“Evie,” I whisper, squeezing her leg and feeling my eyes well up and not caring one bit about it. “He’s so beautiful, baby.”
Our son’s face is scrunched up, but I can see the roundness in his chubby cheeks and the cute, tiny nose and sweet mouth. He’s perfect, and I’m overcome with love for him.
“One more push, Evie,” Dr. Ferguson says, and then our son is out and his screams fill the room, making me laugh as tears drip down my cheeks.
I kiss Evie as she starts crying when they put him on her belly and she gets her first glimpse of him. The nurse helps her position him against her chest and when he starts rooting around, Evie laughs and helps him to latch on. She looks up at me, and the wonder and awe in her eyes is exactly how I’m feeling.
“He’s so beautiful,” she whispers, looking back down at him and running a finger along is cheek.
“He is,” I agree, kissing the top of his little head. When he opens his eyes, we both laugh at the vivid shade of green, the exact same color as mine.
“He looks just like you,” she says with a laugh. “Hi, Aleksandr,” she whispers, bringing his hand to her mouth so she can kiss it. “We love you so much.”
She looks back up at me and runs her fingers over my wet cheek. “You’ve brought so much love into my life.”
I wrap my arms tighter around my wife and son and kiss them both. “You’ve done the same for me,lapochka. I’m so glad you hit my car, baby.”
She laughs and kisses me. “I’m glad I did too, and I’m glad you didn’t just give up when I tried to push you away.”
“That was never going to happen, baby. I’m a stubborn man, and I wanted you, Evie. From the second I saw you, I knew you were mine. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” She smiles and kisses me again.
We watch Aleksandr nurse himself to sleep and together we memorize every detail of his little body, marveling at how perfect he is. My whole world is in my arms right now, and I will do whatever it takes to keep them safe. Aleksandr Medvedev may be running the Bratva one day alongside Misha and Dmitri, but for now, he’s my little boy, and I’m determined to give him a carefree childhood for as long as I can.
I meet my wife’s eyes and smile. She’s given me everything, far more than a man like me deserves, and I’m so damn grateful I get to spend the rest of my life with her. When she cups my cheek again, I grab her hand and kiss the inside of her wrist, breathing in the familiar, comforting scent of her.Mine. The word always runs through my head when I’m near her. It’s a mantra, a chant, a prayer—it’s one word that means everything. My wife, my lover, my best friend, my whole world, and now the mother of my child.
“I love you, Evie Medvedev,” I whisper against her skin.
She smiles and caresses my cheek. “I love you too.”
Epilogue
Evie
Two Years Later
Walking onto the back deck, I pause when I see Valeri and Aleks kneeling down together in the back corner. Our son’s face is pinched in concentration as his chubby, toddler hands pat down the rich, dark soil in the pot. Ranger, the German Shepherd mix we adopted last year sits proudly beside them, watching over our son like it’s his sacred duty.
“Very good,” Valeri tells him, reaching a hand up to ruffle his hair in a way that makes Aleks tip his head back and laugh with the kind of abandon that kids manage so easily, the dimple in his left cheek prominently displayed. “Mommy’s going to love this.”
“Da,” Aleks says with a giggle.
Valeri speaks to him in a mix of Russian and English, and I swear he understands both of them equally well.
“Mommy loves flowers,” Aleks says, and I smile at the way he pronounces the words, trying so hard to get it all right. He’s growing up way too fast. Every milestone he hits breaks my heart at the same time as it fills it. It’s a constant battle of wanting to hold on too tightly and knowing I need to let go just a tiny bit so he can actually enjoy his childhood without me hovering over him. He’s only two, I remind myself for the millionth time.
“Yes, Mommy loves flowers,” Valeri says in agreement, helping our son plant a few more large, orange marigolds in the big planter.
I love watching Valeri with Aleks. He’s been the most hands-on dad since the first moment he was born. I love that our son will never have to hear angry shouts or feel the sting of his father’s hand. Valeri would rather die than hurt him. I’ve never even heard Valeri raise his voice to him, not even when he gets asked a million questions during breakfast after he’s been out working all night. He just smiles and ruffles our son’s hair and talks with him for as long as Aleks wants.
Valeri lifts his head and gives me a wink, letting me know that he’s been aware of my presence this entire time. I’m not surprised. No one sneaks up on a Medvedev. He whispers something to Aleks, who jumps up and positions his small body in front of the planter. He gives me a big grin, showing of his baby teeth and then jumps aside with a loud, “Surprise,” revealing the flowers they planted for me.
I drop my mouth in surprise and clap my hands. “Are those for me?”
He nods his head and giggles, and then runs over, throwing himself in my waiting arms. I close my eyes and breathe in the scent of his favorite berry shampoo and kiss his cheek.
“I love it so much,” I tell him. “Thank you, sweetie.”
