Page 185 of The Bratva King

Pasha is wiping his eyes openly.

The twins, Kirill and Anton, are squirming in their parents’ laps, too young to understand what’s happening but sensing something important.

Mila is watching with wide eyes, her hand in Olga’s. Olga is dabbing at her own eyes with a handkerchief, her cane propped against her chair.

Kylie, Irina, and Galina are sitting together. All three women are crying. Several of Nikolai’s trusted guards are suddenly very interested in their feet.

Nikolai stands, still holding Luke. He reaches for me with his free hand. I take it.

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Nikolai leans in and gives me a quick kiss. “More later,” he says softly.

When we pull apart, Luke is looking up at us. “Are you married now?”

“Yes,” Nikolai says. “We’re married now.”

“Good.”

The officiant clears his throat, clearly moved. “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Sokolov. And their son, Luke Sokolov.”

Everyone claps. Maksim whistles. Lila cheers.

Nikolai looks, and I see everything in his eyes that he can’t say out loud.

I love you. Thank you. You saved me, too.

“I love you,” I whisper.

“I love you,” he whispers back.

Luke squirms. “Can we have cake now?”

I laugh through my tears. “Yes, buddy. We can have cake now.”

Nikolai sets Luke down and takes my hand. We walk back down the aisle together. Past our family. Past the people who have become part of our story.

As we step into the hallway, away from everyone else, Nikolai pulls me close. His forehead rests against mine.

“Thank you,” he says.

“For what?”

“For giving me a family.”

“Nik.” I cup his face in my hands. “You gave us a family. You gave us everything.”

He kisses me again, the kiss he’d been holding back.

Luke tugs on both of our hands. “Cake!”

We laugh. Nikolai scoops Luke back up and settles him on his hip.

“Let’s go get some cake,” he says.

We walk back into the ballroom together.

Two hours later, I sit at our table, watching everyone have a good time.