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Her cheeks went bright red, and she picked at a loose thread on the cover. “That was a heavily edited bedtime story, baby.”

Miss Helen’s needles clicked. “I should hope so.”

Fucking hell. I’d forgotten she was in the room. My heart burst into motion, slamming my ribs as several things came together. I’d thought it before, only for a few seconds because if I focused on it too long I’d never be able to contain myself.

Nora studied our faces, then wiggled until Maksim put her down. She ran toward the bed and unzipped a small backpack, half disappearing inside it before she came back out clutching something. “Auntie gave me a picture.” She held it against her chest, then waved it in the air.

Anika rose, hand outstretched. “Nora, let me see that.”

Nora unfolded it first, then bounced forward to show everyone. “Auntie told me one of you is my daddy.”

16

ANIKA

Nora waved the photo again, the paper fluttering in the silence. Even Miss Helen’s knitting needles had stopped.

I finally removed the body armor, crossed the space, and dropped to my knees. Nora smiled and held the picture out to me, so pleased with her surprise that I couldn’t possibly be angry with her. It wasn’t her fault anyway. None of this was her fault. It was Alina’s, and the anger burning through me directed itself deeper, searing hot enough to make my fingers shake when I took the worn image. How long had she had this without telling me? “When did Auntie give you this?”

The picture showed all three men standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the hotel the night of the masquerade. They were dressed in tuxedos and holding their masks. Maksim stared at the camera with that severe expression he wore, while Roman looked annoyed and Kirill had one arm stretched over each of their shoulders. His smile promised trouble.

Nora rocked onto her toes, then back with her hands flapping up and down like a bird’s wings. “A long time ago. She said I had to keep it safe until I met them.”

My stomach dropped, breath rushing out with a whoosh. “Did she tell you not to show me?”

My little girl’s smile disappeared, and her chin tucked as she studied the carpet, nodding while rubbing one bare foot over the other. “She said it was a surprise.”

Of course she had. Alina knew I didn’t like secrets between Nora and me, so she’d phrased it in a way that would ensure Nora’s agreement. Manipulation. I hated it. Fighting to control my expression, I tipped Nora’s chin up. “You aren’t in trouble. Not even a little bit. Auntie shouldn’t have asked you to keep something this important from me, but that’s her mistake, not yours. Okay?”

“Okay.” Her gaze skipped past me. “But is one of them my daddy?”

The question punched straight through my chest. I’d imagined answering that question someday, but in my imagination, she’d always been older.

Maksim moved first, crouching beside me with his hands on his knees. The gold star hung crooked on his shirt. “Your mother and the three of us need to have a grown-up conversation before we can answer that.”

Nora frowned at him. “Why?”

Kirill snorted a choking sound and coughed into his fist.

I frowned at him and took Nora’s hand. “I promise I’ll explain as soon as I can, but right now, can you stay with Miss Helen while we talk?”

“You’re ours, Nora. Never doubt that.” Kirill crouched as well, holding out his hand to Nora. “You made our boo-boos better. No one…” He swallowed hard, eyes flicking up to me and holding. “No one has done that for us before.”

God this man. He melted my heart all over again with his promises and the gentleness I’d never expected.

Roman rubbed his hand over the pink unicorn covering the cut. The bandage had already started trying to peel upward, and he smoothed it until it stuck again. “We’ll always be here for you.”

If I hadn’t already been weak in the knees, that would’ve finished me off.

Miss Helen set her knitting aside and rose. “Nora, I could use your help deciding whether your cartoon cat needs a crown or a necklace.”

Nora gasped. “Both.”

“A bold artistic choice.” Miss Helen held out her hand. “Come convince me.”

Nora started toward her, then ran back and wrapped both arms around my waist. I held her tight, breathing in the strawberry shampoo she loved. She let go and lunged toward Kirill, who caught her up in his arms and closed his eyes with his cheek pressed against her curls. When she moved to Roman, he opened his arms without hesitation. Maksim remained crouched and received a kiss on the cheek that left him staring after her when she skipped away.

I dipped my head toward the doorway, then turned and led the way to my room. I didn’t want this conversation happening anywhere Nora might ‘accidentally’ overhear. Once Roman closed the door behind us, I exploded, unleashing all the fear and anger with a curse. “Who the fuck does that? My fucking sister gave my daughter a picture of you and told her to keep it a secret. I’ll…I’ll…” I kept wanting to say I’d kill her, but this world I’d suddenly become part of meant I couldn’t indulge in a threat like that. I paced to the window before remembering the gunfire at my apartment and veering away from it.