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With the thought of this house being both my workplace and my new home, I recalled how Nikolai had told me this morning that he wanted my clothes moved into his room. I doubted he’d said it as a mere suggestion.

I left the office, knowing that if Owen or Rico were on the move, the trackers on their cars would be activated. Due to my surveillance, I’d picked out which ones were likely used by them despite their attempts at shielding their license plates and having them registered to other names. Their IDs were also ready to be flagged by the automation that Igor set up. If they tried to leave the country, we’d know. Multiple passive surveillance methods were arranged, so I felt confident that I could step out of the office.

Unlike when I worked at Pickering Inc. Security, I didn’t have to commute far. Just a walk down the hallway and I was “home”.

Earlier, it sounded like Brady and Paloma were busy sorting out all the clothes he’d gotten today. I almost felt guilty not to go with him, but I imagined he had fun with Paloma, too. He’d never had a “grandparent” of any kind, and I valued his having that unofficial bond with her.

I went toward Nikolai’s master suite, finding both my guys there. Paloma was there, too, carrying my clothes to the closet.

“Mama!” Brady ran to me and wrapped his arms around me in a big hug.

I squeezed him back, smiling at his joyful greeting. I hoped he’d never outgrow this happiness to see me.

“Are you done working?” he asked.

“For now,” I said, glancing at Nikolai as he sorted through some things in the closet, making room for my stuff. I knew that he’d had the Volkov men go to my apartment recently and take everything into storage. Most of it should be donated since Brady and I had all that we valued here. I’d also asked if he could check on Carly in her apartment. I suspected that he’d written her a large check as a thank you for always being there for me and Brady.

“I might need to check on a couple of things later,” I told them, meaning this for Nikolai’s ears more than my son’s. “But those shouldn’t take long.”

“Then come look at our project!” He took my hand and led me into the enormous walk-in closet. As I passed Nikolai, he leaned in and stopped me for a second to press a quick kiss to my cheek.

I smiled and listened to Brady and Paloma explaining how they thought I might like my things organized. I wouldn’t object to anything so simple as that, and if I wanted to change anything later, I would.

All I could think about as I stayed there in my new “place” was that I wished this were it.

That this was the happily-ever-after I could count on for the rest of my life.

My man.

My son.

My new godmother-like friend.

And all the security and affection that I never could’ve found with my first husband.

Maybe there’s a chance that life can really be this good, after all.

31

NIKOLAI

Because Louisa had been working earlier, for most of the day, it seemed like she was ready to be off and have a “shift” of parenting. I’d done mine by taking Brady to the mall and other stores. It didn’t feel like a job, though. It was parenting, and providing for him, which I was more than happy to do.

Since it was taking a while to wrap up the closet move and because Louisa wasn’t in the mood to cook with Paloma and Brady tonight, we ordered in food and made it casual.

All that I cared about was that I had them in my home. I would have Louisa in my bed, and Brady wasn’t acting like it bothered him. I was still learning how to read him and pick up on all his tells, but so far, it seemed like he was happier to know that his mother and I were together.

Like a mama and daddy.

I smiled at his words as I headed back to the mansion to meet up with the others again. While we’d had a meeting earlier already and we’d covered a lot, there was still more to discuss. This one would be just us, the six of us, and I knew it would be a productive gathering.

Driving over there, I basked in the warm glow of knowing my own little start of a family would be in my home, in my place, when I returned. I’d never realized how much that mattered to me, how much I liked having someone—other than Paloma—to come home to.

Instead of going out to party and drink and club, all to ultimately pick up a woman, I was looking forward to being a homebody with Louisa and Brady.

Not just that.

We can go to the parks. We can take trips. We can explore. Go shopping for more things that they might want to have in the house so it’s theirs too and not just mine.