IRIS
The rest of the journey frankly went by in a bit of a blur. After the plane, we boarded a stunning yacht, and once we arrived in the sea surrounding the island, the guys drove jet skis with me clinging to Hunter and feeling the warm night air caressing my skin.
It’s hot here, like beautifully hot, with the nights cooler but still far in excess of what it was in Russia or the UK.
After we’d made it to the island, we promptly fell asleep. Well, I did, with Hunt curled around me from behind and Roman in front of me. I’m not sure if Nik and Rowan joined us, but I find myself blinking my eyes open to an empty bed, the sound of the waves kissing the shore caressing my ears, and the smell of tropical flowers teasing my nose.
Stretching, I take stock, noticing the ache in my body has eased, and I feel more alive than I have in the past…well, however the fuck long it’s taken to get here. Pulling back the light blanket, I get out of bed, once again wearing only Hunt’s shirt and nothing else.
I spot the en-suite and head there, doing my business and then washing my hands in the marble sink. Like the plane, this place is beautiful, elegant, and full of colourful furnishings and warm wood. It’s paradise, and my chest twinges with the knowledge that this is a reprieve. We won’t be able to stay here forever, perhaps not even that long if Sergi discovers our location. And I will not underestimate that man.
“Just enjoy it for now, Iris,” I whisper to my reflection, taking in my appearance. My hair is a mess, there are dark shadows under my eyes, and my skin is pale. “Well, hopefully some tropical sun and sea will help sort that out.”
I head back into the bedroom, still no sign of the guys or Bubby and Nik’s men, but then I hear low voices talking from the direction of the main room, so I decide to head there and hopefully get something to eat. The open-plan living area is as stunning as the rest of this island home, and I find all my guys around the large dining table, a feast set before them.
“Morning,” I say softly, and all my guys’ eyes lock onto me, the looks intense and heating me up all at once.
“Morning, Peaches,” Hunt says, getting up and coming over to me. He gets right into my personal space, which I absolutely love, and pulls me against him for a hug. My body melts into his, and I take a deep inhale, resting my cheek on his chest which is only covered with a black tank. He’s also wearing shorts, black of course, and I can’t stop the chuckle that falls from my lips. “Something funny, baby?”
“Just that you can take the gang leader out of the estate, but can’t take the estate out of the gang leader,” I answer, pulling back just enough to find his emerald green eyes twinkling at me. “I guess black is a life choice, huh?”
His lips twitch, fighting the smile that I know he is holding back while trying to keep his stern Daddy look. “You want me to wear something other than black?”
I tilt my head to the side, considering for a moment. “I think maybe a tropical print shirt, given the current situation, would be appropriate.” My lips spilt into a grin, his hand coming up and cupping my cheek, his thumb rubbing along my lower lip.
“If it makes you smile like that, Peaches, I’ll wear whatever you want.” His voice is soft and brings a lump to my throat. I don’t want to change him, or any of them really, but to know that he’d do anything just to see me smile, including deviating from his usual wardrobe choices to make my soul sing.
“I love you, Daddy,” I whisper, leaning up on my tiptoes and placing my lips against his.
He pulls me closer, using his touch on my face to angle my head so he can devour me in true Daddy Hunt fashion. Our kiss is equal parts sweet and devastating. He kisses me like it’s the first and last thing he wants to do every day for the rest of his life. Like he will never get enough of the taste of me, and I feel exactly the same. Yet knowing that someday it might be the last has my heart skipping a beat, my stomach dropping as I cling to him all the harder, willing that desolate future not to come to pass.
We reluctantly pull apart, both breathing heavily, his forehead resting against mine.
“I love you, Peaches, so fucking much sometimes I can’t breathe,” he confesses, just holding me for a moment.
“If the PDA is done with, I think Iris could probably do with something to eat.” Bubby’s sarcastic voice sounds behind Hunt, and I giggle. I also melt a little that this teenager is taking care of me, just like he promised when we departed for Russia.
“Daddy Hunt called out by a teen.” Roman chuckles, and Hunt growls, but I feel the smile playing around his lips as he pulls away from me.
“I swear to god you were all sent to test me,” he states, eliciting more chuckles and laughter from everyone in the room as he takes my hand and leads me to the table.
“We just like to keep you on your toes, keeps you young,” Bubby adds, and Roman barks another laugh, holding out his fist for Bubby to bump.
“Keep laughing, Baby Boy. Your punishment just keeps getting worse,” Hunt casually says, taking me to the empty chair next to the one he vacated at the head of the table.
I’m halted as we pass Nik, who’s sitting at the other end, his fingers wrapping around my free wrist.
“Morning, Malyshka,” he greets, and I dip down, placing a light kiss on his lips. He doesn’t try to deepen it, though his fingers flex against my skin, brushing my pulse point.
“Morning, Nik.”
The twins are next to greet me as we pass them, both giving me a quick kiss that Bubby makes gagging sounds to. In retaliation, I swoop down and plant a smacking kiss on his cheek, laughing when his face goes beet red. He’s not hiding behind a hoodie for once, in a vest similar to Hunt’s, though his has some graffiti style artwork on it.
“You best have factor fifty,” I tell him, noticing how pale his skin colour is. “We don’t want you burning out there.”
“Yes, Mum,” he sasses, a smile making his lips twitch.
Shaking my head, I take my seat, looking at Dima and Andrei across from me. “Morning.”
“Morning, Zaya,” Dima says in that deep voice of his before resuming eating the massive plate of food he has in front of him.
“Morning, Iris. How are you feeling?” Andrei asks, his eyes fixed on me in that way of his when he’s being the trained medic.
“Better, no cramps or anything, and less achy,” I answer truthfully, smiling as Hunt places a plate of food in front of me, Rowan setting a glass of juice down before me as well. “Thanks, Daddy, Roo.”
“Of course, Lamb,” he replies, brushing a light kiss to my cheek before continuing to eat his meal.
“Excellent. I think it’s best if you continue to rest, of which I’m sure won’t be difficult here. The Knights have left us some medical equipment so I can monitor the baby, so maybe we can do that after breakfast?” Andrei waits for my response, his cutlery poised.
“Okay,” I agree, wanting to check that the travelling hasn’t caused any issues. Andrei gives me a nod, then carries on eating.
I look down to find a mix of food on my plate, including some rice dishes that smell heavenly. Tucking in, I do a little happy dance at how yummy everything is.
“Enjoying yourself, Peaches?” Hunt asks, amusement lacing his tone, and I look to the side at him, sticking my tongue out once I’ve swallowed my mouthful.
“Breakfast is the best meal of the day and should be shown the proper appreciation and respect. Plus, I love that even if the circumstances of travelling haven’t been great, trying all these new foods is a wonderful experience. Don’t you think?” He looks at me with a soft gaze, his lips tilted in a gentle smile.
“Sharing it with you makes it wonderful, baby,” he says, a blush heating my cheeks at the sweetness of this big scary gangbanger.
“Cringe,” Bubby hisses under his breath, and I giggle, covering my mouth with my hand when Hunt raises a single brow.
“It’s the brow of doom,” Roman stage whispers, and I have to bite my lips to stop from laughing outright.
Hunt switches his gaze from mine to stare at Roman, and I turn just in time to see Roman gulp, clearly regretting his life choices. I love that after everything we’ve been through, we can still have these normal family moments.
“After breakfast, I thought we could do some checks, set up some security protocols,” Nik interjects, dispelling the sexual tension that was building up between Hunt and Roman. “I’m sure the Knights know what they’re doing, but I’d like to make sure we’re as safe as we can be.”
My brows dip. “What kind of security protocols do we need?” I know what Nik is saying makes sense, but it still makes my heart race a little at the danger we may be in now that Sergi knows about us. “Also, we’re in the middle of nowhere with only the stuff we brought with us, what could we really do?”
Nik sets down his cup of coffee. “Well, the Knights already have a few things covered, like beach alarms, a separate server we can use for communication, and a safe room,” he says, and I can feel my brows raising at the level of James Bond shit he just said. “We could add to that by finding natural surveillance points so we can keep an eye on if anyone is trying to approach. Dima, I’d like you to take that on.” The large man gives a nod, then carries on eating. “We could also add some camouflaged markers, rocks, driftwood, etc. placed in specific patterns so that if they are disturbed, we will know.” He looks at Andrei. “I’d like you to establish medical security measures, especially for Iris.”
Andrei nods. “I’ve already set up a medical go bag, and will set up some care locations, just in case we need options. Also some signals, because medical emergencies will override security protocols in some instances.” He looks at everyone here and all the guys nod. It’s like they’re in some kind of military mode, how I imagine soldiers to be. Backs straight and eyes focused. Meanwhile, I’m trying not to freak the fuck out.
“Good. I think we should have a sleep rotation, so at least two of us are awake at all times, just in case,” Hunt adds, and I can see the wary gang leader in the way his jaw is firmly set. “We need to establish a patrol schedule, and I want everyone to continue with daily training. There’s a gym down the hall, plus once we’ve established emergency protocols, everyone needs to learn and memorise them.”
“I’ll plan multiple escape routes,” Rowan says, and I turn to look at him, sweat beading on my brows. “And do a weapons audit, see what we have to work with. I think there may be some here already in a safe. Can we get the code?”
“I’ll contact Kai,” Hunt replies, pulling out his phone and presumably doing just that.
“I’ll start some electronic surveillance, see if I can get a lock on Sergi’s movements and put in some countermeasures to stop him being able to track us here,” Roman offers, his usually playful voice serious, and maybe that’s what does it, but suddenly I can’t take a full breath, the walls feeling like they’re closing in.
“Solnishko!” Nik’s panicked voice filters through the mist that is coating my vision and I latch onto it. “That’s it, breathe with me, Dorogaia.”
My hand is placed on a chest, and I feel it slowly rising, pausing, and then falling. I follow the movement with my own lungs, and after a few moments, Nik’s face and brown eyes come into sight, the mist receding the more I breathe.
“You’re doing so well, Peaches,” Hunt says, and I realise someone turned my chair around and he’s on one side of me, Rowan on the other, and Nik in front of me. Having them close eases the panic further, knowing that they are here helps. My breath catches.
“Ro?” The sound I make is choked, raspy, and hurts coming from my throat.
“I’m here, Princess,” Roman says from behind me, his hands coming to rest on my shoulders and lips pressing to my head. “We’re all here and you are safe.”
“You don’t need to worry, okay, Dorogaia?” Nik tells me, keeping my hand on his chest. “The things we were talking about are just precautions, nothing to worry about, I promise.”
“B–but what if he f–finds us?” I can hardly get the words out, the terror of them a visceral thing.
“Then we will have a plan to escape him once again, but we need you to focus on remaining calm and growing our son, okay?” Nik’s brown eyes bore into mine, so full of love and compassion it makes my heart hurt.
“I can do that,” I reply, and the smile he gives me is like having a ray of sunshine directly on my face.
“Good girl,” he coos, leaning in and pressing a light kiss on my lips. “Now, have you finished your breakfast?”
Swallowing, I nod. I’m not sure I could eat anything after that panic attack, and suddenly exhaustion sweeps over me, making my eyelids droop. “I’m tired again.”
“Then you shall go to bed and the twins will join you,” Nik orders, Roman nuzzling into my hair and Rowan squeezing my other hand that I didn’t even realise he was holding.
“Time for a twin sandwich,” Roman declares, and a small laugh huffs from my lips.
“Sounds perfect,” I say, another yawn almost cracking my jaw.
Before I know what’s happening, I’m swept up into Rowan’s arms, Nik and then Hunt pressing kisses to my forehead.
“Sleep, love,” Hunt commands softly, and my eyes remain closed as I’m carried back to bed, safe in the knowledge that my guys have got this.
