Page 57 of Angel's Forever

I shuddered at the sound of his name. Even now, it sent shivers down my spine. I thought it always would. I had received countless calls from his father over the past week, trying to find out if I had seen him or if I knew where he was. It was only when I told him that I had left him six months ago due to his constant abuse that he had finally given up calling me. I didn’t have any issues with his father, but having to tell him what his son was truly like was too much for me. I had diverted his number to Hudson’s in the end so I didn’t have to speak to him anymore.

Hudson must have seen that I felt uncomfortable hearing his name, because he pulled me into his side and pressed a kiss onto my head.

Viktor saw this and instantly apologized. “I’m sorry, malyshka. But I think it is important for you to hear this, and then his name will never leave my lips again. I can promise you that he will never bother you again. He is probably residing in hell right now for the horrors he inflicted on you, my darling. I can assure you that he is no more. I saw to it personally.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. I hoped this meant that my baby and I were finally safe. That we would no longer have to look behind our backs every time we went out.

“You may see a news report in the next couple of days, so I wanted to warn you. But he will never hurt you again, malyshka. You can live the life you deserve with the men who adore you.”

I couldn’t thank Viktor enough for what he had done. I knew that what they did was hardly ever within the law, but for me, that didn’t matter. Perhaps having an adopted daughter and grandchild might make him review his business activities. All I knew was that I wanted him in my life.

“Thank you, Otets. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

“And you can’t imagine what it means to me for you to consider me as your father, and grandpa to your unborn child. I would love to consider you as my daughter if you would allow it.”

I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to call my father. I had never known my own, or my mother, so finally having someone in my life who wanted me as his was overwhelming.

Tears started to fall from my face as I smiled at him. “I couldn’t have thought of anyone better.”

Seeing his face light up made my day. He really was a big softy at times. However, I knew there was a side to him that I would never want to see, and I hoped that I never did.

“There is just one last thing I need to mention before I go today. There is someone who would like to meet you. He wants to meet the woman who has turned a bratva boss into a big softy. He helped me to find you in Maine. I said I would speak to you all first before I made any arrangements, mainly because of who it was.”

I looked at him in confusion. Why wouldn’t I want to meet the person who helped to save me? I wanted to thank everyone who had rescued me, and I had nearly done that.

“Why wouldn’t I want to meet him?”

Before Viktor could say another word, Nico spoke. “Are you saying that TD is willing to show his face to complete strangers?”

I looked at the three men sitting here with me wondering who the hell this TD was. I knew Viktor had someone helping him, but until now, I had never known who it was. I looked at Nico, asking the unspoken question, which thankfully, he understood.

“TD is how we lovingly refer to the man known as Teneva Diable, or Shadow Devil. He never shows his face to anyone, and if he does, they are not usually alive for very long. I believe Aleksandr has known him for years, which is how Viktor knows him.”

From the way Nico was talking, I guessed this man was not a man to be messed with, and probably one of the most dangerous people I could ever meet. However, if it hadn’t been for him, then I might never have been found. If Viktor thought it was safe for me to meet him, then I would.

“If you are happy for me to meet him, then I would love to. If he prefers to keep his face covered, then I will not be offended. He needs to be as comfortable with the meeting as I am.”

“I will get Aleksandr to have a chat with him. He was going back to Russia for a while to see family, as far as I know. He only stayed here as long as he did to make sure you were found and safe. When he gets back, I’m sure we can arrange it. Now, I will say my goodbyes. As usual, you’d better look after my malyshka, because I’m sure you don’t want to see me unhappy.”

Hudson and Nico both laughed. It was the same thing every time he was here. I got up from my seat as he stood from his, then walked toward him and placed my arms around him.

He returned the hug, leaned down, and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I love you, malyshka. You look after yourself, and that little one. Grandpa Viktor wants to be one of the first to hold the little munchkin.”

With that, he said goodbye to us all and left the office.

Chapter Thirty-Two

NICO

THE ATMOSPHERE HERE in the apartment had certainly changed since our visit from Viktor yesterday. An invisible weight seemed to have been lifted from all our shoulders. It didn’t mean that we weren’t still going to be protective of Rosa, because I didn’t think that we would ever stop doing that. All it meant was we could now live our lives without the threat of Vincent. Everything was fine with the baby, which was also a relief, especially for Rosa and Gino.

I was glad he had come in with us to the scan. He knew there was no way he would be the biological father of the child, but as Rosa had said, this child would have three dads, each one fulfilling all of its needs, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

We were already making bets as to who the father was. It seemed that I was the only one out of us all who thought it would be Hudson’s and it would be a boy. I was certain of it, and I really hoped I was right. It was exactly what Hudson wanted and needed. We had decided that once we found out, we would make a decision on what we would do next. Rosa wanted each of us to have at least one child each, and I would be happy with that, especially if I had a boy. I wouldn’t care if I had a girl, though, because I knew she would be one of the prettiest girls to ever be born if Rosa was anything to go by.

She had spent the night with Hudson, leaving me and Gino together for the night. We had gotten into quite a routine between us all, made so much easier with the attraction between Gino and Hudson. It meant that unless we really wanted to, we always had someone to be with every night. There were times when one of us wanted to be alone, and then we would have a threesome or sometimes we would all sleep alone. It just worked. I looked back now and wondered why it had taken us so long to think about doing this, but then I guessed it was Rosa who kept us all together and in check.

Not to say we didn’t have our disagreements, because we did. However, it always seemed to be Rosa who would bring us all back together and make us sit down and talk, even if the original argument involved her. We had what many people longed for most of their lives: the perfect relationship. Yes, it was unorthodox, and many people would frown upon four people living together and sharing and swapping partners. However, it was our life, and exactly how we wanted to live it.