As if we were ready for a new beginning.
Together.
As he captured my mouth, holding me tightly against him, I felt the pressures of the rest of the world fading away. There was just the three of us against the evils.
But we would conquer one and all.
That was exactly the way I’d hoped it could be.
“I know something you don’t know. I know something you don’t know.” Nina’s singsong voice brought us down from the clouds. The kiss was broken, but not the magic.
It would thrive and grow through years of love and togetherness.
A girl’s dream could come true after all.
Sasha
“You look pretty dapper there, brother.”
I glared at Vissarian, resisting giving him my middle finger. Now wasn’t the time or the place. That would come later. “Very funny. You don’t look too bad yourself.”
“Yeah, well, you know how my lovely Fallon can be. She insisted I take a shower for the event.” His grin was too damn wide. “She reminded me it’s your birthday party and all.”
“Can we just stop with the birthday shit. It just means I’m getting older.”
“Did someone mention old?” Mikhail said, laughing as he and Bristol walked closer.
“This is wonderful and happy belated birthday,” she said as she gave me a kiss on my cheek. “Where’s Lainey?”
“I don’t know. I think she has something up her sleeve.” I glanced around the ballroom, gritting my teeth. I hadn’t been in charge of this party. My mother and aunt had worked with the girls to make it festive.
Using a freaking ballroom in Ecstasy over a more intimate setting like one of our homes. Maybe they had a point about not wanting a repeat of the shooting gallery.
Alexsey and Kazimir strolled up with drinks in their hands. Why did I have a feeling they needed to talk business prior to the true beginning of the unwanted festivities?
“Uh-oh. I can see where this is going,” Bristol said as she rolled her eyes. “I think I’ll go grab a stiff drink. Somehow, I have a feeling I’m going to need it so I can deal with the entire Dmitriyev boy crew.”
“As if you have any trouble doing that,” Mikhail teased and swatted her on the butt before she could walk away.
“Watch it, buddy.”
We all laughed and I scanned the room until I found Lainey chatting with Halle. She caught my eye and immediately, I was in full arousal. She was so damn beautiful it made my heart ache.
Kazimir followed my line of sight. “She’s perfect for you.”
“I know.” Admitting it was easier than I’d ever thought it could be. She’d broken down all my defenses. She’d given me a reason to get up in the morning and more enjoyment than I’d felt in as long as I could remember. “She’s amazing with Nina. They wrote a children’s book together. You should have seen the pictures my little girl painted. And the words. Oh, my God, the words were so beautiful. I can tell the book will be a bestseller.”
“He’s smitten,” Vissarian said.
“No, he’s hooked.” Mikhail clapped me on the back.
Grumbling, I took a gulp of my drink and slipped my hand into my pocket, rolling the tip of my index finger across thesmooth surface of the box. Yeah, maybe I was. “They’re good together.”
“You’re wonderful as a family, Sasha,” Vissarian added. “I’m so happy for all three of you.”
“Wow,” Alexsey said. His shit-eating grin was one that drove me crazy, but nothing was going to ruin tonight. Nothing. “You’re hooked. So when are you popping the question?”
“Shut the hell up. Why don’t you just tell me what you need to tell me,” I suggested. Strongly.
