In something of a Christmas miracle, Santa Claus found Romina. After some initial reticence, she embraced the idea wholeheartedly -- although she clung loyally to her beloved doll and her mommy’s old teddy bear. Logan made a valiant effort to tell her that tricycles were for outside, but eventually even she had to admit defeat after finding Glazov in the foyer for the third time, hands on his hips, laughing as Romina pedaled circles around him. Romina had had no idea about Santa Claus before that morning, but she decided that if he could give her a tiny, pink tricycle and twins to play with, he was a good person to know.
As the excitement of Christmas morning faded into a lazy, slow afternoon, Romina got to know her new family. It was a lot for a little girl to take in, so she didn’t complain when Logan put her down for a nap in the crib that had been set up in the adjoining room. It was currently Kodiak’s office, but Kathleen had already put in a call to her interior designer about a nursery theme for Logan to approve.
Sometimes Romina looked around expectantly, as if waiting for someone, and Logan suspected she was looking for Lucca or her mother. As happy as Logan was that Romina wasn’t a weepy puddle of separation anxiety over being parted from her biological mother, it made her sad to know that the two hadn’t bonded more. But she knew Romina missed Lucca. Glazov had mentioned that morning that Lucca wouldn’t be available for visits for a while, but that Romina would see Lucca again soon enough.
As Logan quietly closed the door, Roksana made herself at home, plopping down on Logan and Kodiak’s bed like it was her own. “So, are you two gonna get all boring and shit now that you have a kid?”
“I don’t think that’s possible in this family,” Kodiak laughed. “You two are the only ones who don’t have kids now,” he said, directing his assessment of their present situation toward Oleg.
“I’m more than ready,” Oleg replied with a pointed look at his wife. “I understand Romina was quite a hit with the Pakhan.”
“I wish you all could have seen her,” Logan beamed with pride. “She was a little shy at first, but he charmed her and she reached for him. Once she was in his arms, it was all over. He’s smitten and so is she. He called himself her dedushka. It really couldn’t have gone better.”
“Well, she’s a ballsy little thing, then. That’ll get her far in this family,” Oleg laughed.
“I have to hand it to my father,” Roksana said. “He has taken to being a grandfather like a duck to water.”
“Well, if you repeat this, I’ll deny it,” Logan said with a grin, “but judging by the look on his face, being a grandfather may not be enough for him. I have a feeling Kathleen’s going to have her hands full every time he gets her alone. That man has baby fever.”
“No way, Logan,” Roksana said skeptically.
“No, seriously. I’m positive. He was looking at Romina like he wanted another you.”
“Hey, now, your kid’s cute and all but there’s only room for one ‘me’ in this family,” Roksana boasted with mock seriousness.
“What did you guys think of Escondido’s woman Aurora?” Logan asked.
Roksana just laughed. “I thought ‘she’s beautiful, bitch better stay away from my man’.”
“Ha! I hear she’s one badass bitch.”
“Oh, she is. I’ve got mad respect for her, though, and the empire she’s built.”
Oleg was quick to burst their bubble. “It’s only a matter of time before Escondido puts a stop to her drug enterprise. She may be a badass, but Escondido is far more dangerous than she thinks.”
“I know that’s right,” Kodiak agreed. “Half the reason she hasn’t been blown off the map already is because Escondido has been protecting her behind the scenes.”
“Just hold on a damn minute,” Roksana said as she shifted her weight, sitting up straighter. “You boys are telling me that you think because she’s a woman she can’t run her business effectively? Please tell me you’re shitting me here.”
Kodiak was quick to answer his sister. “You know us better than that. Bratva men respect women. Hell, we revere them, but the old saying ‘no man is an island’ does hold an element of truth. We grew up in this game, Roksana, so we all know it takes family to keep the hustle going. When you choose this life it means you’re going to be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your days. Escondido is doing double duty, looking over his shoulder and hers too. They say those two were childhood sweethearts like Nikita and Natasha. That kind of bond runs deep.
“It’s quite a story. Escondido saved her life after her parents were gunned down in a church. He started watching out for her as a kid and he’s been doing it ever since. He’s more discreet about it now, of course. And even though they’re arch rivals, he’s got her back and she knows it. It’s engrained in him to take care of her. I’d be willing to bet neither one of them has ever fucked anybody else. That kind of loyalty doesn’t stray. If she died, I think it would kill him.”
“Hey, no F-bombs around Romina,” Logan said.
“She’s asleep.”
Logan pursed her lips, then glanced over at Roksana. “According to Novak, Romina’s going to see and hear a whole lot worse than cussing.”
“What did my father say to that?” Roksana asked.
“He said to let her keep her innocence for as long as she can.”
Roksana eyes widened. “Wow.”
“I’m not as concerned about her innocence as I am her safety,” Kodiak said, his voice grim. “She’s safe now and that’s all that matters. If it hadn’t been for Father adopting me, I don’t know where I’d be today. Our parents protected us, but they never sheltered us. There’s a difference, I think. As far back as I can remember, they never hid the fact that we were Bratva. They made sure we were proud of it, and I want her to be proud too. I’ll watch my language, but I have no intention of shielding my daughter from her Born Bratva legacy.”
“Darling, stop it, you’ll make me cry.” Vladimira stood in the doorway, one eyebrow arched imperiously. “Now, where is she? My brother has been monopolizing the child’s time and I haven’t had a chance to get properly acquainted.”
“Shhhh, she’s sleeping,” Kodiak said. “And, anyway, I’d much rather talk to you at the moment. I understand you have news.”
“Hmm?” she murmured coyly.
“What’s with you and Pavel?” Kodiak asked. “It looked like you two were having a moment last night, but in all the excitement I didn’t get a chance to ask you about it. Is that a different ring on your left hand?” Everyone knew Vladimira wouldn’t be caught dead, figuratively or otherwise, without her poison ring. She always wore it on her left ring finger because she considered herself married to Bratva. Bratva was her life, pure and simple. But then Pavel had made his intentions known some months ago and Vladimira’s life was no longer quite so simple.
“Oh, this?” she asked, extending her left hand for inspection. Her blood red lips curved in an impudent smile as Roksana and Logan squealed and crowded around her to get a closer look at the black diamond ring.
“You’re engaged?!” Logan exclaimed.
Vladimira looked down at the ring and smiled at the thought of the man who had given it to her. “We have an understanding.”
“Wait. So, are you not wearing the poison ring anymore?” Kodiak asked incredulously. He couldn’t imagine his aunt without it. An anxious cry from his old office had him on his feet to check on his girl. When he reached the door, he turned back and gestured for Vladimira to come with him.
Vladimira patted Roksana’s cheek then crossed the room to join Kodiak as he opened the office/nursery door. “Oh, I’ll still wear it, darling. Just on my right hand from now on and only when I’m out and about.” Then with a wink at her nephew, “After all, it’s not child-proof.”