Epilogue
Drago
The morning sun pours through the glass doors like it owns the place. Like it’s finally decided to stop trying to punish us.
The sea is a sheet of blue beyond the terrace, the pool glinting, the air warm enough that I can breathe without my chest tightening like I’m waiting for a gunshot.
And Lily is in my arms, barefoot on marble, wearing a silk robe that barely clings to her skin, her hair piled on top of her head as if she threw it up without thinking.
She’s smiling. Actually smiling. Not the brave smile she wore when she was trying not to fall apart.
A real one.
The kind that belongs to a woman who is loved the way she should have been loved her entire life.
“Okay,” she says, narrowing her eyes at me as we sway slowly in the living room. “First dance practice is going suspiciously well.”
My hands settle on her waist. “That’s because you’re dancing with me.”
She snorts. “I’m a ballerina.”
“And I’m devastatingly talented.” I lie.
I’ve actually found something I am awful at.
“Drago,” she laughs, “you nearly tripped over your own foot.”
“I was testing the floor,” I deadpan.
Her laugh grows louder, and she presses her face into my chest, shoulders shaking.
I kiss the top of her head, my mouth lingering there.
“She’s laughing at you,” Conan calls from the kitchen in a tone that suggests he’s been waiting his whole life for this moment.
“I can hear that,” I reply without looking away from Lily.
Declan is by the island, already dressed as if this were a royal wedding rather than a backyard ceremony in Monaco.
Finn is beside him, staring at the pastries like he’s fighting demons.
Rowan is leaning against the counter with his arms crossed, Reggie is on the couch pretending he isn’t emotional, and Isabella is spinning in circles in a little dress, living her best life like she hasn’t seen half the darkness the rest of us have.
The girls are all upstairs getting ready before they start helping Lily.
The whole house is full.
The Quinns flew in last night and somehow made it feel like they’d always belonged here. Like they didn’t cross continents. Like family doesn’t have borders.
And the rest of them are on their way here now. Except Enzo. He’s gone off-grid for a while, and it’s left all of us a bit on edge. Because whatever the fuck is going down has the potential to explode everything around us. But that isn’t for today.
Today is about Lily and how much I fucking love this woman.
She lifts her chin and smirks up at me. “Your brothers are staring.”
“They’re not my brothers,” I murmur, brushing my thumb across the underside of her bump.
She’s showing now.
Our future is right there between us.
“They’re yours too,” I correct quietly.
Her eyes soften. “That means they are your brothers,” she whispers.
I lean down, my mouth brushing her lips. “Then they’re still staring.”
She giggles. “It’s because I’m finally taming you.”
Conan makes a choking sound. “Jesus Christ.”
Finn mutters, “I knew this day would come.”
Declan sips his coffee like he’s trying not to smile. “No one is taming Drago.”
Lily hums, innocent. “He made me green juice this morning and then massaged my feet. Even in between the toes.”
Reggie’s head snaps up. “He did fucking what?”
“Yep,” Lily says sweetly.
“Drago,” Rowan says, voice full of accusation, “you’ve changed.”
I shrug. “I have priorities.”
Conan points to Lily’s feet. “That was way too much information. Actually, it would have been less gross if you started getting it on in front of us.”
Lily sticks her tongue out at him, then looks back at me, lips curling. “Okay, concentrate,” she says, stepping back. “Dip me.”
My brows lift. “Dip you?”
“Yes.”
I stare at her.
“I am not sure it’s safe for me to attempt that, Lily.”
She gasps. “It’s our wedding day. I deserve a dramatic dip.”
I glance at Declan like he’ll save me.
He doesn’t.
He just says, “Do it.”
Traitor.
I exhale, slide my hand behind her back, and slowly dip her.
Lily squeals, then laughs, gripping my shoulders as I keep her steady. “See?” she whispers, eyes sparkling. “You’ve got this.”
I bring her back upright, and her nose brushes mine. “So do you,” I murmur.
Her smile turns soft. “Are you nervous?” she asks quietly.
I look at her bump, then her eyes, then her mouth.
“I’m always nervous,” I admit, quiet enough that only she can hear. “Because I finally have something I can’t lose.”
Her expression cracks for a second. Then she cups my face. “You won’t. Not ever again.”
A beat of silence passes. Then Isabella plows into Lily’s legs like a tiny wrecking ball.
“Auntie Lily!” she announces proudly. “I’m gonna throw flowers everywhere!”
Lily laughs. “Is that the plan?”
“Yes,” Isabella says, offended that Lily even asked. “Uncle Drago said I can.”
I blink. “I said you can throw them down the aisle.”
Isabella’s eyes widen. “That is everywhere.”
Declan sighs like he’s accepted his fate. “Let her,” he mutters.
Lily looks at me, amusement blooming. “You heard him,” she whispers. “The boss said yes.”
I groan. “I created a monster.”
“You married into monsters,” Conan says brightly.
Lily beams. “Lucky me.”
“I need to go get ready,” she whispers, and her voice wobbles just slightly.
I cup her cheek. “You okay?”
She nods. “I’m just… happy.”
That word still hits like a miracle.
“Go,” I murmur, kissing her softly. “Hallie will boss you around. Bella will cry. Charlotte will pretend she won’t, but she will.”
“Excuse you,” Charlotte calls from the hallway, already in a dress that looks lethal. “I am not crying today.”
Hallie appears behind her.
“You’re crying,” Hallie says immediately.
Charlotte glares. “I’m not.”
“You literally look like you’re about to fight someone,” Bella adds.
Charlotte’s gaze flicks to me. “I will.”
“I know,” I reply calmly.
Lily laughs and presses a kiss to my cheek. “Don’t get emotional without me,” she teases.
I smirk. “I don’t get emotional.”
She arches a brow. “You cried when I sneezed last week.”
“That was allergy-related,” I mutter.
She giggles, then turns and follows the girls down the hall, Isabella trotting after them with a basket of petals like she’s carrying the crown jewels.
The second Lily disappears, the house shifts.
Still light.
Still warm.
But my chest tightens anyway.
Because this day means everything.
I head upstairs and knock once before pushing open a guest room door.
Lev is sitting on the edge of the bed, shirt half-buttoned, his posture straighter than it has any right to be after what he survived.
His face is still a little paler than it used to be. His body is still healing.
But his eyes… His eyes are alive.
And he’s wearing a suit like he’s going to war.
He glances up at me as I step inside. “Boy,” he says dryly.
I snort. “I think you mean son.”
Lev huffs a laugh, then winces like even that costs him.
I move closer instantly. “Don’t—”
“I’m fine,” he cuts in, but his eyes soften as he says it.
I stand in front of him, hands in my pockets, trying not to look at the scar at his collar where the hospital line had been. Trying not to remember him bleeding out on my floor.
“You should have called me up here. I could have helped you,” I mutter.
Lev rolls his eyes. “It’s my daughter’s wedding; you have other priorities.”
That alone nearly breaks me.
I clear my throat. “How are you feeling?”
He studies me for a long moment, like he’s about to say something brutal. Then he says, “Like I got shot.”
I bark out a laugh.
Lev smirks. “There’s my boy,” he mutters.
I step forward and adjust his tie, because he’s doing it wrong and because I need to do something with my hands that isn’t gripping the memory of losing him.
Then he speaks again, lower. “She okay?”
I nod immediately. “She’s perfect.”
Lev’s eyes narrow. “You’re taking care of her?”
“With everything I have,” I promise.
Lev leans back slightly, nodding once as he accepts it. Then his gaze flicks down my chest. “You’re nervous,” he adds.
“I’m not nervous,” I lie.
Lev hums. “You’re terrified.”
I glare at him, and he smiles like he’s won. “She loves you,” he says, simple and blunt. “And you love her.”
My chest tightens again. “That’s the whole problem,” I mutter.
Lev’s brows lift. “Problem?”
I exhale through my nose, looking away. “She’s everything.”
Lev’s gaze stays on me. Then he reaches out, not as strong as he used to be, and grabs my wrist.
That familiar grip.
The one that used to mean danger. Now it means something else.
Family.
“Listen to me,” he says quietly. “You’re not the man who brought death to my door.” My stomach drops. “You’re the man who brought my daughter back to life.”
My throat burns.
He squeezes my wrist once. “Don’t waste it.”
I swallow hard. “I won’t.”
Lev nods, and then his mouth twitches. “And if you ever make her cry—”
I chuckle. “Lev, she cries at dog videos.”
“Proud of you,” he murmurs. “Son.”
That nearly takes me out. I look down, blinking hard. “Thank you for everything,” I manage.
Lev scoffs. “For what?”
“For saving me. For accepting how much I love your daughter,” I whisper.
He goes quiet.
Then he nods once, gruff. “Yeah. Well.”
I exhale, then lean down and grip his shoulder carefully. “I’m glad you’re here,” I say, and my voice is raw.
Lev’s hand lifts to my forearm. “Wouldn’t miss it,” he mutters.
Then, as if he can’t handle the softness for more than two seconds—
He adds, “Try not to trip on the aisle.”
I bark out a laugh. “Go fuck yourself.”
And when he smiles, I swear to God, that heals something in me.
The backyard is transformed. White flowers, soft drapery, sunlight spilling over everything like gold. Chairs line the aisle, the ocean behind the altar stretching endlessly.
And everyone is here.
The Quinns. The Falcones, The Volkovs. Even the Cowboys I never expected to see in Monaco.
Frankie and his men stand like security, but are smiling like proud uncles.
Mikhail and his guys are trying to look intimidating while holding drinks with little cocktail umbrellas.
Jax is leaning against a pillar with that lazy grin like he doesn’t belong in a suit.
Kids are weaving between adults, laughing like this is just a normal day.
Like we’re just… people.
Not mafia.
Not monsters.
Just family.
I stand at the end of the aisle, hands clasped behind my back, staring out at the sea.
Breathing.
Waiting.
Declan is beside me, calm as ever.
“You good?” he murmurs.
I nod once. “No.”
He smirks. “Same.”
Then the music starts.
Every breath catches.
Because Lev appears first, walking slow and steady, his arm linked with Lily’s.
And Lily…
Lily is glowing. She steals my fucking breath away with a single glance.
White dress flowing around her, hair down in soft waves, her bump the sweetest curve beneath the fabric.
Her eyes are shining.
Not with fear.
With love.
With joy.
With life.
Lev walks her down the aisle, and it’s the perfect moment for them both.
And I feel it.
How hard he fought to be here. How hard she fought to get him back. How hard we all fought to deserve this.
By the time she reaches me, I swear my heart is outside my chest.
Lily turns her face and kisses his cheek. “Thank you,” she mouths to him, and I see Lev’s jaw clench like he’s trying not to cry in front of everyone.
Then Lily turns to me, her eyes locking onto mine. And the world narrows to her.
Only her.
She steps close enough that I can breathe her in. “I love you,” she whispers, like it’s just for me.
I swallow hard, my eyes burning. “I love you more,” I tell her back.
Hallie appears beside her, sniffling, and takes the blue bouquet from Lily’s hands. And goes back to sit with the rest of the girls. Even Roxy is here with tears streaming down her face.
Lily’s fingers slide into mine.
And as I look at her—my wife-to-be, my future, the mother of my child—I feel it in my bones.
I shouldn’t be standing here. I shouldn’t have survived the life I lived. I shouldn’t have been chosen.
But she chose me anyway.
And I’ve never felt luckier in my entire damn life. I’ll do everything I can to protect this peace. To spend the rest of my days worshipping her like she deserves.
Because Lily saved me.
And I’ll make sure I’m worthy of her love until the day I die.