Epilogue
MILA
“A circus is new. Who decided to put this on?” I ask Nikolai.
We’re gathered with his friends and family at Alexei’s home.
Except, it isn’t. It’s been transformed with a bouncy house, ball pits, and even clowns.
“The thing about Alexei, you never, ever, know what to expect.” He gives me a sideways smile before tipping back his beer.
“What’s all of this for?” I’m kind of blown away that there’s even a magic show going on at one end of the yard by a clown with a giant poof of green hair.
Nikolai shrugs. “It’s his birthday. He likes to have stuff for the kids. He’s everyone’s favorite uncle.”
Jax saunters over with his wife, Sofia. I haven’t spent much time with her, but she’s much nicer than Lara.
Her maroon hair hangs over her face as she looks down at their tiny new baby, then up at me. “Did you want to hold him?”
My heart melts that she’s entrusting me with him.
I can feel Nikolai squeeze my hip lightly before I step nearer to her. “I’d love to!”
Baby Maverick is so little, I’m worried I’ll hurt him. But, holding him against my chest, just feels, well, right.
Sofia leans against the bar and brushes an errant lock behind her ear. “You’re a natural. Maybe one day, you’ll have your own.”
Jax laughs, and slaps Nikolai on the shoulder. “Better get on that, Niki,” he laughs.
I catch a glint on his eyebrow when he moves. “Did you get a new piercing?”
Jax runs his finger lightly over the gemmed rod by his temple. “Yep. It’s the kid’s birthstones. I guess when we have more I’ll get them on the other side.” He grins at Sofia and pulls her close for a kiss.
“I fared better than Alexei. Mine didn’t hurt at all.” Jax turns, and leaves to redirect Maeve from wandering too far.
His little girl looks just like him, curly dark hair.
I can see his resemblance in Elena, also. It’s so much clearer once Nikolai explained he’s her uncle.
“Did I miss anything?” Mikhail appears next to Nikolai. “I had a business call.” He squints over his mask.
Does he ever take that thing off? I wonder what he looks like.
A squawk and a flurry of pink make all of us turn to see Alexei awkwardly chasing a flamingo across the yard.
He half runs, half limps while holding his crotch. “Sheila! Wait!” he cries.
His bird flaps its wings and hops into the large kiddy pool taking up a portion of the lawn before settling into the cool water.
A grimace of pain flashes across his face as he stands at the edge. “Sheila, come here!” He demands.
Lara follows him, laughing. “Alexei, if she wants to swim, let her.”
She’s in a better mood than the last time I saw her. Much less threatening to kill me. It’s nice.
But, when she turns and sees me, the smile fades.
“There’s the secretive couple.” Her eyes flick back and forth between me and Nikolai. “I had to find out my brother got married from him?” She jerks her thumb toward Alexei who’s running lopsided circles around the edge of the blowup pool.
“Why is he limping?” I whisper to Nikolai.
He just shrugs in response and takes another sip of his beer.
Lara charges closer until she’s standing directly in front of Nikolai. “Why did her brother get to go, and not me?” She pushes him against his chest, but Nikolai doesn’t budge.
I’m just thrilled she’s not in my face. I cuddle Maverick like he’s my personal protector, warding her off by his mere presence.
“Danny almost died. He needed a vacation.” Niki smiles at her.
“You almost did too, because of her.” This time, the thumb jab goes in my direction.
Great.
“But, I still didn’t get an invite.” Lara crosses her arms and glares up at him.
Mikhail moves closer to her. “I didn’t get invited either. Don’t take it personally.”
Lara glares at him. “You rarely go to anything you’re invited to. I’m surprised you’re here, to be honest.”
Mikhail shrugs. He’s in a casual long sleeved shirt today, unlike the suits I’ve always seen him in. “I wanted to see if Nikolai survived his honeymoon. Never know with her.” He catches my eye and winks.
Nikolai sighs. “Lara, it’s done. We’re just as married as if there were a million people there.”
Her eyes well with tears.
It makes me feel terrible seeing how upset she is. I reach out, almost touching her arm. “We could always do a small ceremony here, for everyone to attend.” Maybe that will soothe her?
A loud pop startles everyone.
Jax rushes to Sofia, and Niki wraps his arm around me, while Mikhail covers Lara.
Handing Maverick back, I glance over Sofia’s shoulder to see Alexei hold up another balloon and poke it with the point of his knife.
It lets out another sharp sound.
“Alexei? What the hell, man?” Jax turns and yells at him.
Alexei walks over, his legs unnaturally spread with each step. “I’m trying to scare Sheila out.”
Jax starts laughing. “It isn’t working.” He points at the lazy circles the flamingo is doing. “Still sore? I told you not to do that shit.”
Alexei nods, then cups his crotch. “I think by next week it shouldn’t sting anymore.”
Nikolai grunts next to me. “What the hell did you do?”
With a grin wide enough to showcase his silver tooth, Alexei starts to drop his zipper. “I’ll show you.”
“No!” We all join voices in trying to stop him.
He rolls his eyes. “I saw Jax get his, but I wanted to get one, too. I just don’t have any kids, so the stones didn’t make sense.”
“So you pierced your dick? I still think you’re a dumbass.” Jax snickers over his beer before tossing the empty bottle into the garbage can.
Lara pokes Nikolai in the chest. “I’m not done. Why wasn’t I invited? Am I not a close enough family member?” A droplet runs down her cheek. “Am I not good enough?” Her lower lip trembles.
I’ve never seen this side of her.
Nikolai pulls his arm from around my waist to tug her against him. He kisses the top of her head gently. “Don’t be silly. I love you. We didn’t want a big fuss. You know me.”
A horn blows, signaling a line of servers to appear with an oversized cake and tubs of ice cream.
“Time for the birthday boy to blow out his candles!” A clown with an oversized pair of pants calls out before placing the dessert on a long table.
I glance at Nikolai, still hugging Lara and mouth “is she okay?” to him.
He gives me a tiny nod.
Alexei tugs at her arm. “Come on, Lara. Let’s get a snack. It always makes me feel better.”
She steps away from Nikolai, and wipes her eyes. But, when she looks over at the food being set out, her face pales.
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “I can’t. I just, well, I need some air.” Turning, she pulls away from his grasp and heads toward the woods.
Alexei watches her, his jaw clenched. “I’m going to get her a slice.” He turns, limping toward the clowns setting out plates.
“Should we have done something different?” I ask Nikolai, twisting my rings on my fingers.
He grabs my hand and pulls it up to his lips, kissing the gold band. “No. She’ll be fine. She just doesn’t adjust to change easily.” Moving toward the food, he tugs me with him. “We need to make sure Elena only gets one piece. She’s a sugar fiend like her Uncle Alexei.”
I’ve seen that with my own eyes. If she gets the chance, she’d put half of a bottle of syrup on her pancakes.
And, if I make the mistake of adding powdered sugar, I end up having to take her to the park to burn off all of her extra energy.
Alexei takes two servings and leaves while the rest of us sit down to enjoy the treat.
“Daddy, can I have clowns at my next birthday?” Elena asks with blue frosting smeared across her lips.
“Of course, sweetie. But, you’ll need to choose. You’ve also asked about going back to Italy and making sandcastles on the beach.” Nikolai hands her a napkin, but she just makes the mess streak across her cheek.
“Can I help you?” I ask her.
When she nods, I take a clean paper towel and dab it into a cup of water before wiping her face.
Nikolai leans close enough that his mouth touches my ear. “You’re a wonderful mom. I need to give you so many babies.” He shifts my hips on the bench seat so I can feel his hard cock digging into my side.
“I hope that’s a promise, Mr. Volkov.” I bat my lashes at him.
He lets out a low growl. “All of the babies, Mrs. Volkov.”
I’m fighting a giggle trying to help Elena when Alexei runs up to the table, panting.
He didn’t limp, he was moving so fast.
“She’s-she’s—” He gasps before grabbing his groin with a scowl.
“What is it?” Jax asks with a tinge of worry in his voice.
Alexei groans, cupping himself. “She’s gone,” he blurts. “I can’t find her.”
“What? Are you sure?” Nikolai asks over my shoulder.
Alexei nods frantically. “Her car is still here. But, she’s gone.”
“Fuck.” Mikhail stands. “Jax, Alexei, Niki, let’s sweep the area.” He turns to me, his dark eyes nearly pinpoints over his balaclava. “You guard the kids, okay?”
I nod.
It would take an army to get past me.
Twenty minutes later, all of the clowns are gathered as Mikhail grills them with a brandished pistol.
Alexei drags back to the table and slouches down. He rubs his temples with both hands, his elbows planted on the plastic surface. “I can’t believe I messed up. She’s my responsibility.”
“What do you mean? Aren’t you guys a thing?” They’re almost always together.
Alexei knots his brows. “No. I keep her safe. It’s always been that way. It’s my purpose. And, I failed.” His arms fall flat and he drops his forehead onto them.
I reach out and pat his shoulder. “She’ll turn up. She probably just went for a walk.”
He has bags under his eyes when he looks up, then past me. “The green one.”
Jumping to his feet, he whines as he runs toward Mikhail. “The magic clown. He had the green hair. Where is he?”
The man dressed with the oversized pants shakes his head. “We don’t have anyone like that. We thought he was a special hire for the gig.” He holds his palms up toward Mikhail, his painted face exaggerating the scared look.
Nikolai and Jax reappear.
I can tell by the look on Nikolai’s face, it isn’t good.
“We found drag marks, and this.” Jax holds up a single shoe.
Nikolai runs his hand over his jaw. “She’s been taken.”