69

“Ew! God, it stinks!” Masha complains when we started… poisoning the lice in their hair. I noticed the unwanted “pets” by accident when we were walking through the supermarket buying hygiene products for the little ones. Honestly, there was such a whole damn zoo running around in there it was hard not to notice.

“Look, I get it, but there’s a huge risk your roommates might become ours with Nazar too! And I don’t want that kind of zoo! Besides, you don’t need it either.” While Masha was already covered in the stinking treatment, I was working on Lukas’s head. If Mashka was huffing and complaining, the boy actually liked having someone pick through his hair. In general, the little guy was very tactile.

“What’s the point?” the blonde mutters under her breath. “We’ll catch them again anyway.”

“Hey, stop grumbling,” Nazar cuts in and plants his ass on the windowsill in the bathroom of one of his bedrooms, watching the execution of the little pests. “We need to clean you up so decent children’s places let you in, and just stores too. And while we’re fixing you up, we need to discuss the rules and conditions in our house.”

“Our” painfully scratched at my ears, but it really would be ours for a while.

“You can live together in this room, or separately in different bedrooms…”

“We’ll stay here together,” Masha immediately informs us. “Luka is afraid of the dark and sometimes has nightmares. We’re used to being together.”

“Alright, then that’s settled. So, rules. First of all, don’t bring anyone into the apartment,” the brunette says strictly. “Only agreed-upon exceptions, and only if Anya or I are home. We’re not planning on leaving you alone at home, but just in case.”

“What, are you going to watch us all the time?” the blonde’s brows shoot up.

“Not watch, supervise,” I cut into the conversation. “That’s what normal parents usually do.”

“We don’t know what ‘normal parents’ are,” Masha snorts bitterly, but I catch the pain in her gray eyes. Something inside me clenched painfully with pity and regret for them.

Damn!

Some people can’t become parents, while others don’t give a damn about kids…

“Well, I hope for a while we can replace yours with normal ones,” Nazar wriggles out, looking at me. “Rule number two, though… it’s probably even more important than the first. WE DON’T STEAL ANYTHING FROM THE HOUSE!” he says demonstratively, staring at Masha, and she rolls her eyes. “And outside the house too! We forget that habit! I remember perfectly how we met, Masha!”

“Judge not and you won’t be judged!” the little one snaps back. “You wouldn’t understand, rich boy! I needed food for myself and Luka! For my brother’s survival, I’ll steal as much as I have to!”

“A spanking?” Yartsev turns on strict mode. Real demanding daddy vibes.

“You’re not my real father!” the little one goes on the defensive. “I’ll say Anya’s better and your bet is finished!”

I see Nazar’s lips clench angrily. For a second, I almost felt sorry for him. With me, he already wants to tear his ass hair out, and now these little demons showed up too. More specifically, Masha’s no gift, because she’s seen life and could put anyone in their place. But Lukas… just an angel! He wouldn’t survive alone on the street…

“You little… brat,” the brunette growls, making me laugh. He can’t do anything to the girl for her sharp tongue. The little one has a perfect leverage over Yartsev, and she knows it damn well.

“Alright, okay,” I try to diffuse the situation. “Masha, it’s time to wash that stuff out of your hair and take a proper shower. Your old clothes go in a bag and into the trash, they’re unusable.” I see the blonde about to argue, but I cut her off. “We’ll buy new ones, and they’ll stay with you afterward. Need help, or can you manage?” I point at the shower cabin.

“Myself,” the little one muttered.

“Here, wash your hair twice with shampoo and use the shower gel,” I instruct her while the boys leave the bathroom. “And there’s a robe and towels hanging here. I’ll leave the clean clothes we bought today in the room. If you need anything, call us, we’ll be in the bedroom.”

While Masha was washing, Luka needed to be bathed. The little guy actually needed help, but… from Masha. They didn’t let us into the bath, and the girl helped her brother herself.

“They don’t trust us,” I sigh sadly, and Nazar appears beside me. He smiles slightly and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, looking at me so… in love.

“They’re not used to trusting. We’re strangers to them, and with weird quirks too, deciding to look after them.”

“Maybe this bet was a bad idea?” I look into the man’s green eyes as if enchanted. “Maybe we should’ve thought of something else…”

An incredible sadness washed over me in that moment, so much so that I didn’t even want to push the brunette away when he hugged me.

Just hugged me.

Without grabbing for my ass or pushing insistent kisses on me, without any hint of intimacy or seduction…

Nope.

His hand was already on my ass cheeks, making me smile for a split second.

Hopeless.