Page 152 of Toxic Attraction
"I love you too."
Xander stirs. Makes small sounds. Settles back into sleep.
I look at this perfect picture again, and realize something profound.
In the darkness, we found light.
In betrayal, we found trust.
In war, we found peace.
In loss, we found family.
And it's ours.
All of it.
Forever.
Epilogue
Valerie
"PAPA! XANDER PUT SYRUP IN MY BACKPACK!"
"DID NOT!"
"DID TOO! There's syrup all over my math homework!"
I'm at the stove flipping pancakes when World War Three erupts at the breakfast table. Xander, five years old and already a master of chaos, has his arms crossed in defiant innocence. Mila, twelve and entirely too dramatic, holds up a sticky notebook as evidence.
Lev doesn't even look up from his coffee and the tablet showing overnight business reports. "Xander. Did you put syrup in your sister's backpack?"
"It was an accident."
"How do you accidentally—" Mila starts.
"An accident that happens to involve opening a sealed backpack, locating the homework folder, and pouring syrup inside?" Lev's voice is dry. "That's a very specific accident."
I hide my smile behind the spatula. This is our life now. Syrup scandals and homework disasters and children bickering over breakfast.
Five years ago, this house was a fortress. Cold. Sterile. Designed for security, not living.
Now Xander's drawings cover the refrigerator. Mila's school photos line the hallway. Toys are scattered across Lev's study floor—and he steps over them without complaint, sometimes even sits on the floor to play.
The panic room was converted into a playroom last year. We don't need it anymore. Patrick is dead. The threats are gone. We're safe.
Actually, genuinely safe.
"Valerie, tell Papa I need a new backpack!" Mila appeals to me. "This one is ruined!"
"The backpack is fine. We'll clean it." I put the pancakes on a plate, and set them on the table. "Xander, apologize to your sister."
"But it was an accident—"
"Alexander." Lev uses his full name. Xander deflates immediately.
"Sorry, Mila." He doesn't sound sorry.
