Chapter 41

Arianna

I can hardly believe that it's already been two months since that fateful night. We've all been doing our best to move forward. I try not to dwell on what could have happened and how badly things could have turned out if things had gone just a little differently. If my father and Adelina hadn't been so confident and cocky that they had more guards. If backup hadn't arrived in time. If I'd not been brave enough to kill my father. If the bullet that shot Nikolai had landed a little lower.

We all needed time to heal. Nikolai from his injuries. I, from the emotional scars of having got my sister back only to discover she wasn't the person I thought she was, that the sister I mourned for ten years never existed. I'm glad that Mads has the resilience of childhood on her side. The first couple of weeks she was clingy, scared, and had nightmares, but already she seems to have fully bounced back. She's so young, I hope that the memories fade away for her. That she won't ever remember an Auntie Adelina. I wish I could forget as easily.

The one thing that I'm surprised hasn't haunted me is how I was able to kill my father. Even knowing that Adelina was the mastermind behind his most devious and evil schemes doesn't make me feel remorseful. He still went along with them, he's just as guilty. I would do anything to protect my family, and he and Adelina are not part of it.

Since that night, Nikolai has been so caring and gentle with me and Mads, giving us both what we need to heal without ever being told. At first, I wondered if he resented that we'd stopped him from getting his revenge, that he wasn't the one to kill my father or sister. But he assured me that he made the right choice, that he feels unburdened by their deaths perhaps more than if it had been by his own hand. Kimiko, Endo, and Dimitri can all find closure now for the wrongs done to them, too.

Nikolai took a step back from work while he healed. He took longer than he needed to make sure Mads and I were recovering too. But last week he had to get more involved again. Kimiko and Endo stayed with us for a while, and Maria came to visit, but they've all had to go home recently. Life seems to be returning to some sort of normality—not that we've ever really lived a normal life. The house feels quiet without them, just me Nikolai, Mads, and Dimitri, but I like it all the same.

Nikolai and I have left Mads in Dimitri's capable hands back home. Tonight, we're staying at the apartment in New York and shortly we'll be heading into the city for dinner. It will be the first night we've had alone in a long time, and I can't wait.

I survey my reflection in the mirror as I'm finishing getting ready. The champagne-colored dress I'm wearing fits me like a glove, hugging my curves in all the right places. I twist my hair up into a loose knot, securing it with a clip and allowing the tendrils of free hair to escape and frame my face. I have subtle gold-hinted makeup that compliments my outfit, nude lip gloss, and minimal jewelry. I step into the strappy gold-heeled sandals that complete my outfit and grab my purse before heading out to join Nikolai in the living room.

As always, my heart does a little flip at the sight of him, handsome as ever in a well-tailored blue suit. He's forgone a tie, leaving the top two buttons of his shirt undone, I want to run my fingernails down his chest and tear it off him he looks so sexy. But I resist the urge, we still can't seem to get enough of each other, and I know one look of invitation from me is all he'd need to take me to bed. We'd never leave the apartment and I have something important I need to tell him tonight.

"You look beautiful," he murmurs looking deep into my eyes.

"Thank you, you look handsome too," I reply with a blush, taking his arm and allowing him to guide me out of the door to the awaiting car.

As we drive through the city, I can't help but gawp out of the window, admiring the sights. I still find the city so incredible. I'm not sure I'll ever get tired of coming here and being a part of the hustle and bustle. When I think back to our first trip here, and my life before ever meeting Nikolai, it feels like a million miles away. I'm not the same person and I'm grateful for that. The new Arianna is stronger than I ever thought I could be.

As we pull up to the restaurant, I recognize the name on the sign, ‘Le Romarin'. It's one of New York's longest-standing award-winning restaurants. A small, unassuming place. Despite its awards, the restaurant has no frills, it's known for its amazing food, quality, and reasonable prices rather than being a pompous place to show off. It's somewhere I've always wanted to go but never thought I would get to. I used to imagine myself here when I was trapped back at my father's home, I pictured myself free and dining with a handsome husband. I vaguely recall that I mentioned this to Nikolai once.

"You remembered!" I exclaim in amazement.

I'm also more than a little surprised that he chose here. Knowing Nikolai, I'd expected to be taken to the biggest, fanciest, most expensive place in town. This is decidedly more to my taste though and I'm touched that he knows and respects this.

"Of course," he says with a smile.

As we enter the cozy interior of the restaurant, I'm surprised to see that we're the only ones there. It's a little early for dinner, but I'd have expected this place to be full no matter what time it is, given its reputation. Noticing the confusion on my face, Nikolai explains.

"I booked the whole place out for us, I want you all to myself tonight."

I let out a small chuckle. "I should have known you wouldn't be able to do a normal quiet meal without any extravagance." I don't mind though, I'm pleased to have him all to myself, too.

"You're just so fun to spoil," he says with an indulgent smile.

I smile back and stretch up on tiptoes to plant a gentle kiss on his lips. "Thank you."

We sit at our table in the middle of the empty restaurant and the waiter comes over and fills up our wine glasses, explaining the variety and how it pairs with our first course.

"I ordered us the tasting menu, they pair dishes and wines together to give you a sample of their best offerings. I hope that's okay?" Nikolai asks, his brow furrowed in concern.

"That sounds wonderful, I hate having to choose," I admit.

We enjoy our meal, laughing and chatting about everything. Our childhoods, our friends, our future. Though we avoid anything too dark or serious—we've experienced enough darkness and misery to last a lifetime and neither of us wants to dwell on it. Most of all, we talk about Mads. Since he found out she's his, Nikolai has been the perfect father, he adores her, and she's become a total daddy's girl.

I'm grateful that we're being given very small glasses of wine with each course, and I can get away with taking only small sips of each before they're cleared away, ready for the next dish. Nikolai doesn't seem to notice that I've had less than a whole glass in total. As the dessert portions of the meal start to arrive, I decide that this is the time for me to tell him my news.

"Nikolai, there's something I want to tell you…"

At the same time, Nikolai also starts to speak, both of us talking over the other.

"Arianna, I love you."

We're both thrown by the fact that we were both speaking at the same time that neither of us knows what to say for a moment.

"Sorry, what did you just say?" I ask, incredulous and hopeful that I heard him correctly.

"I said, I love you," he says looking into my eyes as though willing me to see the truth in them.

"I love you too!" I reply, overwhelmed with joy.

"You do?" he asks, grinning like a schoolboy. "I've wanted to tell you how I feel for a long time. I think I was in love with you before you even left, perhaps from the moment I met you, but I was too afraid to admit it, too worried that you didn't feel the same. I didn't want to admit to myself how much I love you because I was so afraid it would put you in danger. But now I know, Arianna, that you are the love of my life. The only woman I will ever love. The only woman I want to be with for the rest of my life. I promise I will love and protect you and Mads with everything I have."

He looks at me with such love in his eyes that I feel my heart might burst with happiness. He gets up, moving around to stand by my side of the table before sinking to one knee. I barely register what I happening until he produces a ring box from his pocket.

As he opens it he says, "Arianna, will you marry me?"

"Yes!" I cry out, tears of happiness springing to my eyes, "Yes of course I'll marry you, Nikolai!"

He grins, looking like he's just won the lottery as he slips the ring onto my finger. It's only then that I properly look at it. It's gorgeous, a beautiful, classy solitaire diamond with a white gold band that's not too gaudy or over the top. It's perfect for me. He kisses me deeply and I kiss him back. The kiss finally ends, and he pulls his chair closer, sitting next to me so he can remain close, holding my hand.

"Nikolai, there's still something I have to tell you."

"Is something wrong?" he asks.

He looks so worried for a second that I have to let out a laugh. I guess it's so often that there's drama in our lives that it makes sense he'd worry it's bad news.

"It's good news, at least I hope you'll think it is. I'm pregnant!" I blurt, unable to hold it back any longer.

He lets out a whoop of excitement and pulls me into an embrace. "Are you serious? I'm going to be a dad again? That's not good news—that's great news!"

He looks at me with love and excitement in his eyes. He starts chatting excitedly about all of the things we need to do for the baby, the wedding, and everything else in between. His enthusiasm is infectious, and we discuss our future together, imagining what it will look like once we're married and with two children.

As the candle on the table burns down to the wick and the night becomes late while we plan our future, the rest of the world melts away. I know that we belong together. That life with Nikolai is as close to a fairytale ending as I want. I may not be marrying Prince Charming, he's said before he's the big bad wolf, but he's mine. My love. My protector. My world.