The Strom raged through the night, rain tapping a restless rhythm on the windows. Inside Dimitri never left Lev's side. He dozed off on the couch with Lev curled against him, the soft rise and fall of Lev's breath the only thing keeping his mind from spiraling.
When morning light broke through the clouds, Dimitri woke first. He studied Lev's sleeping face-the soft lashes, the faint mole beneath his bottom lip, the way he looked so young and fragile when he wasn't trying to put up walls.
He brushed a strand of hair lev's light brown hair off his forehead and whispered, ''You mine. Both of you.''
A sudden cry from Matev's room jolted awake----Lev scrambled up, heart in his throat, but Dimitri was already moving. He pushed the bedroom door open to find Matev sitting in bed, eyes puffy with sleep and tears.
''Papa....nightmare....'' Matev whimpered, reaching out. Lev climbed in beside him close. Dimitri stood in the doorway, watching the two most important people in his life. His jaw clenched as he made s silent promise: I'll protect them from everything. Even myself.
Later that morning........ Lev tried to keep the routine normal. He dressed Matev for preschool, packing his little backpack with snacks and Dimitri watched them from the Kitchen, tension radiating off him like heat. ''Are you really going take him to school?'' Dimitri asked voice low, almost vulnerable. Lev paused, brushing Matev's hair into place. ''Yes, he needs normalcy. He needs...me.'' Dimitri's eyes softened, but only for a moment. ''And what about you, Lev? What do you need?''
Lev looked away, voice tight. ''I don't know anymore.''
The drive to preschool was quiet________________________ Matev babbled in the backseat, oblivious to the heavy silence between his parents. At one stoplight, Dimitri reached over, resting his big hand on Lev's knee.
Kev stiffened. Dimitri's eyes stayed locked on the road. I' know I scare you sometimes,'' he said, voice almost a whisper. But I will never hurt you. Or him.'' Lev swallowed hard, words caught in his throat. He wanted to believe him. God, he did.
Meanwhile, across the city __________- Aleksei tapped his fingers against a cafe table, eyes on his phone. A message flashed: ''We have eyes on the boy.''
He smirked darkly. ''Time to see how far Dimitri will go to keep his precious family.''
----------- Back in the car, Lev watched Dimitri with a mix of fear and hope. Neither of them knew the storm was to break ---- and this time, it wouldn't be just rain.