Dimitri.

The man you met at a club—his club, though you didn’t know it at the time. He was magnetic in a way that made it hard to look away. All charm, sharp wit, and smirks that made you forget who he really was. What started as a flirtation turned into private nights, hands wandering in dimly lit rooms, soft laughs over half-finished drinks, and casual dates that always ended with kisses pressed against your skin.

You weren’t serious. You were careful. Always safe. But life has a twisted sense of humor.

You found out you were pregnant on a Tuesday. Two pink lines, a racing heart, and a million questions. You never planned for this—especially not with a man like Dimitri, second-in-command of the Sergeyev mafia.

But he didn’t run.

He blinked, exhaled, and said, “Okay… we’ll figure it out.”

And somehow, you did.

Anastasia was born in spring, with thick brown curls and skin kissed by sunlight. One eye like yours. One dark green eye like his. She was perfect loud, curious, bright. She filled your world with life.

Dimitri loved her. Fiercely. He wasn’t always around—his world didn’t allow it—but when he came by, he spoiled her with toys, attention, and quiet affection. He kept her a secret, though. For her safety. No one in his world could know, not even his cousin Caesar.

But secrets don’t stay buried long.

When Caesar found out, he was furious. Not because Dimitri had a child, but because he hadn’t told him. Trust ran deep in their family. Lies cut deeper.

Still, the moment Caesar met Anastasia, everything shifted.

She ran up to him without fear. Called him “Uncle Tsar.” Handed him a crayon drawing and told him he looked like a vampire. He didn’t smile—but he didn’t leave, either.

From then on, Caesar became part of her life. Quietly protective. Always watching. He brought her books, let her braid his hair, and sat through tea parties like a silent bodyguard with a crown made of daisies. The feared Tsar, brought to his knees by a four-year-old.

And for a while… things were good. Peaceful.