Cruel Paradise - A Mafia Romance Chapter 181

He opens his mouth to say something, but I don’t give him the chance.

I shoot once.

That’s all it takes.

He flops back against the floor as blood pools around his head in two long streams like devil’s horns. I drop the gun and grab hold of Josh, who returns the hug with a force I’m not expecting. Somehow, now that he’s in my arms, the stab wound doesn’t hurt quite as bad.

“Are you okay?” I rasp.

He nods against my chest. “I am now.”

58

RUSLAN

I get myself bandaged up as tight as I can before I approach the girls.

Emma is sitting on the grass outside the house, holding both of them tightly. They’re clinging to her as if their lives depend on it. I take a painful knee in front of them, Josh joining me at my side.

My eyes meet Emma’s and something passes between us. An electricity that’s charged with heat, but also, something else.

Gratitude? Understanding? Hope?

I couldn’t say.

“Reagan? Caroline?”

They turn to me, their little eyes wide for a moment. Just long enough for me to wonder if things are too broken to ever be repaired.

And then both girls jump on me at the same time.

“You saved us!” Reagan cries.

Reagan’s knee is currently digging into my freshly bandaged stab wound but I don’t care. Because this is the best feeling in the world.

Caroline pulls away from me. “Did you kill that bad man?”

I shouldn’t be surprised by the question. I’d basically promised as much back in that room. I glance at Emma, wondering how I should answer this.

“Ruslan said he would always protect us,” Emma says gently. “And he did. Now, you’re safe—so let’s focus on that, shall we?”

I loop an arm around the two little girls and hold them as tight as I can manage. “I owe you an apology. All of you. Last week, I said some things that I shouldn’t have said. Some things I didn’t mean. I was having a bad night and I was behaving badly. Selfishly. And I can promise you this—” I can’t stop myself from looking at Josh when I say this next part. “—it will never happen again.” I squeeze the girls’ hands, remembering something Emma told me a while ago. “Meeting you three has been the great privilege of my life. And if you’ll let me, I want to be your father. I would be so honored to have you as my children.”

When I glance up, I see tears in Emma’s eyes. She’s trying hard to keep it together but her chin is working overtime.

“What do you say? Do you forgive me?”

Reagan gives me a toothy smile. “I forgive you.”

Caroline nods. “Me, too.”

I put a hand to my chest. “I’m eternally grateful.” Then I turn to Josh. “You don’t have to forgive me right away. I understand if—”

“I forgive you, too,” he says abruptly as a blush suddenly scales up his cheeks before he adds, “… Dad.”

If there was any pain left from the stab, it’s gone now.

That one word is the best medicine I could’ve asked for.

Then it’s a pile of limbs as all of them—Emma, Josh, Caroline, Reagan—swarm me. I’m sweaty and bloody and woozy and exhausted, but I don’t give a fuck. I’d spend the rest of my life right here in this moment if I could.

I kiss the top of each of their heads before they pull back.

“I want all of you to know how proud of you I am. You two—” I touch my finger to the girl’s noses. “—for being so brave during this whole ordeal. And you—” I turn to Josh. “—for protecting the family.”

Struggling to my feet, I glance around to check how the cleanup is going. It’s a swarm of activity as my men haul away Adrik’s dead soldiers and prepare the house to be burned to the ground. When I meet his eyes, Kirill gives me a thumbs up so I know it’s safe for the kids to move around without coming across a body.

“Uncle Kiki!” Caroline cries as she runs to him. He grabs her mid-jump and twirls her around.

“Me next. Me next!” Then Reagan mimics her sister.

Laughing, Josh walks over to them but I’m pretty sure he’s just trying to give Emma and I some alone time. He’s not even nine and the kid’s already fast becoming my right-hand man.

Gotta tell Kirill to watch out. The kid might just replace him soon.

I offer Emma my hand and pull her up to her feet. Then we walk around to one of the trucks for some privacy. Before I can say anything, Emma breaks the silence.

“Just for the record: I forgive you, too.”

I arch a brow. “Just like that?”

Now, she’s the one raising her eyebrows. “You saved me and the kids from two raging psychopaths and got stabbed in the process. I think you’ve proven that you care about us.”

I frown. “What do you mean by two raging psychopaths?”

“Wait. Where’s Ben?”

“Ben?” I exclaim. “As in Ben, Ben?”

She nods and whirls around in terror like he might be behind her. “He was—I don’t know. He said Adrik came to him and… Shit, I don’t know. I don’t know.”

“Fuck,” I snarl. But there’s no sign of him and my men have combed the area thoroughly by now. He must’ve run for the hills.

It’s the only smart thing he’s ever done.

She puts her hand on my chest. “Ruslan. Don’t.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“If you’re thinking of sending a team after him like you did with Remmy, don’t.”

“How did you know?”

“I’ve known you a long time. I know you, Ruslan Oryolov. But trust me on this: we’re never gonna see Ben again. This time, I’m sure of it. So let’s just leave him to his pathetic life and we’ll get on with ours.”

Ours. I like the sound of that.

“Okay.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I concede. “There’s been enough blood spilled already. And I don’t want to be responsible for killing those kids’ father. Even if he is a piece of shit. But just so we’re clear, if he ever comes back—

She holds up her hands. “The gloves are off. I won’t stand in your way.”

I nod with satisfaction. “Alright then.”

She gives me a shy smile from underneath her eyelashes. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“What happened that night?”

I hesitate, not sure where to begin. And then it comes out of me in a steady stream. The words just roll out, one after another. Vadim’s betrayal. Adrik’s parentage. All the secrets. All the lies. It’s not until I’ve word-vomited all over her that I realize I’ve been waiting to tell her all this.

I want to share it with her.

What a strange thing that is.