Chapter 40 Raisa
RAISA
From the church, we went to the reception hall that Gabriella insisted upon.
Now that Konstantin was dead and the Cartel wasn’t causing as much trouble about her marriage to Luka—or whatever flavor of a grievance they wanted to whine about this week—we were more or less free to party and celebrate.
No more hiding in the house or feeling stuck there.
“I can’t believe we’re moving tomorrow,” Ivan said, holding my hand as we sat at the head table. He lifted our hands and kissed the back of mine.
“I can.” I laughed once. “As much as I love being at Luka’s and being around everyone else, I am so excited to have our own space. Our own home.”
He blew a raspberry. “Yeah, right. Like you won’t be over there all the time with Gabriella.”
I shrugged. “Or she can visit us.”
Knowing I had a friend and a family was more than I ever could’ve hoped for.
It seemed like an entire new existence, so different from the struggle of the years when I was alone with Lev, looking over my shoulder and so scared of my father finding me.
Of not knowing whether Luka Dubinin would ever approve of me as his nephew’s partner.
Being able to settle into one home, without having the worry about relocating in the back of my mind, was a blessing.
Lev would never have to stress about packing up and being ready to just go.
I would never need to always keep one foot out the door, prepared to start over in another new place where I knew no one else.
I would live with Ivan at that home near Luka’s for as long as we wanted to.
Forever.
“Lev’s excited about his new room, too,” Ivan said.
I smiled, recalling how thrilled he was when we went house-hunting together. He kept asking if this was for real, if we’d all live here as a family.
“And I’m also excited to have… privacy to start on that baby sister he’s hoping for,” I admitted.
He took hold of my chin and tugged me closer. That dark desire in his eyes intoxicated me. Beneath the table, he slid his hand up the slit of my wedding gown.
Yeah, he was excited to have me alone in bed, too.
“Ahem.”
I sighed and pulled back as Emil joined us. As much of a playboy as he was, I figured he’d be dancing all night and acting like a Casanova picking up women to take home. Ivan noticed that he wasn’t doing that either.
“So. You managed to make it to the wedding on time…” I teased.
He shrugged. “I got a little tied up.”
“With what?” Ivan asked.
Emil smiled wickedly and winked.
“I think you mean with who.”
“That agent?” Ivan asked, raising both brows.
I laughed. Talk about enemies to lovers in the making…
I doubted he’d settle with this agent. Or anyone. He was truly the bachelor of these Dubinin leaders.
Instead of giving any details, he began to talk to Ivan about projects he’d be in charge of now that he was stepping back from being on the front line. I loved that he’d sacrifice like that. To be a family man and my Mafia man.
If I ever needed a reason to persuade myself that he was my man, that was it. He could balance and adjust the commitment he gave Luka and the organization as well as me and Lev.
Gabriella came to me, all smiles.
“Now this is a wedding.” She beamed.
“Hey, we can find someone for Emil next,” I teased.
He rolled his eyes at me, proving that while he was engaged in one conversation with Ivan, he still had his ears open and was listening in to us. That was how a spy worked.
“Or… instead of trying to play matchmaker, you and I can keep trying to start up our women’s charity. For pregnant women and young mothers on the run.”
I nodded, more than ready to give back. Now that I had the Dubinin wealth and influence behind me, I was equipped to do more good for others. For women like me, when I was alone and scared about bringing a baby into the world and keeping him from the cruelties of life.
“We most certainly will focus on starting that foundation.” Maybe the more I gave back, the less I would feel guilty about killing those I had.
I didn’t regret it, since it was all for the sake of self-defense, but still, it was a grave thing to have participated in.
I’d never have to do that again, though.
My husband would always stand up to defend us.
“But first…” Ivan stood, reaching for my hand to help me up. “First, Emil and Alexsei will babysit Lev so you and I can go home and celebrate, just the two of us.”
I stood, grinning at him as I hurried to escape with him. A warm thrill filled me up, and I knew this would never end.
It would always be like this, me and him, a perfect match.
We ran once we reached the hallway outside the massive reception room.
But this time, we weren’t leaving each other.
We would always run to each other.
Or together.