I pull back slightly, my fingers still resting against his chest, and my eyes search his. “Niko…what do you plan to do with Kirill and Anton?” I ask, voice steady despite the anxiety curling in my stomach.
His gaze sharpens, dark and unyielding, like a predator sensing its prey. He leans closer, letting his voice drop low, slow, deliberate. “I’ll give them a slow, painful death,” he says, each word measured, dripping with a cold promise.
A shiver runs down my spine—not entirely from fear, but from the raw intensity, the darkness in him that I’ve come to crave and dread all at once. His hands tighten on my waist, protective and utterly inescapable.
“They deserve it,” he continues, eyes locked on mine, voice a dangerous whisper. “For everything they’ve done…and for ever daring to threaten you.”
“When…when will you do it?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Niko stiffens slightly, taken aback. His brow furrows, and he tilts his head. “Why are you asking that?” His tone is calm, but there’s an edge to it—a dangerous curiosity.
I swallow hard, trying to steady my racing heart. “I…I want to move on,” I confess, voice trembling. “I can’t…I can’t fully move forward, not feel safe, not feel like I can breathe, until I know they’re gone.”
For a moment, he just stares at me, silence stretching between us, thick and taut. Then, slowly, he bends his head, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. His voice drops low, quiet, but every word drips with cold certainty. “Say no more.” I shiver at the promise in his tone. “They’ll be gone before you wake up.”
“Thank you.”
His face lights up. “Now…on the brighter side…remember the vacation we talked about?” His voice is warm, teasing, but steady, like an anchor.
My heart lifts at the reminder. “Are we…going to Monaco?” I ask, eyes bright.
“Yes,” he says, a slow, satisfied smile tugging at his lips. “Or…do you have anywhere else in mind?”
I shake my head, a grin tugging at my own lips. “No. I’m eager to see Monaco.”
He chuckles softly, that low, rich sound that always makes my pulse jump. “Good,” he murmurs. “Then Monaco it is. Just you and me. No danger, no shadows…just us.”
I melt into him, letting his warmth and certainty wash over me, the weight of fear and darkness lifted, at least for now. My hands find his face, fingers tracing the lines I know by heart, and I whisper, almost breathless, “Just us? Are you forgetting something?”
His brow furrows for a moment, a flicker of confusion crossing his features, and then realization softens his expression. “Oh…” he breathes, voice low and amazed. “…we’re a family now. There’s three of us.”
Laughter bubbles up from my chest, bright and unguarded, and he chuckles with me, deep and warm, the sound wrapping around me like a protective shield.
“Forgive me,” he murmurs, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple. “It takes some getting used to.”
I press closer, letting my forehead rest against his, smiling into the quiet intimacy of the moment. In his embrace, with the promise of our little family nestled between us, I finally feel whole, protected, and utterly, irrevocably his.
Epilogue – Noelle
Three Years Later
The clinic buzzes with energy, a far cry from the tense, shadowed halls it used to be. I glide through the corridors in my crisp white coat, a clipboard in hand, smiling at the staff as they move between patients and exam rooms.
“Morning, Dr. Noelle!” a nurse calls cheerfully.
“Morning, Hana,” I reply, returning her grin. It’s mandatory now—smiles, greetings, chatter in the halls. A small thing, maybe, but it changes everything.
From low-level staff to boss, from scared and unsure to confident and capable. I built this place into what it is now, and every choice carries my touch. The underground clinic I once feared working in has become a haven, not just for patients but for the people I work with.
I stop by the exam room where a young doctor is struggling with a complicated case. I lean in, offer a suggestion, and see the spark of understanding in her eyes. That’s why I’m here—to guide, to heal, to make sure others never feel powerless the way I once did.
The sound of laughter and chatter follows me down the hall, and I catch a glimpse of the waiting room through the glass. Patients are smiling, families talking quietly, a sense of normalcy that seemed impossible back then.
After I finished medical school—doing my final two years through an accelerated program—Niko offered me the clinic. At first, I resisted, unsure if I was ready for the responsibility. But then I thought about it. He was my husband, and the clinic was his. There was no reason to fear the dreadfulness of the place. I had the power to change things—and I did.
It’s been a year since I’ve been running this clinic. The staff are happier, patients are better cared for, and we’ve doubled the clinic’s profit. I feel…fulfilled.
I walk into my office, ready to close for the day. I have dinner with Violet and Sasha later this evening, but for now, Niko and Maxim have my full attention.
