Epilogue

Nikk

“You are so lucky to have all these ringlets, Sophia. I have to use a curling wand to get mine so pretty,” Elena says to our four-year-old as she paddle brushes her hair to get ready for the party.

“I like your hair. I like your hair, Mommy!” Sophia repeats, jumping up and down. She’s a full ball of energy, and given what firecrackers her parents are, I would expect nothing less. She pats my knees as Elena laughs with her, letting her go after a few brushstrokes.

“I won’t be able to hold her for long anyway,” Elena tells me, and even if she doesn’t have curls like Sophia, she is radiant and glowing. A second pregnancy with twins might have something to do with it. This time her stomach is bigger than last time. My cousins are standing beside me, along with my brothers, and it’s a family affair. “She’ll squirm like a worm to get away, and there’s no point chasing her,” Elena adds as I look at the blossoming beauty my daughter has become.

“Yes, she will. Where do you think she gets it from?” I tease Elena, bopping her on the nose.

“She gets it from you. Not me. I’m the calm, peaceful one. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replies, batting her eyes as I chuckle, and Sophia comes over to hug my leg. I run my fingers through her hair, and every day she grows bigger, I want her to want for nothing.

My cousins and brothers laugh at Elena, and Yegor clears his throat, pointing to his arm.

Elena laughs gleefully. “Okay, okay, I got a little hot under the collar on that day. You should not have aggravated a Mancini.”

Yegor grins, holding his chest in jest. “Don’t be like that, Elena. You’re family now.” My cousins and my brothers start laughing, everybody in good spirits.

I shake my head at the scene unfolding in front of me. I never knew this part of life was possible and would open up for me. I’ve gone from practically no family—at least not blood as a kid, to three children in a short span of time. This is better than the adrenaline high of any contract killing or business deal, that’s for sure.

Rubbing Sophia’s back, I shout out her happy day. “Happy birthday, Sophia. How old are you today?” I ask, scooping her up into my arms, and it’s lucky that I still can, she’s getting bigger every day, I swear.

She’s beautiful, with pale rosy cheeks, blonde locks, and emerald eyes. I wonder if she knows she’s a heartbreaker already? I’m going to have my work cut out for me to keep the boys off her in high school. I already anticipate wanting to kill them all. Once they find out who her father is I’m hoping that should steer them clear enough. Until such time, I will guard her honor with my life.

Sophia holds up four fingers. “Daddy, I’m four. Four years old. That’s how old I am. Where’s my cake? Is it coming?” she asks with an urgency. We’re all gathered in the living room, but Sophia’s cake and other surprises are being prepared in another room as we speak.

“Yes, it is. In fact, it’s already ready. Let’s go into the playroom and we can get a piece.”

“Yay! I get to eat my cake.” Sophia has a few friends from daycare coming to join her for her special day, but I’m not too keen on outsiders coming by if they’re not from inside the family.

Elena has changed me on a lot of things, and that’s one of them.

“She needs normal friends her own age. If not, then your cousins and family need to have babies too, so they can play together.” I recall our conversation in bed from the other night, where we so often hold our family meetings. I folded a little, beefing up security and only letting her friends come to play for a few hours.

Sharon and Rina are with us, and that’s nice for Elena. I want her to have friends and to be happy in life and our family. It’s a fantastic family day. All my cousins are in town, and with the weather holding, Sophia should be able to get outside and play with her new present.

These days, I find it hard to keep a secret from Elena, so when I hold on to the secret smile on my face, her eyebrows arch.

“What are you up to, Nikkita Orlov?”

I bend to kiss her mouth with a big grin. “You’ll have to wait this one out. It’s a surprise you’re going to enjoy.” I wink at her, and she puts a hand on her hip.

“Will I?” she quizzes as I wait for one of my brothers to sneak the present in through the side door and into the playroom. My phone pings as she stands in front of me, her suspicions growing. Checking the text, it’s all clear for us to head into the playroom.

“Up to no good, you! ” She points a finger, but she’s laughing. “I’m going to get the rest of the salads and bowls from the kitchen. The kids are going to be here in the next twenty minutes. Maybe some of them will arrive early,” Elena explains as Sharon and Rina tag along beside her.

“I’ll help you. You can’t carry all those things by yourself,” Sharon tells her as they start talking and totter off to the kitchen.

The Orlov estate is full of love, family, and the imminent promise of chaos, especially with other kids arriving, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. We have plenty of room for them to run around, jump, play, and be silly. It’s something I need to get used to anyway, especially when the twins arrive.

“Where’s my friend, Aidan? I want to play !” Sophia shouts out, bouncing around in the cutest of dresses, that Elena picked, flapping her arms about. She has Elena’s outgoing personality, but I can see my features mixed in. And it’s such a beautiful blend. She truly is a miracle in my life.

“Aidan is on his way,” I tell her. She’s already wriggled free of my grip, and I’m sure it’s going to be the same when she gets older. I wait for Elena to come back out with the food, and follow her to the playroom, excited to see her reaction when she finds out what’s in store for her.

We all make it to the spare room that I decided to turn into Sophia’s playroom. There’s a cute rainbow on one wall with all her favorite stuffed toys in one corner, and a small table for her arts and crafts on another. The playroom faces outside to the front yard, which is perfect.

Elena sets the food down on the table with the other food and the special birthday cake in the middle with a large number four candle waiting to be blown out.

“Oh my gosh! It’s my cake. Mommy; it’s so pretty. It’s got stars on it.”

“Yes, it does, but let’s wait for all your friends to get here, and then we can share it with them, okay?” Elena crouches to our daughter’s height, hugging her tight. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Mommy.” I can’t have my heart melt any more than it is, but it does.

“Daddy? What’s that noise coming from the basket. That wasn’t here before!” she points at the bassinet off the side of the table, catching on.

“Wow. No, it wasn’t, huh? You should check out what’s inside it. Maybe there’s something inside it.”

Sophia turns around and puts her hands on her hips. “Daddy, did you put something in the basket? You’re naughty.” The room breaks into laughter, and Sophia’s the star of the show. A louder yelp sounds as she opens one side of the wicker basket and a russet brown puppy with floppy ears pokes its head out of it.

Sophia’s mouth flies open as she points to it, dancing around. “There’s a dog in there! That’s a dog! No way. Is this my birthday present? Is it?”

Nodding my head, Elena claps her hand over her mouth. “That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Nikk thank you!”

Seeing both my girls happy makes my heart soar. “You’re welcome. Sophia, happy birthday darling.” She’s already in love and has figured out how to get the puppy out of the basket. She pets it with a large smile on her face as Rina takes a photo.

“Pictures for the album,” she says, and I smile.

“Yes, it is, and there will be many more.”

The front doorbell rings, signaling the approaching chaos, and Yegor calls out, “I’ll get it!”

“Be gentle with the puppy. She’s going to be your friend for life,” Elena points out.

“This is my friend.” The dog licks her happily as Sophia giggles.

“ Eww, puppy slobber! Haha. I have to name him. What can I name him, Mommy?”

“Whatever you want.” Content, I watch as Sophia lets the puppy down on the floor, crouching to kiss its cheek.

Three children timidly enter the room, joined by their parents, and to the outsiders we’re just a normal family, celebrating the birthday of their daughter, because we are… just sometimes, we have to engage in warfare.

After introducing herself to all the parents, Elena sidles up beside me, beaming and hugging my waist. “I can’t believe you bought us a puppy! That’s so sweet of you.”

Everybody is busy chattering in the playroom, and the kids are occupied with the dog.

“Elena, I would go to the ends of the earth to get what you want. That’s how much I love you. We’ve got more on the way, and I can’t wait to spend a lifetime building a family with you.”

Elena’s radiant eyes glisten with tears. “Nikkita Orlov, when did you become so romantic?”

“Since I met you. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The Bratva family is expanding, and the ice is melting around my heart. It’s not such a scary thing after all.

*****

THE END