Mikhail Epilogue- One Month Later

It had been a helluva month for us since the fire. However, despite it, most of it hadn't been terrible. Sure, the part where we lost the house due to a crazy woman was bad. It wasn't until she was fully questioned by the police, then evaluated by a court-appointed psychiatrist, that the extent of Laura's delusions and obsession were discovered.

She had truly started it as a way to get rid of her competition. In her mind, she'd failed to lure me away from Tajah, and since she hadn't, she would rather I be dead than with someone other than her. Apparently, she'd been obsessed with me for a long time, but never cracked or whatever, until I broke it off with Tessa and didn't end up with her.

The night of the fire, she'd followed us from Lustz and spied on us. She waited until she was sure we were deeply asleep, then started the fire at the front of the house, using gasoline she had in her trunk. She'd gone as far as to block the back door so it couldn't be opened. That's why I had to use a stool to smash out the glass in the French doors, then kick out the wooden framing when it wouldn't open for me. Every time I thought of how close I came to losing Tajah, I would get nauseous.

Laura had been the one making the complaints and we were right to be suspicious of the second one who came, the electrical guy. He knew she was the one to file the complaint. He was a guy who lived in her apartment complex, who was interested in her. She used him to get information by acting like her boss, me, was shady. A little flirting on her part, and he'd been more than happy to "help" her. He had no idea she was crazy and wanted me. He'd been appalled when confronted with evidence of it. I doubted he'd ever let a woman use him like that again.

We finally settled the matter based on Otto's suggestion. If she pled guilty due to insanity, she would avoid prison for arson and attempted murder charges, but she'd have to spend an extensive amount of time in a locked psychiatric facility receiving treatment. They were estimating she could be there for years. As long as she didn't get out and come after us or anyone else again, we were satisfied. She was sick and needed help. Prison wouldn't give her that. The remaining staff at Lustz were recovering from finding out what one of their peers did. They were still amazed none of them knew she was unbalanced. We'd hired a replacement for Laura who I thought would work out well.

An additional bright spot in my opinion and Tajah's was Tessa. She was no longer around Lustz to cause issues for anyone, let alone us. After her tantrum with Sinner and Sylvia, she stayed away for a few weeks, then canceled her membership. I heard through the gossips who knew about not only my club but the others that she'd been going to one of the lesser clubs. I wished her and them well. I only hoped she knew what she was doing.

Our friends and family were appalled when they heard what happened. Tamara had been hysterical, and it took a couple of weeks to get her to stop calling Tajah several times a day to check on us. Matvey offered to have Laura taken care of, but I passed up on the offer. He agreed to not do it as long as Tajah and I came to his birthday party next month. We happily agreed. I informed him he didn't need to use that to get us to come. He laughed.

Cady had sorta come around when she heard what happened. At least she was back to talking to Tajah, and she and I had more than a few talks and she had been to our apartment a few times. She apologized for reacting the way she did, and I accepted it. However, she still wasn't confessing what had set her off that night. Tajah was convinced she would tell her. I wasn't sure. Although, it might be gotten out of her by Hoss. He'd taken an interest in her and it didn't appear to be waning, despite her ignoring and rebuffing his attempts. I was enjoying watching him and her spar. I'd never seen him act like this around a woman, ever. I couldn't wait to see how it turned out.

On the really positive side of things, with the destruction of the house, it left the property a clean slate once I had the burned remains removed. We'd talked about what I brought up to her that evening before the fire, about my desire to move there with her. I was worried she'd be against it after the fire, but she surprised me. She grew excited at the prospect, and we were in the process of having a new house designed. Once it was finished, which wouldn't be too long, we'd get our builder going on it. I'd asked Tank, Payne's club brother who oversaw the club's construction company, AW Construction, if they would be willing to do it. I knew they tried to stick close to home, but I knew they did quality work and I trusted them. He assured me he could make it happen.

I sighed in relief as I crawled into bed with my dove. Being able to go to bed with her every night and to wake up to her every morning made me wish I'd met her years ago. We could've been together for ages. Although she assured me it happened when it was meant to. If we had met years ago, who knows if we would've both been ready for each other. I was convinced that I would never settle down back then, and she'd been raw from her ex-husband's betrayal, so maybe she was right.

I smiled when she gave me a sweet smile and laid her head on my chest. Her hand came up to rest on my stomach. My greatest joy this past month shined up at me. On her left ring finger was the engagement ring I gave her a week ago. After surviving what we did, I didn't want to wait any longer than I had to before making her my wife. Luckily, she said yes, so I didn't have to get down on my knees and beg. I would've done it, too. I picked up her hand and kissed the ring.

"You're still celebrating popping the question and me saying yes, aren't you?" she asked in an amused tone.

"Damn right I am. Do you know how humiliating it would've been to go down on my knees and have you say no and have to tell everyone," I teased her.

"I would've never done that! Stop it. You know I love you, and you've made me so happy I can't think straight. You asking me was the beautiful part. I see it as a gift. And since you did something so wonderful for me, I want to do something I hope is equally as wonderful for you. Well, for both of us. Really." She gave me an expectant look.

"Babe, you're marrying me by next year. We're building our dream home soon. Our lives are pretty damn perfect in my opinion. What could you give me that would make it better?"

She reached under her pillow and came out with something in her hand. It took a couple of moments for it to register what she held. When it did, I sat up and grabbed it away from her. I was afraid to ask, but I did anyway.

"Are you meaning what I think you're meaning?"

"If you're thinking yesterday was the last day of that packet of birth control pills, and I didn't renew it, then yes, I mean it. So Master Misha, what would you say to us practicing so we can be sure when the time is right, you can give me our first baby? Unless you've changed your mind."

My answer was a deep rumbling growl before I pounced on her. As she giggled, I kissed up her neck to her mouth. When I reached it, I paused long enough to tell her. "Your dragon is ready to play, my Dove. Prepare yourself. You'll be pregnant before the month is out."

As soon as I said it, I sealed my mouth to hers and kissed her hungrily. I knew how we'd be spending most of our down time. She'd better get as many naps as she could.