Epilogue Two

Sapphire

The silence is bliss after the rush and adrenaline from birthing a baby. I won’t get much of it so I take all I can get while I can.

Every muscle in my body aches, pounds, and screams. But I couldn’t be happier.

Nurses move around the room and check my vitals before silently leaving me with my men. War is breaking out between their crew. Car bombs, on select high-ranking members and frankly I am surprised none of us have been targeted yet.

We knew this was coming and the birth of our child was the last catapult needed to turn the men my protectors once considered allies against them. Which means against me.

“They are ripping themselves apart out there.”

Because of me.

Elyah stands by the window, his arm propped up on the edge looking pensive and torn. He loves this city as much as he loves me.

The last nine months have been tension-filled. Harlon kept his word about letting me find my happiness. I can’t believe I didn’t trust him not to want this for me. Enemies or not, he is not the Constantines of the past. I have hope for what we will become in the future. But first, from the looks of fires in the distance from my hospital room, a war will need to be fought. Not everyone likes the idea of the Southern Alliance uniting with the men of Genesis. With Snake Eyes dead there’s room for more like him to rise. We won’t be safe until my men can bring their crew back on board. The rift between brothers is heartbreaking and I hate knowing it is because of me.

“ Moya kroshka . I know what you are thinking. Dry those tears. No one out there deserves them.”

Tears wet my lashes when I bring my eyes up to meet Elyah’s. They’ve been through so much and now I’ve brought destruction to their family. He’s standing by my hospital bed now and leans over me to kiss away the drops rolling down my face.

Gregor walks in carrying an ungodly number of diaper packs and onesies. And I thought none of these hardened mobsters could ever be softened by a baby. The sight is warming and helps ease the pain of what’s happening to their empire.

His eyes hit me and he drops them on a nearby chair and rushes to me.

“Is the baby okay? Are you okay? Why are you crying? Did one of these assholes say something to you about your smeared mascara? Tell me and I’ll beat the shit out of them for you.”

He legitimately looks like he will kill anyone who dared make me feel bad.

He curls his fingers around my hand and our palms slide together. I breathe in and let out a sigh.

Elyah and Lev stand there probably still in shock after seeing me squeeze a melon out of the place they think of as their treasure box.

Men.

“No. Nothing like that, but thanks for letting me know.” I wipe my eyes. I didn’t have time to wash off my makeup before the little bean sprout decided to make her grand entrance.

Worry deepens the lines digging across his forehead.

I take his other hand. “Seriously, I’m fine. I’m sorry. My hormones must be all over the place. I’m crying, horny and hungry all at once. I don’t understand any of it. I think the baby broke me.” I lift the covers to check down there but there’s not much to see besides a large diaper. Really not sexy.

A slow smile glides over Lev’s lips when he comes in a minute after Gregor. There’s a delicious smell of Wonton soup and dumplings coming from the bags in his hands.

“We can help with two out of three, beautiful. But the doctor says at least three weeks before we can have any playtime. I asked.” Lev wiggles his brows playfully. “You’re welcome.”

I roll my eyes grateful for the distraction. And the love. It pours from them all.

Beside the bed, our tiny precious gift sleeps bundled up in her pink blanket. “Elyah.”

“Si, moya kroshka ?”

“Thank you for taking a chance on me.” I turn to face them all and reach my hand out. “You didn’t play with me, use me and throw me away like so many others in this life have happened to them.”

“We could never hurt you like that. You’re our queen.”

Elyah crosses the hospital room and leans an elbow on the sill like I’ve seen him do so many times. It’s his Atlas pose.

“The queen to whatever empire we have left.”

“I’ll help you get it back. We will show everyone how strong you are.”

“It will come with a price, beautiful. That is what worries us.”

Gregor gently lifts and cradles our sleeping daughter. He holds her to his chest and murmurs sweet words of love in her ear. I swear I see a smile on those tiny perfect lips. They don’t know it yet, but all three of my bratva men are smitten by a baby.

“Keeping you safe just got twice as hard.”

He passes her to Elyah and Lev stands nearby impatiently waiting his turn.

As I gaze at them through sleepy eyes, I realize not one of them cares who the biological father is. We are a family. A unit of strength. I finally got my wish.

The door creaks open and the blonde head of my best friend pops in. “Can we come in?”

And now my world is complete. Gregor brushes my tears away and Lev shakes hands with Harlon, then Cassius and Santi. We are in for a battle. Fighting for my happiness and those that I love hasn’t come to an end yet. We are about to be tested and I know, I know in my heart of hearts, we will stand true. Stand strong. Because of love.

G ilded Caresses is only the beginning. Sapphire and her men are FINALLY getting a trilogy! I know it’s been a long time in the making and THANK YOU for the emails asking for their extended story. Knowing you want their story makes writing it easier to write. But be warned! What I have planned for Sapphire and her crew is nothing short of heart pounding, soul crushing, and drips with dark secrets that have the power to tear these four apart. And you know the steamy bits will find their way into the stories.

Their newfound love will be tested and pushed to the limits in their coming trilogy. Blood will be spilled and through it all, all four of them will be tested. Love has the power to do a lot of things, but will it keep Elyah, Gregor, and Lev from slipping into the darkness and losing everything?