"You didn't lose us," I kissed the corner of his mouth. "We're right here. A family, together."
He crushed me in a hug, like he wanted to meld me into him.
"I love you, Elena," he whispered in my ear. "This life, the next—our souls will always be together. I'll love you forever."
"I love you too," I said. "Igor."
We held each other a bit longer, then his hands started wandering restlessly over me.
I pushed him away with a laugh. "Stella's about to wake up."
"Let her sleep a little more," he murmured, kissing my neck. "I want you."
"You just did last night—"
The bedroom door swung open before I could finish.
"Daddy! Mommy!" Stella burst in, wearing her pink pajamas, climbing onto the bed and squeezing between us. "I'm hungry!"
Igor sighed and let me go.
"Alright, little princess," he said, fondly tweaking her nose. "What do you want?"
"Pancakes! Chocolate pancakes!"
"Let's make them together, okay?"
"Okay!"
Watching them head downstairs, my heart warmed. This was the life I wanted—simple, cozy, full of love.
That afternoon, Igor got a call. He talked in the study for a long time, coming out with a grim face.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
He sat on the sofa and pulled me into his lap.
"It's about Salvatore and Natasha," he said. "You want to know?"
I hesitated, then nodded.
"Salvatore's locked in one of our safe houses," Igor said. "Waiting for a joint trial from both families. He broke the Italian family's rules and hurt our family. By mafia tradition, he'll be executed."
I didn't say anything. Salvatore nearly killed me and Stella—he deserved it.
"As for Natasha," Igor paused, "she's been sent back to Russia."
"Back to Russia?" I was surprised. "You let her go?"
"Not exactly," Igor shook his head. "She's gone mad. After we took her off the ship, she started raving. So I had her locked in a psych ward in Moscow. The doctors say her mind's shattered—no fixing it."
I didn't know what to say. Natasha had been so proud, so confident, so beautiful. Now she was a lunatic.
"You pity her?" Igor asked.
"No," I said honestly. "She almost killed me and Stella. I won't forgive her—what about you? How do you feel about her fate?"
Igor was silent for a long time.
