Epilogue

LUCA

A FEW DAYS LATER

T he early morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I stood at the window, taking in the estate that had always been my home, yet today felt different. Today, we were taking on a new role—godparents to Ash and Gracie’s twins. It was a promise of family, love, and a future filled with laughter.

The world outside was calm, the gentle sway of the trees echoing the sense of peace that enveloped me. With Claire by my side, this place felt less like a stronghold and more like a foundation for our life together. A year ago, I would have never imagined such a profound shift, yet here we were, ready to embrace whatever came next.

As Claire stepped into the room, her hair tousled and wearing one of my shirts that hung loosely on her frame, warmth spread through my chest. She looked up at me with that soft, knowing smile, making the worries of the past fade away.

“Couldn’t sleep?” she asked, moving closer, her arms wrapping around my waist.

I shook my head, pulling her in tight. “Just thinking about everything ahead of us—about today and being godparents. I can’t wait to see Ash and Gracie’s twins and share in that joy. And after the christening, I’m excited to take you on holiday to meet my family.”

Her face lit up, and I felt the joy radiating between us. “It’s all so exciting.”

I brushed my thumb along her jawline, feeling the weight of my feelings. “It’s just the beginning.”

The memories of the chaos and danger that once surrounded me felt like a distant echo. With Claire, I had found a path forward, one where the Bratva was still a part of me, but it no longer defined my existence. She had shown me a different way of living—a life filled with love, hope, and the promise of tomorrow.

“Whatever challenges lie ahead, we’ll face them together,” I said, letting the conviction of my words settle between us.

She nodded, her expression unwavering. “Together.”

As I kissed the top of her head, I savoured this moment. The past was behind us, and the future was bright, full of dreams waiting to be realised. With Claire by my side, I felt ready to embrace it all.

CLAIRE

I glanced at the screen, my fingers hovering over the keyboard as I sent off another email. “ Jane, don’t forget to forward Marcie’s contract for the Fashion Show to her clients before you finish up for the weekend. Have a lovely one. ”

My new firm was thriving—more than I could’ve dreamed. With every client I brought on, I felt another wave of satisfaction ripple through me. Accomplishment, purpose, control. All the things I once doubted were possible, now at my fingertips.

Marcie had signed me on to handle her business contracts, and Anton followed soon after. Their ventures were keeping me busier than I thought possible. Then there were Gracie and Eilidh, both knee-deep in their novels, already hinting at representation. Even Melissa, an up-and-coming photographer, asked me to manage her growing list of clients. Juggling creative rights, business deals, and everything in between—it was my world now, and I loved every second of it.

But in the back of my mind, there was always that lingering question—what would Mum think of all this?

It’s been over two years since she passed, and sometimes it felt like the world was moving too fast without her. So much had changed. I wished she could see it.

I knew she’d be disappointed in Elizabeth’s choices, but what would she have thought of Gracie and me? Our partners were criminals—yes—but they were good men, men we loved. I believed that with all my heart.

Mum had always been on the right side of the law, a police officer through and through, steadfast in her morals. But I liked to think, in time, she’d have seen what I saw in Luca. She would’ve seen the goodness beneath the hard edges, the love that grounded him. I think she would’ve understood—understood the life we chose, the people we loved. God, I missed her. Every day.

News of Elizabeth Traynor’s retirement had spread recently, a hasty retreat from her Crown Court Judge position to avoid the fallout from her dealings with the MP and connections to Margaret and Damien Turner. Good riddance. As long as I never had to see her again or face her in court, I couldn’t care less. Marko had assured me there was no reason to believe my mum’s death had been anything but an accident, and I hated that the conniving bitch had made me think that it might not have been. I’d never forgive her.

I glanced at the clock. Gracie’s twins were being christened today, and I was over the moon to be their godmother. Luca would be standing beside me as their godfather—a surreal thought. A year ago, I never could have imagined being part of something so meaningful.

It was still early days for Luca and me. Babies weren’t on the horizon yet. Maybe one day. For now, I was more than content being a godmother and babysitting for the new additions to our ever-expanding family. Everyone seemed to be moving into a new phase of their lives, and as I thought about everything we’d overcome, a warm sense of belonging settled deep inside me.

I smiled at my reflection, smoothing down the soft fabric of my dress. Today wasn’t just about the twins, it was about celebrating all that we’d fought for, all that we had yet to experience. Standing by Luca’s side, I knew we could face anything.

I stepped into the room where Luca was waiting, looking as impossibly handsome as ever. He glanced up from his phone, and the intensity in his eyes still sent a rush of excitement through me, the same pull that had been there since the beginning.

“Ready?” he asked, his voice warm and low, full of that familiar depth that never failed to make my heart race.

I crossed the room to him, a smile playing on my lips. “More than ready.”

He grinned—a slow, knowing smile that made my stomach flutter. God, I’m so glad I gave him a chance. A year ago, I might’ve laughed at the idea. But now? Now I knew, without a doubt, he was mine, and I was his. Exactly the way it should be.

Who would’ve thought the so-called Ice Queen would fall for a Bratva enforcer with scorching intensity? But life had a funny way of bringing the unexpected.

As Luca wrapped his arm around my waist, guiding me out the door, I looked up at him and smiled. Our future was unwritten, but for the first time in my life, I wasn’t afraid of it. We had faced so many challenges already, and each one had only strengthened our bond.

Whatever came next, we would face it together. And for me, that was everything.