Nikolai Sokolov - Blog Posts

I really wanna read the legacy of gods series but I'm not sure 😫

I heard the plot is beautiful and when I see fanart from nikobran, I'm almost just downloading their book on my kindle but I don't know if I can start random in the Rina Kent Universe.

anyone tips? 💗

just read god of fury by rina kent and all i gotta say is,

to god: when?

"Fell first, fell harder"

FELL FIRST, EXCEPT IT'S YULIAN BEING OBSESSED WITH VAUGHN EVER SINCE HE WAS A KID. It’s him being nine years old and watching Vaughn with wide eyes like he hung the fucking stars. IT'S YULIAN STEALING VAUGHN'S HOODIE WHEN THE MOROZOV'S CAME OVER TO CHICAGO FOR SOME KINDA MAFIA SHIT. It’s him secretly replaying security footage just to catch a glimpse of Vaughn again like a psycho. It’s him smirking like an idiot every time he sends Vaughn one of his boxing videos, knowing he’s annoying the shit out of him, but also knowing it means Vaughn is watching, EVEN IF IT'S WITH DISGUIST, EVEN IF IT'S WITH HATRED.

It’s Yulian starting fights with the Heathens just to make sure his name stays in their mouths long enough to reach Vaughn. It’s him sleeping with Vaughn’s long-time girlfriend because he knows that’s the only way Vaughn will finally, finally snap and see him. IT'S YULIAN LAUGHING LIKE A MANIAC AT THE HEATHENS INITATION WHEN VAUGHN WAS CHOKING HIM WITH HIS CHAIN BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE FINALLY WON. It’s him tracing Vaughn’s rings absentmindedly because they ground him. IT'S HIM CARVING VAUGHN'S INITIALS INTO HIS DESK LIKE AN ONSESSED LOVESTRUCK IDIOT. It’s Yulian knowing he fell first, and not caring—because he always knew Vaughn would fall eventually.

FELL HARDER, EXPECT IT'S VAUGHN MOVING TO A WHOLE OTHER UNIVERSITY IN ANOTHER ASS COUNTRY BECAUSE OF YULIAN, even though Yulian was the reason why he didn't go there in the first place It’s him lying through his teeth about “better programs” when really he just couldn’t fucking stay away anymore. IT'S HIM PHYCIALLY LOSING IT EVERY TIME HE SEES YULIAN TOUCH SOMEONE FOR MORE THAN 5 SECONDS. It’s him going radio silent whenever Yulian’s name is mentioned, just so he doesn’t lose it in front of everyone. IT'S HIM MEMORIZING YULIAN'S STUPID COMPLICATED COFFEE ORDER AND BUYING IT FOR HIM EVERY DAMN DAY ONCE THEY START HOOKING UP. It’s him swearing that everything is just for revenge, and then letting Yulian climb into his bed at 2 AM like nothing happened.

IT'S VAUGHN COUNTING YULIAN'S FRECKLES WHEN HE'S ASLEEP. It’s him pocketing the little dumb drawing Yulian did of him on a napkin and never throwing it away. IT'S HIM LISTENING TO YULIAN'S DRUNKEN VOICEMAILS ON REPEAT BECAUSE HE MISSES YULIAN'S VOICE. It’s him going absolutely fucking feral when Yulian goes missing and dragging half the city into hell trying to find him. IT'S VAUGHN NOT SNOWING WHEN IT HAPPENED, BUT KNOWING FOR A FACT THAT IT'S TOO LATE NOW, because Vaughn fell harder. So much harder.

I can't wait a year 😭😭, I need them biblically.

Y'ALL, I HAVE A PLAYLIST FOR VAUGHN YULIAN. OBVIOUSLYYYYY I'M NOT OBSESSED WITH THEMM 😌. Who would think that 😭.

(Anyone have any other songs that they js associate with V and Yulian??)

Vaughn: Well damn you're so petty

Yulian: You misspelled pretty

Vaughn: You're right

Gareth: I know.

Gareth: About what?

Vaughn: ...

Yulian: I'm not you're problem

Vaughn : Be my problem

Yulian: Guess what I'm supposed to get

Vaughn: On my nerves

OKAYYY SO, AT THE END OF THE BOOK, I WANT VAUGHN TO BE DOWN BAD FOR YULIAN JUST LIKE KIRILL WAS FOR SASHA.😭Like omg, y’know that one scene where Kirill goes, “So she wants to kill me the next time she sees me? By all means, anything for my beautiful wife”?

PLEASEEEE, I NEED RINA TO REPLICATE THAT EXACT ENERGY WITH VAUGHN AND YULIAN.

LIKE MAYBE AT LIKE THE NEAR THE END—Yulian’s threatening to stab Vaughn if he doesn’t leave him alone or something, and Vaughn’s inner thoughts goes

"If he stabs me, I'd thrust the blade in deeper just so that I could be close to him, but that's just me."

LIKE YES. THE WAY I WOULD DIE. I NEED VAUGHN TO HAVE THAT DOWN BAD GENE PASSED FROM KIRILL .

V, babes, ARE YOU SURE YOU’RE GIVING GARETH RELATIONSHIP ADVICE AND NOT JUST TRYING TO CONVINCE YOURSELF THAT BEING FUCK BUDDIES ISN’T THE SAME THING AS DATING??

🕯️🕯️ GUYS TRUST, GARETH KAYDEN WEDDING IN BEAUTIFUL VENOM, WITH VAUGHN BEING GARETH'S BEST MAN AND JETHRO/SIMONE BEING KAYDEN'S BEST MAN/WOMEN. AND ALSO ADD VAUGHNYULIAN CRUMBS INTO THAT PLS🕯️🕯️

(I'm delusional 😭)

VAUGHN TO GARETH ABOUT YULIAN 😂:

AT THIS POINT, IMMA START A PETITION FOR VAUGHN TO BE A BIKER. Bro I can imagine scenes with him as a biker scattered in HTV.

LIKE FOR EXAMPLEEE, YULIAN AND VAUGHN GOING OUT ON A NIGHT DRIVE OR SMTHG, AND YULIAN TEASING THE HELL OUT OF VAUGHN. Like I can so see Yulian "accidentally" put his hands near Vaughn's dick or like "accidentally" let his hands wander into Vaughn's shirt while Vaughn tries so hard not to crash his fucking bike 😂.

OR, LIKE MAYBE A SCENE AT THE END OF HTV, Where Yulian is just like, so sick of Vaughn's ass always denying that he might have feelings for Yulian and THIS IS NOT JUST PHYCIAL. That he breaks up with Vaughn AND LIKE, PULLS A LANDON IN JERLAN FANFICS AND SETS FIRE TO VAUGHN'S BIKE 😭.

Y'ALL, I have this weird headcannon that Vaughn wears a lot of rings. Like one on every finger, minimum. Yulian acts like there stupid at the start, but then he starts getting weirdly attached to them?? LIKE WHENEVER'S HE'S ANXIOUS, HE JUST LIKE STARTS TRACING PATTERNS ON THEM. Or if he’s pulling Vaughn somewhere, he doesn’t grab his hand, he grabs a ring. AND LIKE SOON, IT'S NOT EVEN A HABIT ANYMORE, ITS A REFLEX.

THENN, THEY HAVE THIS STUPID BREAKUP THAT THEY PROBABLY WILL HAVE IN THE MIDDLE-END OF THE BOOK- and Vaughn starts acting weird about the rings. He like stops wearing them. Keeps one of them in his pocket. Maybe holds onto them when he thinks no one’s watching. And if someone does ask, he’s like “It’s just a habit” BUT LIKE, SIR, BE SERIOUS, we all know it’s because of Yulian. He won’t say it, obviously, because he’s emotionally constipated, but those rings used to be just accessories. Now they feel like ghosts of Yulian.

OKAYYY HERE ME OUT: Bro Vaughn and Yulian def started sleeping together right after the intiation.

OKAYYY SO- Like Gareth mentioned that Vaughn immediately left for "New York" as soon as the initation ended. C'MONNN HE PROBABLY DIDN'T. I'M GUESSING THAT HE WAS WITH YULIAN.

ANDD, ANDD, THAT ONE PART WHERE GARETH CALLS VAUGHN PANICKING BECAUSE KAYDEN WAS SHOT? Yeahh, bro was def with Yulian at that time. NO EXCEPTIONS. Like why would he have to go out the room... if he didn't have someone with him in the room that he didn't particularly wanna disturb??

Oh and the rustling coming from Vaughn's end that Gaz mentioned was def him untangling himself from Yulian's hold because Yulian is clingy af when it comes to himm.

(Also, tiny question. How do you guys imagine Yulian to look like?? He's very dark brunette hair with green-gray eyes to me, idkk why 😭)

Guys, you don't get how much I want a "Who did this to you" scene in HTV. Like I want Yulian coming back to the island limping or with bruises or something because of his shitty abusive father, AND VAUGHN COMPLETELY LOSING IT, LIKE HE DOESN'T CARE THAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO HATE YULIAN, YULIAN'S HIS AND ONLY HE GETS TO HURT HIM 😌.

Bonus points if Yulian's trying to deflect the situation so hard 😭, like with humor or something, maybe with a "Awww, you care about me, Mishka?", AND VAUGHN HAVING NONE OF IT.

Y'know whattt, imma just join everyone here in screaming over Rina Verse characters. I CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE FOR VAUGHN YULIAN, HELPPP 😭😭. I need someone to talk about them withhh, and none of my friends are read the books. PLEASE, IF ANYONE'S READ THE BOOKS, AND WANNA SCREAM OVER THE CHARATERS TOGETHER, DM MEE.

Reader's Rant

Okay so I had finished reading the Legacy of Gods Series few days ago so here are my thoughts(after lots of thinking,psychoanalysing and self arguing)

1)RINA PROMOTING MISOGYNISTIC VIEWS:

•The "virgin trope" is seriously not a trope at this point when each and every book has this.She makes it seem as if the fmc has commited blasphemy(What's her obsession with this word anyways.Its everywhere in her books.The blasphemy😯) if she has slept with someone before the mc.Wth!?And every male character is a casanova.Like we will find virgin Mcs hot too okay?? Especially in Ava's case like I thought okay finally we have a fmc who has had a life before mc but no?Like she makes it seem Ava have a grandiose sex life and later makes her a virgin too!?Like its okay to have experience and its totally okay to not marry the first guy you sleep with.

I also think that having literally ALL men experienced in EVERY SINGLE THING is also so frustrating.Like it would have been cool if Eli or Creighton were not u know??She makes it seem as a chore the men have to do the second they turn 18

•Another example of misogyny is the extreme sense of ownership they have for all the women in their life. Like the dad's are seriously crossing limits.Protectiveness is cute but the no-twat-is-good-enough-for-my-princess shit is exhausting.Jeremy and Landon are wayyy too controlling.Its literally offensive.You will HATE such a brother and dad for life and beyond.

•She made all women literal doormats.Enough said. (except Ava,Ari and Maya-who she turned into a villain because she has a life so she should not be the good sister)

•The fmcs had all sort of problems, worries,insecurities blah blah which could not be cured by besties, family, friends, therapists nope!They could only be cured within 2 chapters at most once the perfect mc decides to help!

•Over possessiveness.Hated it.Like listen I can still somehow get Killian's jealousy towards Remi(by dark romance standards ONLY) but Creighton has been close friends with Remi since birth and how he literally does not allow a single friendly touch!?And his insta posts each statng MINE MINE MINE repeatedly felt embarrassing and cringe rather than hot and when he tells her to stop following people like WHAT!?

2)UNFULFILLED TROPES AND PROMISES:

I am the kind of reader who gives great attention to the blurbs and tropes before reading a book.

•God of Pain is a grumpy x sunshine.Now I believe this was mentioned due to the appeal and popularity of the trope but Annika is not a sunshine at all.Sunshine character is not one which ACTS and pretends to be happy,outgoing and perfect while she has her insecurities,fears and troubles eat her up inside(her words)

•God of fury has been said to have the trope mafia prince x GOLDEN BOY which is not accurate.Anyone who has read the books should know this already ig.

•God of war which happens to be my fav from the series has false claimed tropes too.Like it was NOT a marriage of convenience.Eli forced the proximity upon Ava by forcing her to marry him(I believe forced proximity means both leads who hate each other are forced to be closer)and the sunshine point is similar as that of Annika.Imagine if someone is searching for a stand alone marriage of convenience and forced proximity....they'll be sad,angry and frustrated u know(Not me.I loved the book)

•Being an apathatic sociopath and selfish narcissist is different.Research your attributes Rina.

•Rina literally backtracks upon Eli's feelings in gow.Repeatedly mentions how Eli had no feelings for Ava before Uni.While she had stated in Royal Elite epilogue how Eli kisses new born Ava,calls her pretty,is asking Aiden for marriage pact,stares at her.Even in gow Ava mentions that he caused guys disappear even when she was in HIGH SCHOOL."Yeah he had no interest at all"😑(THE LAST LINE WAS SARCASM.YES SOME PEOPLE NEED IT TO BE SPELLED OUT.your welcome)

•Mia's selective mutism was played with totally wrong.AGAIN RESEARCH RINA!

3)PROBLEMS IN THE BOOKS

•The extremely perfect mcs who are geniuses(Einstein who?),strong,attractive all the positive attributes who can think of other than a heart ofc.Like is it wrong if at least one mc has worked hard for the way they are!?Nope these are born perfections who can cure world hunger but will not because the world does not deserve it. Fmcs have all sorts of issues(other than being spineless,submissive doormats.Not Ava,Ari,Maya) which will be cured by the MC!Yeah!(Though the way Eli helps Ava is actually book perfect,heart warming and realistic.Its quite real that her parents and Cecily babied her and could not handle hard decisions that could benefit her)

•BRATS PLAYING GODS!All the mcs are over privileged brats who have done nothing but be born to "earn" their "god" status.Like they are literal UNI kids.Like they were all spoiled brats basically criminals who were setting things(buildings) on fire and hurting and killing people like what!?

•THEIR AGES AND THEIR*ahem* ACTIONS!?Their ages in their respective books:

Killian(19)-Glyndon(19)😱😲😵😶 Creighton(20)-Annika(17-18) Jeremy(23-24)-Cecily(20) Landon(23)-Mia(18-19) Nikolai(19)-Brandon(23) Eli and Ava had time skip so it was okay(29 and 23)

Like their ages are seriously concerning.I especially wanna talk about Creighton and Annika.Annika is literally a child and her book basically had her having some sort of Stockholm Syndrome.

I ABSOLUTELY HATED how creighton won't let Annika speak or talk to him without him adding the numbers iykyk.LIKE I hate how I have read soo many posts yet none mentions it!!?And how Annika is shown to have been cleared of her problems after she has sex !?And Creigh acts like a divorced 38 year old guy with an adult kid while Annika is has 0 personality(Haters can go cry a river)I really wanted Annika to leave him u know?And what was that soap opera shit with the gun and crying and sobbing and kidnapping(Which is okay because she revealed to Ava,Glyn,Cecy that its her fantasy😑)and because we are going all in so lets add suicide shit too.And yeah she was ready to kill herself yesterday and is sunshine and rainbows today yeah!!

Killian has had loads of experience in every kind of sexual activity with both men and women and in clubs and whatnot at 19 and he is bored of all that now😂😑

Ohh I almost forgot!Its literally sooo stupid and meaningless that the girls experience whatever fantasy they shared during a drunk night with each other😂😂😂Like Rina basically wants to sorta convey that the girls "wished" for it😂(Think before you wish folks!)

Zero family dynamics other than the fathers making a one chapter visit talking about the Everlasting love for their wives,their doormat of a princess daughters and zero say in all the "emotional trauma" ALL of them have(they wish)

Landon favourism was not good.Especially in gof where it should have been Niko's moment.

Its enough for today I think.

I am not posting it as a hate post.It is RANT as stated,a critical analysis.(Being going through a book hangover from Gow....partially cured through the MADDEST OBSESSION OMG YES!!!)

One last thing!!!!I get that its the creator's wish and whatever but the fact that Rina isn't writing a Remi (An Mc with emotions!!!!)Ariella(Strong fmc!The blasphemy! )and Maya Ilya book sorta shows how she can't change her formula.

Perfect song for Ava Nash♡♡

The perfect song to describe Ava Nash💖

All that she was hiding behind her glittery pink walls💖💔💕

She has a lot more to her than her illness...

NikoBran & JerLan - “Can I have your son for the rest of my life?”

Brandon was having an exceptional day, one of those rare stretches of uninterrupted peace and focus. His latest canvas, an impressionist vision of Nikolai with that usual mix of shadowed wild charm, was coming together perfectly. He smiled to himself, dabbing a bit more paint to capture the angle of Nikolai’s jaw, a touch of light for the smirk that, to him, was pure art. His muse. His Heathen Peasant. Really, if he were to be honest, Nikolai was as good as a prince himself—but it was fun, calling him his Peasant. After all, didn’t Niko call him his Prince Charming?

Lost in his work, he barely noticed the sound of footsteps until the door slammed open behind him. He turned just as his twin, Landon, stormed in, his phone clutched in his hand, looking like he was about to deliver some dire news. Brandon raised a brow, unfazed, and continued to blend colors on his palette. What now?

“Have you seen Jeremy and Nikolai’s story?” Landon asked, his voice sharp with barely-contained annoyance.

Brandon shook his head, shrugging as he wiped his hands off. “Not yet. What’s so urgent?” he asked casually, though he snatched the phone from Landon with practiced ease.

The screen lit up with an image of Jeremy and Nikolai mid-soccer game, both flexing their arms with ridiculous grins, muscles on full display, jerseys clinging from the sweat. It was practically designed to be a thirst trap, and Brandon felt his eye twitch at the sight of them looking like they were on the cover of a sports magazine. Soccer? His mind reeled for a second as he thought aloud, “Why soccer of all things?”

He barely had a moment to process before Eli sauntered in, phone in hand, looking far too amused. “Ah, so you saw it too?” he said with a chuckle, nodding towards the story as Brandon continued staring, his annoyance only growing. “Guess I should explain. Last time I visited Killian, Jeremy and Nikolai were tagging along, as usual. I might have mentioned that Uncle Levi, was a bit of a soccer star in his prime. Thought it would be funny if they used that fact to ‘charm’ the future in-law,” Eli grinned, shrugging. “Didn’t think they’d actually take it this far.”

Landon crossed his arms, shaking his head. “You’re telling me that you planted this insane idea in their heads, and they just ran with it?”

Eli’s grin only widened as he shrugged. “What can I say? They seemed… interested. They said they wanted to get Uncle Levi’s approval.”

Brandon groaned, rubbing his temples, but he couldn’t help the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Of course, of course, they’re using my dad’s ancient soccer past as an excuse to post thirst traps. This is practically bait. As if Dad would be okay with anyone dating us..Dad thinks we are still kids.,” he muttered, exasperated but amused.

…………………………………………………………………………………….

Ilya grumbled under his breath, feeling like he’d been assigned to the most ridiculous mission of his life. He was a hardened mafia guard, for heaven's sake, not some influencer’s cameraman! Yet here he was, jogging across a grassy field with his phone clutched tightly, running after two self-obsessed troublemakers as they posed and flexed in front of the camera. It was like watching a pair of overgrown children, except that these overgrown children were supposed to be the “fearsome” leaders of their respective places in Bartva.

Jeremy struck another dramatic pose, arms flexed, grinning with a perfect smile. Meanwhile, Nikolai kicked an imaginary ball, trying to make the whole thing look at least a little authentic. “Ilya, angle it from lower!” Nikolai barked, pointing downwards with an exaggerated motion. “You’re making us look short!”

Ilya rolled his eyes, adjusting the phone reluctantly. Making them look short? He thought to himself.—how much lower did they need him to go?

Jeremy and Nikolai reviewed the picture and immediately groaned in unison. “Ugh, no. We look ridiculous. Try it again!” Jeremy declared, putting his hands on his hips. “We need to look like the type of future sons-in-law who could make a retired soccer player proud. What would Levi think of that one?”

Ilya sighed heavily, rolling his eyes. “Look, I can tell you what he’d think,” he muttered. “He’d think you’re both insane.”

But the two weren’t paying him any attention. Jeremy was too busy readjusting his hair, slicking back some stray strands that had come loose. Meanwhile, Nikolai tried a new pose, hands on his knees like he’d just scored a game-winning goal.

“Come on, Ilya! Capture the spirit, the intensity! Make it look like we’re professionals,” Jeremy insisted, gesturing with that trademark confidence of his that could either make a person feel like a million dollars or make them want to throttle him.

“Professional what?” Ilya muttered under his breath. “Professional pains in my—”

“Did you say something?” Nikolai asked, eyebrows raised.

“Nothing,” Ilya grumbled louder this time, raising the phone again. “Just hoping no one comes by to see this madness.”

The two posed dramatically, arms slung over each other’s shoulders, staring off into the distance as though contemplating their destiny. They were fully committed, completely unfazed by how utterly absurd they looked.

After a dozen more failed shots and several changes in angle, they finally settled on one they deemed acceptable. Ilya breathed a sigh of relief, ready to reclaim his dignity as a serious bodyguard—but, of course, his relief was short-lived.

“Alright, now off to the art studio,” Nikolai announced with a grin, completely unaware of the suffering he was causing. “If we’re gonna win over Brandon and Landon’s mom, we need her to know we’re more than just pretty faces and sports studs.” He winked at Jeremy, who smirked back.

Ilya groaned as the two trotted off toward the mansion’s art studio like it was some grand adventure. He trailed behind, reluctant but helpless, resigned to the fate that being their bodyguard—and, apparently, their personal photographer—was his life now.

When they got to the studio, Jeremy immediately went to the paint supplies and smeared a few colors on a palette. Nikolai changed to a spare hoodie like he was prepping for the biggest art show of his life, eyeing himself in the mirror and adjusting his hair.

“What are you doing?” Ilya finally asked, unable to hold back any longer. “This is getting embarrassing. No one’s going to take you seriously if word about this gets out, you know.”

Nikolai laughed, as if that was the most absurd thing he’d ever heard. “No one will know, Ilya. That’s the point of having a loyal, trustworthy guard.” He winked, entirely too cheeky for someone who had just spent the last hour meticulously arranging his poses for Instagram stories.

Jeremy was even worse. He dipped a brush into a bucket of dark red paint, flicking it around on the canvas with the dramatic flair of a true artist, clearly enjoying himself far too much. “Just a few more shots, Ilya,” he said, grinning as he smeared paint on his cheek with his thumb. “Make sure I look soulful, you know, like I’ve got depth.”

Depth? Ilya couldn’t help but wonder what depths these two had beyond the ridiculousness he’d been forced to endure all afternoon. Still, he raised the phone and clicked another photo, this time capturing Jeremy looking “deep and thoughtful” with his paint-smeared face and Nikolai gazing intensely at his “masterpiece” on the canvas.

The two reviewed the photo, nodding approvingly, clearly impressed with their own efforts. “Oh, this one is perfect,” Nikolai said with a proud smile, patting Ilya on the back as if he were some award-winning photographer.

Ilya muttered under his breath, casting a wary glance toward the studio entrance, just in case anyone came in. The last thing he needed was for someone else in the mafia to see him in this compromising position, photographing Jeremy and Nikolai pretending to be artists. He’d never hear the end of it.

Ilya clicked off the shot, shaking his head in disbelief. “This… this is a new low,” he said, but Nikolai just laughed, wrapping an arm around Jeremy’s shoulder as they reviewed the clip, fully satisfied.

“Well, we’re off to charm the in-laws,” Jeremy said with a grin, giving Ilya a thumbs up. “Thanks for all the hard work today, Ilya. You’re a real gem.”

Ilya groaned, fully intending to take the next two days off to recover from the utter humiliation of being their camera-wielding sidekick.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Levi sat at his desk, his phone in hand, scrolling through the barrage of photos and videos sent by those two hooligans, Jeremy and Nikolai. Each shot was more ridiculous than the last—images of Jeremy flexing and grinning like a wolf, Nikolai attempting to look “soulful” while smearing paint on a canvas, and, of course, the final pièce de résistance: a slow-motion video of them “playing” soccer, all dramatic lighting and ridiculous poses.

He shook his head, muttering under his breath. “What am I looking at? Did they… did they even kick the ball once?” He squinted at one of the pictures, which featured Jeremy with his arm around Nikolai, both gazing dramatically into the distance .

“Who do they think they’re fooling?” Levi mumbled to himself, rolling his eyes. “They probably don’t know the first thing about soccer. They’re just trying to butter me up.” He rubbed a hand over his face, sighing as he came to grips with the fact that these two were very likely going to be his sons-in-law.

Astrid breezed by, catching a glimpse of the photos over his shoulder. She laughed, taking the phone from him to get a closer look. “Oh, that’s adorable! Look how hard they’re trying,” she said, scrolling to the picture where Jeremy was staring off into the horizon with paint smudged on his cheek. “They’re doing this to impress you, you know.”

“Impress me?” Levi huffed. “By making themselves look like fools? If they wanted to impress me, they’d stay out of trouble and keep their little mafia nonsense to themselves. But no, my sons have to fall for the most dangerous mafia boys.”

Astrid raised an eyebrow. “You’re just mad because they’re flaunting how much they adore our sons.”

Levi grumbled as she handed him back the phone. “I’m mad because they think this’ll win me over. Look at them—posing like a couple of overgrown schoolboys!.”

Astrid shook her head with a smile. “Oh, Levi. They’re in love. And those two hooligans will do whatever it takes to show you they’re serious about Brandon and Landon.”

Levi scrolled “What do Brandon and Landon even see in these idiots?” he muttered, though there was a hint of a smile pulling at his mouth.

Astrid smiled, amused. “Oh, you know exactly what they see. What I saw in you. Love. Protection and a bit of madness .”

playing pretend rather than have a serious conversation with me.”

Astrid shook her head, still smiling, as she went to pour herself a cup of tea. Levi watched her for a moment, then turned his attention back to his phone, smirking despite himself at the ridiculousness of the whole thing.

Levi let out a sigh of grudging acceptance. “Well, I suppose I could be stuck with worse. At least they’re entertaining.” He gave one last look at the ridiculous soccer photo, muttering with a half-smile, “But they’d better be ready to prove themselves, because winning over this father-in-law will take a hell of a lot more than paint and muscle flexing.”

......

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