Page 56 of Bought to Bear Bratva Heir

"Because Daisy," my patience was beginning to wear thin, "isn’t family. We are family, and Marguerite will be our family too soon."

He stared at me, his mouth falling open. "You want her to be my mommy."

Taking a deep breath, I nodded my head. "If that’s okay with you."

Anger thinned his lips as he glared at me. "I want Daisy."

"You can’t have Daisy, Alec. Daisy doesn’t love me."

I watched as his eyes widened and regretted my words instantly. Why did I say all that to a little kid? He was far too innocent to understand the complicated feelings between adults.

"Papa." He took my hand. "Daisy could love you, if you were nice to her. I know she could love you."

I almost laughed at that. It was so sweet and so foolish. Once upon a time, I had given Daisy everything I had, including myheart, and she hadn’t loved me. I doubted there was anything I could do now to make her have those feelings.

I wasn’t stupid. I knew the only reason she was here was because of the little boy in front of me. Otherwise, she would have disappeared from my life again.

"Enough, Alec," I snapped, and instantly wished I hadn’t. "Daisy is—"

I didn’t get to finish as the buzzer on my phone vibrated. Lifting the cell to my ear, I told the concierge to send her up.

"Alec," I turned my attention back to him, "I want you to act like a gentleman and make Marguerite at home. Is that clear?"

Guilt ripped through me as he lifted his tear-filled eyes to me. "Yes, Papa," he whispered, and I realized why. I never spoke to him like that. I never scolded him.

"Look, I’m sorry." Reaching down, I touched his cheek. "Papa is just grumpy today. Why don’t you go and play, and I’ll call you when breakfast is ready."

The elevator pinged, and I turned to see Marguerite step out of it looking like a supermodel. It made me wonder what time she got up to get herself looking like that at this time in the morning.

"Marguerite." Crossing the sprawling space between us, I took her by the shoulders and pressed my lips against her waiting cheek. "You look amazing."

Her nose wrinkled. "And you look sweaty. Is this a bad time?"

"Of course not. I’ll call down for breakfast and take a shower. You and Alec can—" I watched him scuttle away. Without even saying hello. But not towards his room where his toys were. No, he headed straight for Daisy's room.

I wasn’t even surprised. I knew they would spend the next hour at least just curled up in their PJs together. It was their morning ritual. One that I had been dying to be part of.

Eyeing Marguerite up and down, I forced myself to smile as I motioned for her to take a seat, and deep down I knew I would never have those kinds of mornings with the woman I was going to wed.

"I’m sorry, he’s just—"

Crossing her legs daintily, she smiled. "Maybe it’s for the best, Ilya. We can have some alone time, without little grubby hands and shouting. I do like quiet in the mornings."

Frowning, I stepped away, unease flooding me. "That would be lovely." I lied, because given the choice of being out here with her or in there with them, I would choose them.

Only I couldn’t.

I had made up my mind. Daisy was my past, and I refused to love her for even a second longer. This wasn’t about love or happily ever after. It was about doing what was right and revenge.

So that meant I had to choose Marguerite.

Chapter Twenty-One

Ilya

I’d showered and ordered breakfast by the time Daisy appeared, carrying Alec in her arms. She let him cling to her for a second, not looking at either me or Marguerite as we sat together eating, and I watched as her lips moved, but I couldn’t tell what she was saying to him.

"Now, Alec." This time I did hear her. She wasn’t shouting at him, but her voice was stern. It didn’t take a genius to know what they had been talking about in her room for the last thirty minutes. "Please don’t be rude."