Shattered Innocence

Unveiling Vulnerabilities

I don't let her know I listened to her conversation with her sister. I stop in the kitchen with a frown marring my face. Zack is there, making food for everyone, and Yuri is sprawled out, snoring, or pretending to. Ivan is asleep, and Mikhail is working. Zack freezes when he sees my expression.

"What?" Yuri is instantly up, but I wave away his concern as I debate if I should keep it to myself or not. She loves us. How could she ever doubt that we would feel any different? Have we not shown her? We need to every day. From the moment I laid eyes on Nora, I knew she was ours.

I knew she would be my everything, but I never could have imagined the depths of my feelings. I can barely breathe without her in my sight, and every smile and look she shoots my way steals another piece of my soul.

"Nothing. I overheard Nora talking to her sister."

"Good, they should heal their relationship." He stares at me though.

"What is it?" "I... Do you love her?" I ask, needing to know. I will protect her, even from my family.

"Nikolay," he snaps.

"What is it?"

"Do you love her?" I question more forcefully, staring him down. He searches my face with a perplexed expression before sighing.

"Well, I was hoping the first time I said it, it would be to her, but yes, I love her, as do you."

"Me too!" Yuri adds helpfully.

"You are in this forever and not just for now?" I press. He carefully puts his spoon down and meets me head-on.

"When do I ever do anything halfway? I am all in with her. We all are. I tried to resist to keep us safe, but we both know that didn't work. She's mine, and I'm hers. Now tell me."

"She loves us," I croak, and I hear the disbelief in my voice.

"Of course she does. We are amazing and have great dicks," Yuri says.

"How can she love us?" I whisper, and Zack sighs as he squeezes my arm.

"Because we are worthy of it—you are worthy of it, and if you let her, Nikolay, she will prove that to you. But how do you feel about it?" There's our leader, always trying to protect us.

"Like I've won every fucking lottery in the world," I growl.

"Like I don't deserve it, but I'm going to take it anyway and cherish it, never letting her go." He grins then, a wicked one. "Then I guess we better keep our girl happy." Turning, he bowls her some soup and hands it over with a spoon and a water.

"Let's start with this. She gets grumpy when she is hungry." I nod and take it, still humbled as I head back to her. How could I do anything else? I need to be by her side at all times.

"Oh, and Nikolay? Don't let her know you listened in. Respect her privacy. She will tell us when she's ready. I do believe our Nora is more stubborn than us," Zack calls. Yuri waves me on, and when I head back to her, I quicken my steps.

I need to tell her or, better yet, show her, so she never doubts us again and she stays with us forever. I know she's not used to a family, but she needs to get accustomed to it quickly because we won't let her go, even if she wants us to. We won't restrain her like her father, but we will follow her anywhere.

"Hey," she says softly as I enter, her eyes sparkling. Her hair is tied up in a bun, and she's looking way too fucking beautiful. For a moment, I freeze and just stare, feeling unworthy and far too scarred for her, but then she pulls a chair over for me and pats it. I sit beside her and hand over the food. She arches a brow but takes it.