EPILOGUE
Alexei - Three Months Later
“Uncle Alexei, we sent you a picture of dad’s opened safe.” Hannah, one of Nico’s twins, had her hands on her hips and glaring at me. It was kind of cute. “Where is our money? It took us three months to get it to open!”
I chuckled. These little criminals would take over the world one day.
“I got it, thank you for that. Your faces inside his safe were priceless,” I praised, hunching down to my knees. “For that, I’ll add an extra two hundred bucks.” They both started cheering. “Can I Zelle you the money?”
“Cash only,” Arianna demanded. “We don’t want it traced.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Does Nico not give you enough spending money?” I inquired curiously. Though they were six. What could they possibly spend money on? Bubble gum?
“Nah, it’s better when we earn it.” Arianna retorted. “Have the cash ready by the end of today.”
Then they both took off through the yard filled with people. I rose to my full length while my gaze traveled over everyone.
I used to hate social gatherings.
Not that you’d know it from the way I stood next to my wife and mingled with our guests all day today. My eyes sought her out whenever she wasn’t with me, her belly swelling bigger with each passing day.
It was official. She was mine.
After the spoken vows and rings were exchanged in front of our families, Aurora Ashford became Mrs. Alexei Nikolaev. The rays of the Portugal sunshine covered the lawn of our little villa overlooking the sea. Laughter, chatter, and local traditional music carried over the breeze.
Senator Ashford refused to give his blessing for our marriage. I didn’t give a shit. I only wanted it for his daughter’s happiness. Turns out, she didn’t give a shit either. She just wanted her brothers and her girlfriends around.
Family. Happiness. Love. I felt like the richest man alive.
My chest grew heavy each time I looked at my wife. She looked stunning in her simple wedding dress. She refused to hide her bump, and I completely agreed. I wanted the whole world to see it. To know she was mine.
There were still days and nights when my ghosts came knocking on the door.
Nobody said it would be easy. But fuck, it was all worth it when I’d look at Aurora. Or when I’d think about that little life growing inside her belly.
My family grounded me. Aurora and our unborn child gave me happiness and a future.
I watched as my wife threw her head back and laughed at something Royce said. Her brothers, girlfriends, Cassio and Raphael stood with them, an amused expression on their faces. Kingston was with them too. But just like me, sometimes he felt like an outsider. The shit we went through made it harder to relate.
A week after Senator Ashford’s fundraising campaign, Aurora and I came to Portugal and stayed at our place by the sea. She asked her brothers over too. Kingston was ready to tell them he wasn’t dead, but he still wanted to keep it from the world. It was rough seeing the reunion. And I knew it was hardest on Kingston, though he handled it well.
Better than I did.
“I’m so happy for you.” Isabella’s voice came from behind me, and I turned to see her with our little Nikola. “There is nobody who deserves it more.”
A small noise of amusement left me. I knew many who deserved it more. But it didn’t matter because I stole this happiness and I’d keep it. For Aurora. For me. And for our little Kostya. Aurora complained Konstantin was too much of a mouthful.
I brushed my fingers over Nikola’s cheeks and he gave me one of his innocent grins. He spoke more and more each day.
My sister’s hand reached out and squeezed mine gently. I allowed it but my wife’s touch was still the only one I liked. Scratch that, the only touch I loved. Craved it. Needed it. For someone that went without a touch for a good part of my life, I couldn’t survive a day without hers.
“Got that right,” Vasili came from behind his wife, little Marietta in his arms. He wrapped his free arm around Isabella and she instinctively leaned back into him. I finally understood that crazy obsession my brother had with his wife, because I felt it too.
“We’ll flood this earth with Nikolaev boys,” he joked while Isabella rolled her eyes. “Now, we just have to get Sasha married.”
“Yeah, fuck that,” Sasha grumbled, approaching us. “Isn’t it bad enough every goddamn one of you is having babies?”
My eyes searched for my wife again. This time, she stood aside with Cassio and Áine, cooing to their little daughter and son. Little Océane and Damon. They had twins. It would seem the Morrellis and Kings decided to flood the earth with their little offspring too.