Mrs. Mulicheck gave his arm a hug. “Daren doesn’t really see the same things I do in a photograph or a painting. He leaves the choices up to me,” she said and smiled.
“Excuse me, you’re both needed in the other room,” one of the guards said to Mr. Mulicheck and to Krane. Krane nodded and then gave Malayna a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll be back. Don’t disappear,” he said and she felt her belly quiver.
“My sons can be so intense, like their father. Sometimes it’s hard to smile when they disappear like that,” Mrs. Mulicheck said to her.
“I’m sure it must be,” Malayna replied.
“You must know how that is, having Nicolai as your father,” she said to her.
“Not really. It’s all new to me. We’ve missed out on many years.”
“I heard about your rescue, but you seem to be bouncing back and are quite comfortable here,” she said and Malayna thought she sounded like she distrusted her.
“Not really, but I need to be.”
“So you’re just showing face, to please the guests and the people who are curious about Nicolai’s daughter?”
“It comes with the territory, sort of like your husband being summoned to disappear during a party,” she replied.
Mrs. Mulicheck held her gaze with a serious expression. “And like Krane being summoned and the disappointed expression on your face.”
She was shocked and she thought about denying it and then just felt it wasn’t worth it. Their mother was a forward woman, one who probably learned to be distrustful because of her husband’s position.
“I like Krane,” she simply said to her.
“What about my other sons?”
“Of course I do. They’re special to me and not just because they rescued me from hell. It’s different,” she said and looked around them to find none of them there watching over her. She placed her hand over her belly.
“They were summoned to the other room, too,” Mrs. Mulicheck said to her. She locked gazes with Malayna. “It was very thoughtful of Nicolai to invite us here to your party. I rarely get to see my sons. When they were in the military it was difficult for me not to worry about them. I prayed every night that God would watch over them and protect them. When they returned they were so different, and they returned with Lucca and Krane and so much changed.”
“War will do that. Anything traumatic and violent can have a great effect on a person and their future views towards life,” Malayna said to her.
“I think you understand that from your personal experience and I think that is why my sons are attracted to you, and so in tune to you.”
“Attracted to me?” She shook her head. “No, I’m afraid what they feel is an obligation. I understand how this works.”
“They’re men, stubborn, forceful, experienced men, but believe me, Malayna, when I tell you that they care for you. I have never seen so many daggers thrown from their eyes each time you danced with another man.”
She looked at their mother and her gut clenched. “I’m afraid they see me only as a victim of that violence they rescued me from. They don’t see me as a capable woman, though younger than them by many years. I’m okay with that for now. I’m trying to establish who I am, where I fit in this life, and in a family I didn’t know existed. I want to make my own name for myself, yet I also want to feel safe, but it won’t be easy.”
“Without my sons by your side, you mean?” she asked.
Her cheeks flushed. Malayna looked around them and no one was close enough to hear their conversation.
“It’s silly of me, right? Perhaps Star and Border were correct, and that I’m confusing their protectiveness and the fact they rescued me with an attraction.”
Mrs. Mulicheck’s eyes widened. “They told you that?”
She was embarrassed now and she looked away. “I shouldn’t be talking about this with you.”
“Why not? It seems to me you’re establishing your own protocol as a daughter of a Russian mobster. Your spunk, your sweetness and directness is refreshing. Assuming that you were abused during that time you were held prisoner, I find it amazing that you’re so strong and willing to make a stand.”
“It is not easy, but your sons are my motivation,” she admitted.
Mrs. Mulicheck held her gaze. “My life has not been a fairy tale, Malayna. I was a victim of abuse, neglect, and wished for death too many times to remember. Then Daren comes into my life and everything changes. I change. I want to live. I want to be strong, and to be free and to have the things I never thought I could have. Border and Star were a blessing, and when they returned from war with two best friends they were willing to die for and vice versa, I took Lucca and Krane in as my own. I love them as my sons and only want what is best for them. They have never shown such interest and care in a woman as they have for you. They are going to resist these feelings. They are going to minimize them and probably claim they are not deserving of your beauty, your youth, and your affection. I may be biased,” she said and winked. “But destiny has a way of bringing love together, and may also be the one power to conquer all other fears and dangers in life. Follow your heart and hopefully my sons will follow theirs.”
* * * *