“You won’t have to,” Kirill says behind me.
All of us pull away from another, sniffling, and turn our attention to thePakhan.
“Yulian, what you did pissed a lot of people off, even if you were blackmailed. You and Valya are going to have to disappear for a while. But I’ll set up a line of communication between you two and Annika, that way you can talk until it’s safe for you to come back.”
I don’t want my family to go, especially after what we just went through, but I know my husband’s right.
“Just a few months,” Kirill insists. “Until we get this all cleaned up.”
“Just don’t let anything happen to her,” my father begs him.
Kirill’s eyes focus on me, a look of devotion and protection shining in his gaze.
“You have my word, Yulian. She’ll be safe.”
Knowing what he’s just done to protect me. That he just murdered his own brother to keep me and our child safe. I knowit’s true. And I also know that even though I’ll miss them, I’ll see my family again soon.
Epilogue
Kirill
Five Months Later
“They’re here,” I whisper into Annika’s ear.
She turns away from Eva and Viktoria, her beauty blinding me as she focuses those deep blue eyes on me. Happiness sparks through them, and I can’t help but smile down at her. Her maternity dress fits over her like a dream. A soft baby blue maxi dress that brings out her eyes and makes them sparkle. It’s also an homage to our son- who will be arriving any day now.
“They’re here?” she asks, and begins that adorable dance I love where she bounces on the balls of her feet.
“Careful,” I chuckle, placing a hand on her full, rounded stomach, “Don’t want to shake the baby. And yes. Edik just told me their car pulled up. Come on, let’s meet them at the door.”
Her smile brightens, then she whirls back around to Eve and Viktoryia. The three of them have been inseparable four months now. Poor Tolya has been spending a fortune on jet fuel to make sure his wife is able to fly to New York from Chicago any time Annika gets the urge to shop for baby stuff- which is…frequent.
“I’ll be back in a little bit,” Annika assures Eva and Viktoryia. “My family’s here!”
She lets out a little squeal of delight as her friends shoo her off, knowing that she’s been excited for the day for weeks now. I take her arm, feeling my chest swell with pride as I walk by my wife’s side, and we move through the small crowd of party guests to make our way to the front door.
Viktoryia wanted to throw a baby shower for Annika months ago, but Annika refused, saying she couldn’t have it until Yulian and Valya returned. Now our due date is any day now, and after killing the last of the rumors and dealing with the small upset caused by my brother’s death, I was finally able to deem it safe for Annika’s father and sister to come back to New York.
We make it into the foyer just as the front door opens, and my beautiful wife lets out a sob of relief as she sees her family. I drop a kiss atop her head as I untether her arm from mine, and I watch as the three of them run toward another. Hugs, kisses, excited chatter erupts from the trio and I watch at a distance as they are reunited.
“You did the right thing. Sending them away.”
I turn from the sight of my wife’s happy reunion with her family and nod at the three men that have joined me.
“I know,” I tell Tolya.
“It’s still a little risky,” Nico Vitelli, the Don of Chicago Italian families remarks.
“You may still get a few people coming after them. Betrayal like this, no matter the circumstances, has a ripple effect,” Luca Di Meglio, the Don of the Las Vegas Italian families adds.
I nod, knowing it’s true in many ways.
“I’m keeping an eye on them,” I reply, then turn back to watch my wife.
“Are you three enjoying the party?” I ask them.
“Zoe loves your Annika,” Nico tells me, which causes Tolya to chortle.
