Epilogue II
GABBY
Three months later…
The car glides through the cemetery gates just as the sun starts slipping under into a late-summer afternoon glow of gold and violet. I’m tucked into the back seat beside Sasha, while Bogdan is at the wheel with hands steady and eyes forward.
Sasha’s thumb strokes my knuckles slowly, protectively, like I secretly love.
“I’ll give you both ten minutes, or so. Then I’ll come join you.”
I nod. I may put up the occasional stink about him shadowing me, as if Ruth O’Donnell might emerge from the gates of hell at any moment. But I love the way he’s always looking after us.
“Thank you.”
He pulls back, studying me like he wants to kiss me and shield me from the world at the same time. After all these years, it still amazes me how someone so terrifying can look at me like that.
Bogdan pulls to a smooth stop at the path entrance. He twists around, nodding, his eyes hidden beneath his large mirrored aviator sunglasses.
“Take your time. I’ll keep the engine warm. And if he tries anything…”
“He won’t,” I say. “At least, I hope not.
I squeeze Sasha’s hand one more time, then step out into the balmy warmth of the early evening. The car idles behind me as I make my way up the small hill toward her.
Toward Mom.
Halfway up, my phone buzzes. I slip it out and see that it’s Angie, of course.
I swipe it open, a smile on my face before I even see what she’s sent.
It’s a photo. Her on the couch, hair in a messy bun, Lena dangling upside down from her arm like a little gremlin.
Nikolai’s off to the side in the middle of a wild laugh, marker colors up and down his arms. The baby bump on Angie’s belly is obvious.
The caption: The kids are staging a coup. It’s getting dangerous. Send snacks.
I chuckle, typing a text back: Gummy bear peace bribes are in the pantry. Use wisely.
I tuck my phone away, the smile still lingering on my lips as I approach the headstone.
Louisa Kelly. My mother.
I approach the stone with soft, reverent steps. When I’m in front of it, I kneel, gently brushing away the leaves from the base.
“Hi, Mom.”
I sit there like that, staring at her name, her dates. It’s not long before a presence appears next to me. I don’t have to look to know who it is.
“I never know what to say to her.”
Peter sighs. “I was the same way. My first few times, I simply came here and sat, thinking of her. After a few more visits, words came to mind. I tell her about you. About the twins. I like to imagine that those are her favorite subjects. They’re certainly mine.”
I keep my eyes on the stone. A tear forms, but I quickly wipe it away.
“She would be happy to see you today,” he says. He kneels next to me, giving me space. Then he places a gorgeous bouquet of roses on the stone.
“Would she?” I ask. “Or would she wonder why the hell I haven’t run like she did?”
He exhales, the sound old, weary. “She ran because of me. Because of the man I was, maybe the man I still am. I don’t blame her.
” Peter turns, spots Sasha’s car. “But you don’t have a man like me.
You have a man like him.” His words drop like a pebble into still water.
I don’t know what to say. “I looked into your mother’s life.
Hired some men to follow the trail she’d left. ”
I cock my head toward him. “You did?”
He nods. “A few months ago. Wasn’t sure when to tell you. It’s a long story. But it was clear she cared for you deeply until the day she died. She lived for you, breathed for you. You were her everything.”
My heart feels like it’s in a vise grip. Tears form in my eyes. I stand slowly, placing my hand on my belly. “She might be furious to know that I ran right back to the life she tried to save me from.”
He rises next to me. “Maybe. Or maybe she’d be relieved to know that we are back in one another’s lives and have found something like peace.”
I don’t answer. I’m not sure what Peter and I really have. But it’s something.
He clears his throat. “There’s another reason I asked you here.”
My heart jumps. “Okay.”
“I’m finalizing a restructuring of the Bratva.
A permanent merger. Not just of Dandelion and my legitimate assets, but of everything.
Johan and Sasha will lead a unified house going forward, in all ways.
They will have the opportunity to make everything legitimate.
And I imagine they’ll take this opportunity. ”
“You’re merging the Morozovs and the Orlovs?”
“For good,” he says. “No more factions. No more wars. I want stability for you, for my grandchildren. And if that means stepping away from the seat of power, taking a… let’s call it an early retirement, then so be it.”
My breath shakes. This was bigger than anything I’d expected. A true merger means peace for good.
“But,” he adds, lifting a finger, “I don’t want Sasha to know just yet. He’ll make it complicated.”
Before I can respond, gravel crunches behind us. We both turn. Sasha is striding towards us with a lethal grace he can never quite turn off. His gaze sweeps over me first before locking onto Peter.
“What exactly,” he says, his tone low and sharp, “shouldn’t be told to me yet?”
Oh, holy hell.
Peter lifts his chin. Sasha steps closer. The tension between them thickens like fog.
“Sasha,” I say quickly, “just wait.”
His eyes flick to me, and beneath all the fire and fury is the same question he always asks when he sees me—are you alright?
“What is he hiding now?” he demands.
Peter glances at me. I inhale, steady myself. Then I reach forward, placing Sasha’s hand on my belly.
He goes still. “You’re…” His voice fails him.
Out of the corner of my vision, I watch as Peter’s eyes widen.
I nod, tears stinging my eyes. “I’m pregnant again.”
For a moment he just stands there, his hand pressed to my belly, breath shaking like it’s taking all he’s got not to fall apart in front of Peter.
Finally, he exhales, drops his forehead to mine and whispers, “Gabriella, my God.” His other hand cups my cheek, his thumb trembling.
Behind him, Peter looks away.
Sasha kisses me, soft, reverent. “Another child,” he breathes. “You’re giving me another child.”
“We’re giving each other one,” I whisper back.
The moment hangs in the air. After a time, Peter clears his throat. “Apologies for the interruption,” he says. “But I think this calls for a celebration—on me.”
“Yeah,” I say. “You’re right.”
Sasha kisses me one more time, then weaves his hand into mine. Together, the three of us start back toward the car.
“Bogdan is going to freak out,” I say.
“He’ll play it cool,” Sasha replies. “But I’m sure he will. On the inside, at least.”
Peter moves to my side. “Congratulations, my daughter.”
I purse my lips. “Thanks, Papa.”
Sasha, hearing what was said, smiles just a bit. “Let’s go home.”
And with his hand in mine, beneath the golden summer sky, we do.
The End