Epilogue

Kimberly

One Year Later

“H appy birthday dear Oleg, happy birthday to you!” the room chants, and my darling chubby-cheeked boy giggles, thrilled to be the center of attention as he blows out the candle on his birthday cake.

I look around at the sea of smiling faces, my heart full. Thomas and Grace are here with the twins, they both adore Oleg, treating him like a brother.

“Kimmy!” Grace calls out, approaching with Thomas at her side. She hugs me and steps back, “You look positively glowing, I can’t believe how quickly you snapped back into shape after Oleg, or that he’s already a year old! How time flies!” she says warmly, looking over at the children playing.

“Oh there’s still some baby weight, trust me, just these designer clothes hide a multitude of sins,” I reply with a smile. In truth, I love the new curves that motherhood brings and so does Yaroslav.

“So good to see you Kimberly, or should I say the new head honcho of the Volkov pack,” Thomas says with a grin, affectionately giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Hardly!” I laugh, “I don’t think decorating Yaroslav’s clubs and restaurants counts as being a head honcho, but I sure let him know who’s the boss when it comes to Oleg and the household,” I reply with a wink.

I must admit, I’ve been enjoying working with Yaroslav. He semi jokes that thanks to me, he could turn the businesses legitimate because they’re doing so well. Legitimizing has been something we’ve discussed for the future of our kids, but right now, everything is so calm, and business is doing well, we don’t want to risk what we have. Plus, though he might not admit it, I’m not sure Yaroslav could handle being squeaky clean. He was made for this job.

“You bet we women are the bosses!” Grace chimes in. “I hope that now Oleg is getting a bit older you’re still planning to work with me on some projects? I wouldn’t want you to abandon me to work solely for that husband of yours.”

“Never! I can’t wait to work with you, in fact, let’s get a meeting in the diary soon, perhaps I can start on a part-time basis on some of your smaller projects?”

“Sounds perfect,” she replies with a smile.

“I’m afraid I must pull my beautiful wife away to go say hello to some of your other guests, I’m sure you will need to play hostess too,” Thomas says knowingly.

“Of course, I’ll catch up with you both later,” I reply.

He’s right, I should go around and speak to more people, but right now I just want to drink everything in and enjoy watching our loved ones getting along and celebrating Oleg.

Artem, Sergei, Ivan, and Andrey look dapper in their suits, they’re already arguing over who gets to take Oleg on his first fishing and hunting trips or to teach him how to fight. Even Filip Nowak flew in for the occasion. He brought Oleg a racing horse, a ridiculous present for a one-year-old, but generous nevertheless. His wife is with him, a rather shy Russian girl with big blue eyes and a petite frame, she seems nice though. I’m hoping once she overcomes her shyness we will get along.

David is standing close by, shyly holding his girlfriend’s hand. She’s a tiny little thing with spiky black hair, heavy black eyeliner, and plenty of piercings. She looks tough but is a sweetheart and seems to genuinely love David. David is besotted. I’m so happy he found love. They met at an art gallery I took him to and hit it off immediately. Now he’s found the right balance of medication and has become an uncle, David hasn’t had an episode in months. He’s thriving working with Yaroslav, though he says he doesn’t have the stomach for some of the darker sides of his business.

I give him a smile and a wave which he returns cheerfully. They start to walk over to say hello but Gran intercepts them, no doubt to give David’s girlfriend the third degree. She and David get along like a house on fire, he’s become like another son to her, as well as Yaroslav. It’s her first time meeting his new girlfriend, I’m sure she’ll make the poor girl work to convince her she’s good enough for him.

Gran is still living with us and doing well. It seems with the right care and a grandson she adores, she’s been going from strength to strength. Even the doctors are impressed by her progress. Of course, there are still dark days, but we get through them as a family. Just as I’m about to head over to rescue poor David and his girlfriend from Gran’s interrogation, I feel Yaroslav’s solid presence beside me as he slips his hand into mine.

“Everyone looks so happy,” he says thoughtfully.

I look up at my husband and smile. “They do. We’re lucky to have such wonderful friends, and I’m very lucky to have such an amazing husband,” I say.

Ours may not be a traditional romance, but it works for us. I love him passionately and more every day. He treats me like a queen, and I want for nothing.

He smiles and kisses my hand, “I’m the lucky one,” he says lovingly before looking over at Oleg playing.

My gaze follows his, and we adoringly watch our happy son for a moment. “How about we try to make a little brother or sister for Olezhka?” Yaroslav suggests thoughtfully.

I’m not surprised by his comment. He adores being a father and dotes on Oleg.

“I think that sounds like a wonderful idea,” I reply truthfully, already picturing a cherubic little sibling for Oleg to play with.

Yaroslav beams and leans in to kiss me. Oleg sees this and smiles, holding out his arms and demanding to be picked up. Yaroslav laughs, walking over and swooping his son up into his arms. I follow, showering Oleg with kisses as he giggles in delight.

At this moment, I feel like the luckiest woman on earth.

My happily ever after might involve blood, violence, and more than a little law-breaking, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

The End

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