Epilogue - Akim
Inhaling the salty air of Malibu is a dream. I stand on the terrace of our huge beach house villa, letting the sun shine on my face, marveling at the rugged coastline view and turquoise jewel of a sea. I purchased this place in my early twenties with the hopes of enjoying it every so often, but with my heavy responsibilities in the Bratva, time swept me deeper into the underbelly of the crime-ridden city, and I was never able to visit as much as I wanted.
And as I stand on the terrace watching Kiara stroll the shoreline in her white sun dress, her face extra tanned from the sun, barefoot and happy, I realize I should have come here earlier. It’s here I can properly relax. I feel the heaviness of my job dissolving and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. I’m not operating on high-octane adrenaline, looking over my shoulder to see who’s trying to take my throne. At least not for the next little while. Kiara encouraged me to switch my phone off for the afternoon, and that’s a big deal for me, but the world will turn without me for a little while, I figure.
If I wasn’t with her, it would be on, and I’d likely be working. A broad smile sweeps across my face for the first time in months as I watch Kiara strolling with her feet in the water. She’s a real-life mermaid walking on the sand, and I get to bear witness to her magic. I’m more grateful than I’ve ever been for her in my life.
This is what it feels like to be at ease. I have everything I never knew I wanted or needed in Kiara, and she’s transformed my life for the better. After the fire, I told her everything, bearing my soul. She’s the only person I’ve talked about my mother to, and what really happened in my early childhood days.
And I gave her the option. That’s what her love did to me. It made me want to make it real, not forced. I smirk as I think back to the night I spilled my life story to her, preparing for her to be repulsed by the man I was.
“I have to protect you through this street war, and I can’t do that if you leave. But if you want to go freely back to your life afterwards, I’m giving you the option to. No strings attached.” Giving her that speech was one of the most painful things I had to do, but to me, if I was going to be married to Kiara, I wanted to give it my all. And understanding all the Bratva is, the killings, the rivalries, the betrayals, the dirty games of power and destruction… it can strip you of every shred of humanity you own.
That’s what it’s done to me year by year, but she stuck by me.
“You’re a bigger fool than I think you are.” Her pretty blue eyes, which match the Malibu sea stared back at me in protest, and I got the hint.
“Kiara. I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you. I’ve been bred a certain way, and I don’t know—I don’t think I can be anything else.” I told her the damning truth, and with her eyes glittering in determination, she accepted the challenge.
“Did you say you love me?”
“Yes. All I care about is us and our future,” I told her.
“Then you’re stupid to send me away. We’ve come this far, and I love you too. And sure, in the beginning I loved to hate you, but not anymore. We can be together. All you have to do is let me in.”
And from the night of my confession, we’ve built a steady fortress of love. We might have won the war against Ethan and the American Mafia faction, but more are coming… I can feel it, and I’m getting tired, wanting a different life now that I’ve found Kiara.
I could watch her all day, but she calls me down to the water. Smiling, I join her, the light breeze welcome as I lock my fingers into hers, kissing her nose. “Hey, dushka. You look like a mermaid,” I compliment.
“Thank you. I feel like one. It’s so nice here. I absolutely love it.” She sighs, inhaling deeply as I watch her, mesmerized by her beauty. She brings me a sense of peace I’ve never felt, and I vow to be the same for her.
“Me too. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so relaxed, but we’ve needed this trip. Especially after everything,” I say solemnly, hating to think about the fire. The limp in my walk hasn’t quite healed, but it will in time. And if I had to save Kiara again, I would all over again.
“Yes. Everything. It’s good you were able to get your new bars open.”
“You know, I thought it would excite me to open them, but I don’t have the heart for the city as much as I used to. It’s growing old for me.” Chicago’s been the Bratva’s headquarters since I was a little boy with my father, but I long for a simpler life like the one I had with my mother back in Moscow. No, not poor, but simple, peaceful, like I am now with Kiara.
“That’s why I’m glad you sold the penthouse. It’s better living outside the city, don’t you think? And better for what’s coming.”
Nodding my head, I agree with her. One of the decisions made after the fire was for us to leave the city. Not only for safety reasons, but for sanity. The sweet roar of the sea is music to my ears. “What do you mean better for what’s coming?” I ask her with curiosity, the sun sparkling in her eyes as the wind blows her hair around her face.
“Um, I have something to tell you.” A nervous smile appears on her face as I stop her, holding her hands with a smile to reassure her.
“Whatever it is? I can handle it. Is it that you’re going to put spices in the seafood tonight?” I joke as she giggles.
“No silly!” She slaps me on the forearm where a burn scar still exists from the fire.
“I’m pregnant.”
Stunned, I stop completely, the water lapping at her feet as I look at her. “You’re pregnant?”
“Yes. I’m four weeks along. I did the pee on the stick thingy and the test came out positive. I wanted to confirm first. Are you happy?” Her voice travels over the water, a sense of happiness swelling inside me.
“You make me happy, but this—our child coming into the world makes me happier.” I hug her tight, kissing her hair, making a silent vow in my head to protect her and our child, leaving behind the shadows of our old life to embrace a possible new future.
I break the embrace, kissing her tenderly, my life being a dream lately. “I’ve got a request.”
“Name it.” I’ve been the hardened man for the majority of my life, but Kiara brings out a side that’s only reserved for her. She deserves that part of me.
“I want to move here when we can. I don’t want my child to grow up in the Bratva. You have all these other talents besides weapon trafficking. You can open bars and seafood restaurants here. A new challenge.”
Sighing, I contemplate the chances of the Pakhan agreeing. “I’m up for it, and I don’t want my child to be a part of it either. I want them to have a life I didn’t. We can at least try part time to start.”
Kiara beams as we negotiate the terms of our life together, setting new rules. She’s tamed the beast inside me, and now I’m not sure I need him anymore. “I love you, Mr. Utkin.”
“And I love you, Mrs. Utkin. You’re all mine.”
“And I’m happy to be yours. Come on, let’s skinny-dip!”
That’s my Kiara. Always up for an impulsive adventure. Thank you, wife, for bringing my soul back to life.
*****
THE END