Epilogue Six
Alexei
Ten years after that fateful December…
“Well, kids.” Burt stands across from me and Scarlett, his hands tucked into the pockets of his chocolate brown coat.
He’s smiling in disbelief as he studies us, likely wondering if this is a mistake.
My two Borisov cousins are still alive—for now.
But even with the concession being made for us today, I will always dread a future visit from the family.
“You’ve earned a rare treat. Early retirement around these parts is slim. ”
“Didn’t I say I’d make enough on my own that we could tithe our way to relaxation?” Scarlett is affectionately claiming my arm, her nails digging into my skin. We’ve both worked tirelessly to reach a point where I could step down from running the Borisov Group.
I’m quite good at it, don’t get me wrong.
But I hate it.
I fucking hate it.
Raindrops splash against the curved roofs of our umbrellas.
Black for Burt, held over his head by that same hulking bodyguard he’s always had.
Scarlett and I share a single crimson umbrella, held in my right hand and shifted toward her in such a way that my shoulder is getting wet and my wife absolutely is not.
The other boys have their own matching umbrellas, water pattering down the curved canopies and pooling at our feet.
“You think I haven’t heard that one before?
” Burt retorts, offering each of us a cigar.
Not just me and Scarlett, but Bohnes and Widow and Ash, too.
The family is very simple. Pay what you owe.
Stay loyal. Do as you’re told. If those ideals are adhered to, nobody cares about our strange living situation.
“Pavel used to tell similar tales, God rest his soul.”
My left hand comes up, dressed in a leather glove even though I wish it were bare.
I caress Scarlett’s arm, seeking comfort at the mention of my papa.
Leaving the company so that we could spend time together, that was his life’s dream.
It was my mother’s dream, too. There’s a reason that I was named Alexei Grove and not Alexei Borisov.
Speaking of…
“We’d like to change our names, Uncle.” I introduce the subject slowly and politely, more than prepared to pay for it. “Out of respect for the family. Since we’re retiring, it only makes sense that we retire the name as well. I sent an extra ten percent with our tithes, as a possible down payment.”
Burt’s eyes swing over to Scarlett, and she lifts a brow.
“We want to change them all, legally speaking, to Force. Well…except for Ash, obviously.” Scarlett clears her throat, sliding the cigar between her lips with one hand and then digging around in her pocket for a lighter.
It’s her sister’s lighter, a precious heirloom that she makes sure is always filled with fresh oil.
“Huh.” Burt smokes his own cigar as I study him and the sleek black Cadillac he’s standing in front.
I don’t believe he’s ever forgiven himself for losing the Facel Vega in a bet.
He’s been eying her, parked in the driveway of Papa’s old house.
We don’t come here often, but if the family wants us here, then we don’t argue.
“I’ll think about it. Send what you consider a fair price, and we’ll see if your uncle agrees with your honest evaluation. ”
Translation: expensive.
Burt turns and ducks into the back of his car, leaving his driver to close up the wet umbrella.
“Have a lovely trip, Uncle,” I tell him politely, offering up a small bow.
“Drive safe!” Scarlett mumbles the words out around her cigar, waving cheerfully as Burt gives her an odd look.
“Have a nice life, kids.” He sits back in his seat, the driver shuts the door, and within seconds, they’re gone.
The five of us sag in unanimous relief.
“As long as we pay our tithes, we’re finished with all that?
” Ash asks, trying to control himself. He reaches over his left shoulder, latching onto the hilt of his katana.
He plays with it, sliding it in and out of the sheath, like he’s nervous.
I push his hand down, calming him. “There’s nothing else to do? We’re done?”
“Holy shit, we’re done,” Scarlett says, loudly enough that her voice echoes and startles some of the crows that were perched in the trees around us.
Anytime we’re here, she feeds them. Offers them expensive jewelry.
Old fur stoles they can cart off to their nests.
She takes a huge drag on her cigar and then slides it from her lips, blowing white smoke into the summer air.
“Alexei, you don’t have to take another goddamn conference call for as long as you live.
You don’t have to dress in suits and attend board meetings that feel like executions. You’re free, Marie. Free as a bird.”
“This would be a good time for children, Widow, if you were so inclined.” I give him a sly look that he returns with a wicked smile of his own.
Scarlett, for her part, appears disturbed.
“You’ve been so patient. We all have. Now that I can devote myself to being a stay-at-home father, the timing is ideal. ”
“Yeah.” Widow rubs a rough hand against his jaw, tilting his umbrella on accident and sending a fresh waterfall cascading onto the gravel near his boots. “I agree. Isn’t she supposed to be ovulating…”
“…today,” Bohnes finishes, wrapped in a crimson hoodie to match his crimson umbrella. The most colorful outfit he’s ever worn. A celebration. “She’s ovulating today.”
My wife’s eyes grow wide, long dark lashes curved and fluttering as she tries to come to terms with what we’re saying.
“I’ve got a new drama to shoot next month.
” Scarlett is aghast, backing away from us like we’ve betrayed her.
She tries to run, but I’m not in the mood to act like a gentleman today.
I chase her when she takes off, a sharp smile appearing on my lips when Bohnes extends a leg to trip her.
He’s casually smoking his own cigar and watching the pair of us with satisfaction at a job well done.
Thank you, Kingmaker. “Whose side are you on?!” Scarlett howls.
She darts into the garage, weaving between expensive sports cars and vintage treasures, past rides both familiar and foreign.
I end up pinning her against the metal wall near the back of the room.
On one side of us, there’s an old hearse that Scarlett bought on a whim and hasn’t done a lick of work on.
On the other, a motorcycle that makes me nervous every time she takes it out for a ride.
With her back to the wall and her eyes on me, Scar clenches the cigar between her teeth and glares like she’s pissed.
I can see those pert nipples of hers, taut and hungry and straining against the cream fabric of her wet blouse.
“No bra today? Even when you knew we were meeting with Burt?” I slide my leather fingers across her silk-covered cleavage, dipping them underneath the collar and pulling the top button loose. Scarlett swallows nervously, her palms pressed against the wall on either side of her.
I’m mildly disturbed by the smell of motor oil and dust in this room, but not enough to be distracted from my conquest.
“Mm. I was dressing for the after Burt leaves part.” Scarlett peels her hands from the wall and curls them in the front of my sweater.
I dressed casually today, too, as a nod toward retirement from the family rather than business as usual.
“We have to celebrate. You’re free, baby.
Well, sort of. You belong to me, of course. Can’t retire from that one.”
“As if I would ever want to.” I lift her up and Scarlett’s legs go around me, strong thighs clenching to hold herself in place. “I love you, rodnaya. You not only helped me win vengeance and justice for Papa, but also achieved his dream. I don’t have enough words to express my feelings to you.”
“You don’t need words.” Scarlett holds onto my neck, squeezing me with such profound relief that I almost drop us both to the ground.
Instead, I turn and put her ass on the edge of the Pantera’s roof.
The car is only forty-three inches tall at its highest point.
A good height for sex. “You held it together for a decade of Borisov Group bullshit. That’s a confession of undying love, in my opinion. ”
“If something were to happen to my cousins, and I was given little choice about taking over the family…what would you do?” I ask, my mouth precariously close to hers. If we start kissing, I won’t get to hear Scarlett’s response. I’m torn between the two options.
“We’d have to rule with an iron fist to keep ourselves safe.
It’d be bloody and adrenaline-packed and maybe a tiny bit fun, but absolutely not worth our peace.
Let’s count on those cousins surviving to adulthood.
I mean, at least one of them, right? Heir and a spare?
Your uncle has it covered.” Scarlett closes the distance between us, teasing the seam of my lips with her tongue.
I resist her advance and she tightens her arms around my neck.
“Half the board went missing last week, only for their replacements to show up on my very last day at work. I’m happy for the order of succession to be disrupted in my favor.
It’s nice to know that if it did happen, you’d be able to handle it.
That’s reassuring.” I drag Scarlett’s body onto the hood of the car, lying her back on the red metal so that I can crawl between her thighs and taste her filthy pussy with my mouth.
We were playing around before Burt ever showed up.
He was just a minor interruption in a very important game.
“Don’t act like I’m the only one who fantasizes about being a mob boss.
” Scarlett groans wildly, falling back onto the windshield of the car as I play her mercilessly with my tongue.
The sounds she makes echo back at us from all the metal, bouncing off the cars and the walls and the ceiling.
If we can make a mess on the windshield of this car, and then drive it…
It’s so fucking unhinged. I want to do it. Cursing in Russian, I push up from my current position and surge over Scarlett.
“My car—” she starts, but I cover her mouth with a gloved palm.
“I’ll wash it for you later. For now, I want to play games on it.”