Sweetness and joy flooded my chest, heart pounding wild.
Olei couldn't hold back. He jumped from his chair, yelling, "Mommy, say yes! Say yes!"
I laughed through tears.
"I will, Silas," I said.
He slid the ring on my finger, trembling. It fit perfectly, like it belonged.
I rose on tiptoes, kissed him. He dove in, tongue tangling with mine. His kiss held pent-up hunger, fierce and tender. I gripped his shoulders, knees weak.
"Daddy and Mommy kissing!" Olei clapped hard. "Yay!"
We broke apart, breathless, my face burning. Olei barreled in, hugging our legs.
Moonlight poured through the window, wrapping us gently.
Chapter 31
Silas & Anthea
Silas
"You're nervous." Pavel leaned against the dressing room doorframe, his mouth curved in that shit-eating grin. "That's the third time you've tied it into a knot, boss."
I stared at my reflection, fingers fumbling with the tie.
"First time in my life I've felt this rattled," I admitted. "Worse than going after Tomaso bare-handed."
Facing Tomaso, I knew exactly what I had to do—protect Anthea and Olei at any cost. When that bullet tore through my chest, I didn't feel fear. Just relief—that it hit me instead of her.
But now? I was about to marry her. Make her my wife in front of God and everyone. This was harder than taking a bullet.
Pavel's grin froze, then morphed into something accusatory.
"Speaking of which, we need to settle accounts." He crossed over and took the mangled tie from my hands. "You didn't call me for the raid on Tomaso's headquarters. Didn't call me when you put that old bastard down yourself. I had to hear about the whole damn thing from Marcus! That dog owed me—he gave me this scar. And you just casually settled my score without even a heads-up."
I studied my reflection. Brown hair slicked back, silver at the temples swept away from my face, jaw freshly shaved.
"You were south handling the shipping routes," I glanced at him. "By the time you got back, Tomaso was already cold."
"Bullshit. You did it on purpose." Pavel worked on the tie, muttering. "Afraid I'd steal your thunder, right?"
I didn't bother responding. He stepped back, examining his handiwork.
"Honestly, I never thought you two would actually make it." His tone shifted, grew serious. "After everything you... you put Anthea through, any other woman would've run."
My fingers tightened slightly.
He wasn't wrong. The imprisonment. The force. Pushing her until she nearly hurt herself. Every time I remembered those days, my chest ached with a dull pain.
"I didn't think so either." My voice dropped. "After all the damage I did, she still gave me a second chance."
Pavel was quiet for a moment, then clapped my shoulder. "Don't fuck it up."
"I won't." The corner of my mouth lifted without permission.
"Alright, stop grinning like an idiot." Pavel pushed me toward the door. "Let's go. Your bride's waiting."
