Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
But this girl would have him. And she would have her Uncle Sean and Uncle Case and Aunt Erin.
Tasha set down the tiny suitcase she was carrying and turned his way. He watched as she steeled herself and forced herself to walk over to him. She was so small, and he was sure he loomed over her like some massive monster she might have to slay.
He dropped down to one knee, but he still was taller than she was. Up close he could see how frail she seemed. There was worry in her eyes that no child should have.
“Did you know my father?” she asked, her eyes grave.
She’d asked the question in Russian, so he replied in her language. “I did. He was a good man, and I will honor him by taking care of you and giving you a good life. I know you’re scared, but no one is going to hurt you. My wife is very eager to meet you. She is looking forward to having a new daughter to spoil.”
Tasha frowned.
Kenzie giggled while Kala shook her head and stepped toward Tasha. She spoke flawless Russian because her mother had spoken it to her from the day she was born. “Dad’s Russian isn’t very good. He didn’t mean spoil that way. He meant give you presents and cookies and stuff.”
“Isn’t that what I said?” Maybe his Russian wasn’t as good as he thought.
Kenzie’s eyes were light as she replied in English. “You said spoil like rot. Like a potato.”
He winced and went back to his apparently bad Russian. “My wife lived most of her life in Russia. She’s perfect, and she won’t let you rot like a potato. I promise.”
That got the faintest hint of a smile from Tasha and then she nodded. “I will be going with you then.”
Such a brave girl, and her English seemed pretty good. Good enough that he switched. “I’m glad. We’re going to take care of you. These are my little monsters. They speak better Russian than I do, so you can plot with them. If you can’t tell them apart, use a marker in their sleep. It’s what I do.”
“Dad!” His girls had the in-synch thing down.
Then Kala was trying to get her sister to make sure there wasn’t a Sharpie mark behind her ear, and Tasha was watching her new sisters with something like wonder. Kenzie took Tasha’s hand and started talking about the plane they would be going in and how they would have lunch and cookies and everything.
There was another ring, and Ian felt his spine straighten because he had another job to do.
Not kill Levi Green. He nodded Chelsea’s way to let her know he was ready.
Not tearing out his throat would be his first job as Tasha’s dad, and he meant to do it right.
* * * *
Six hours later he was fairly sure they were going to make it. The paperwork was all in order. Mitch was meeting them in immigration in case they needed a lawyer. Just a couple more hours and they would have gotten past the worst of it.
He would be shocked if anyone in immigration spoke Ukrainian. They would assume the Russian was Ukrainian and not ask about it. Tasha could answer rudimentary questions in English.
It was going to be all right.
“You have your thinking face on.” Chelsea was sitting across from him while the girls were on the other side of the aisle. The flight attendant had seemed happy to bring the girls lunch, complete with cookies and tea in little china cups he’d been assured the Lawless clan wouldn’t miss if they broke.
“Just going over everything that can possibly go wrong.”
Chelsea yawned. “Nothing is going to go wrong. Adam’s monitoring immigration. The paperwork is already through, and they’re expecting her. There are no flags, and there won’t be because Adam will erase those suckers if they show up. He won’t let you down.”
Adam was one of his oldest friends. They gave each other hell, but he trusted Adam with his family, and Adam did the same for him. Protection didn’t have to come from some dude with testosterone.
But this girl would have him. And she would have her Uncle Sean and Uncle Case and Aunt Erin.
“The girls seem to be getting along.” Chelsea unbuckled her belt and sat up. “They’ve been talking about Seth and Travis. Natasha told them how much she loves babies. She said she was allowed to help with the babies at the orphanage.”
Of course she had. She’d been free labor.
“And you look scary again.” Chelsea stood. “I’m going to find some coffee, and you need to eat something. I’ll make you a sandwich, and you can pretend it’s Levi Green’s heart or something.”
He grunted. “Nah, I bet the fucker tastes like craft beer and sorrow.” He looked up at his sister-in-law. “Thank you, Chelsea. For everything.”