUV.

I watch him leave, my fingers brushing my lips. He kissed me in front of his guards. It’s getting harder to pretend this is only a fling. Every day, it feels like something more.

Luke is in the kitchen with a snack, telling Kylie about the canyon in excruciating detail. She’s listening patiently, nodding in all the right places.

I grab a bottle of water and lean against the counter.

“Mom, can Nik come with us everywhere?” Luke asks.

“What do you mean, buddy?”

“Like, when we go places. Can he come?”

“Sometimes. When he’s not working.”

“Is he my dad now?”

I nearly choke on my water. “What?”

Luke looks at me with serious eyes. “Is Nik my dad?”

Kylie's expression goes carefully neutral. She doesn't look at either of us.

I bend down in front of Luke. “No, honey. Nik is our friend.”

“But we live with him. Mila says you’re supposed to live with your dad.”

I struggle for the right words. “Not always.”

“He takes care of us. Mila says that’s what dads do.”

Suddenly, I’m less thrilled about this friendship.