Viktor got a phone call, and we had to leave because whatever was going on required Viktor’s attendance as soon as possible. On the way out the door, Lev tossed a set of keys at me and smiled. “Take it. You’ll need it more than me, kid brother.”

I wrinkled my nose and looked at the keys. I knew these keys pretty damn well. I paid for half of the damn thing after I ‘wrecked’ the first one. 

“Are you sure about that? You might not get it back.” I laughed. 

Viktor leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “I have to go. I’ll see you at home. Drive safe.” 

Alessio went to walk Viktor out, and Lev and I continued our talk. 

“Consider this a way out of that house when you need it. Our doors are always open to you, Nikita. If you need me, I am a single call or text away.”

“I don’t know if the idea of you becoming a father is what’s making you like this with me, but I have myself handled. I’m married to that man, and I’ll make it work. Hell or high water, I will honour the commitment that marriage is.” I said and set my hand on Lev’s shoulder. 

“Nikita, about what I asked Viktor. He stole files about your parents, and in the process he found out something. I can’t confirm it until Alessio has a chance to run your DNA against your parents, but they had no legal children.”

“Excuse me? Are you saying that my parents are not my parents?” I hissed, my skin feeling far too tight. 

“There’s a good chance you might have been abducted, and our parents might have found out after your ‘parents’ died and tried to look into it, and got killed, too.” Lev said, and I bit my lip, feeling frustrated. 

“If they were on the run, I understand why they didn’t register me.”

“Nikita, this could change a lot if it’s true,” he said, and looked at me, his eyes boring into mine. 

“It changes nothing. The parents that were mine, are dead. The parents I wanted to replace mine are dead, too. If I have other parents, it’s safer for us both if they stay unknown.” I muttered, crossing my arms. “If Alessio finds out that my parents were not my parents, don’t let me know. I don’t want to know.”

“Alright. I’ll make sure you don’t find out,” He said politely and walked me out of the complex and to the vehicle. Getting in the SUV, it felt far too long since I had driven last. Starting the SUV, I rolled down the window and Lev’s hand squeezed my shoulder through the open window. I looked up at him. He was silent, his expression unreadable. 

“Everything will be alright Nikita. I’ll make sure of that.”

“Nope. Enough of that. You are going to be a father. That is far more important than whatever you and your sweet but overbearing doctor husband are up to.” I laughed, and he pulled his arm out of the window, letting it rest by his side. 

“Do you have everything?”

“Yup, ID, license, and all my millions.” I joked and showed him. 

“Phone?”

“Right here.” I said, showing it to him before setting it on the console and sighing. “Anything else?”

“No, drive safe. Send me a text when you make it back.” He said and turned to head back inside. 

“Of course.” I said, hollering out the window before rolling it up and backing out of the parking spot. I had no intention of heading back right away. There were definitely a few things I wanted to take care of before then. I waved as I passed the guards on the way out of the combined complex and down the road. Making a mental checklist on my way to the department store was pointless, since I would buy more than I intended, but I did it regardless. 

Condoms, lube, a couple of large hair clips, and whatever else tickled my fancy. I turned the radio up and jammed to whatever was playing. Tapping my hand on the steering wheel, it had a really catchy beat, and I could easily listen to it a few more times. 

Finding a parking spot at the store, a decent distance from the store, proved to be difficult. I was more than alright with that, however, I could use the exercise. Walking into the store, I grabbed a cart because I knew full well I was going to need it. I wandered to the bedding section and grabbed a few new pillows and cases for them. I also grabbed a few blankets and a couple of sheets to contribute to the bed we were sharing. If he didn’t like them, Oh well, I could put them on the other bed and use them for myself. After I was done with that, I started browsing the clothing section. I found a few items I liked. Heading out of that section before I went overboard and bought way too many comfort clothes. I grabbed a bottle of cheap department store wine along the way.

Finding the health and wellness aisle. I didn’t enjoy buying condoms, but I needed them. It was part of my plan to get Viktor to bend me over and fill me, respectfully, of course. I took a deep breath and headed down the aisle. I held my head high and kept my face expressionless. I grabbed what I needed and snagged a bottle of lube I was pretty well acquainted with. Almost forgetting the hair clips. Heading to the checkout, I went to self-checkout to avoid embarrassment and hid the two packs of condoms plus the lube in a sweater that I bought too.

Leaving the store, I tossed the bags into the back seat, and let out a deep sigh when I got in the car after shutting the door. I fucking hated that. Grabbing my phone, I connected it to the car and called Viktor. 

After two long rings, he picked up, and I could tell from the noise he was still driving too. 

“Hello, Kita.”

“Viktor, I’m just heading out now. I’m heading there in a few minutes. I just want to grab a drink.”

“Sounds good. Take your time. I’ll be in a meeting when you get back, so stop along the way and have dinner. I’ll see you when you get back. Drive safe, Nikita.”

“Thanks, you too.”

Viktor hung up the phone, and the radio played again. The drive was peaceful, and I took a chance to stop and grab some fast food for dinner. Driving, I chewed on some french fries, and shook off the feeling inside me that was brought on by thinking about Lev’s words. I was well past the age of being surprised by the things one could find in our line of work, but this. It wasn’t something I ever thought I would have to hear.

If they weren’t my parents, who had they actually been then? I knew nothing. It all felt like a lie the more I thought about it. But it made sense, hell it was the only thing that made sense about the entire event. But then that brought up the question of who was I? Was I someone valuable enough to kidnap? I didn’t think so.

My fries were cold and gross by the time I finished eating them and pulling into the driveway back at the Russo mansion. I pulled a hand through my hair and parked the SUV in the empty spot. Viktor’s car was already put away, but that made sense. He got here a few hours before me.

Grabbing the bags from the department store when I got out, I closed the open back door with my hip and locked the SUV before heading inside. Thankfully, someone grabbed the door for me and let me inside.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” The man said and continued on his way out. I kicked my shoes off on the mat and pushed them out of the way before heading upstairs. Walking by Viktor’s office, he was yelling from inside and oh boy, he was pissed. I was glad I wasn’t the one on the receiving end of that behavior. Tossing the bags on the bed, I laid down beside them and groaned. The urge to have a nap was there, but I figured I should let Viktor know at the very least that I arrived home.

Sitting up, I went to stand, but the door opened.

“You’ve arrived home.” Viktor said, and I could tell he was stressed. His hair was a mess from him dragging his hands through it, angrily.

“Come here. You look mad and stressed. I’ll help.”

“Yeah?” he asked, and raised an eyebrow at me, coming closer. Standing up, I wrapped my arms around him and pressed a kiss to his lips.

“Let me look after you, just this once while I’m feeling gentle,”

Viktor went stiff, and I could tell he wanted to push me away. “While I would like that, and believe me, I would. I don’t want sex between us to be meaningless. We’ve been there and done that, and it didn’t help. Locking you up, that didn’t help. This is my last effort…” he muttered, before pulling away from me. “I’m happy you made it home. I hope the drive was well, and I see you went out and bought stuff. If you need anything else, just let me know. I can take you out for stuff.”

“Viktor. I hate this.” I muttered, pulling my hand through my hair, feeling aggressive with him. “Get back here and put your fucking hands on me the way we both know I like. Or so help me, Viktor Russo. I will do things to you we both know you won’t like.”

“Threatening me like this isn't smart, Nikita.”

“Then, for heaven’s sake, get over here and touch me. Bend me over and fuck me like you did before, when you didn’t care if I loved you of my own freewill. You offered me your body to help me, but now you avoid me when I actively seek you out for it. I don’t just want you for sex, but christ, we work together the best then. You can’t blame me.”

Viktor sighed and closed the bedroom door. He said nothing, and that just pissed me off even more. “Forget it. I’m going to have a bath.”