Epilogue
EPILOGUE
IVAN - TWO YEAR LATER
T wo years later, I sit in our living room, surrounded by the warm glow of Christmas lights and the joyous laughter of my family and a few friends. The scene before me is one I never imagined possible just a few years ago. Jenny cradles our son, Luca, in her arms, her eyes sparkling with happiness as she listens to her parents recount stories from her childhood.
“Remember when Jenny was five and decided she wanted to be a ballerina?” asks Mabel with a chuckle. “She practiced for weeks, twirling around the house in her little tutu.”
Jacob nods, grinning. “And then on the day of her first recital, she froze on stage and refused to move until we came to get her.”
Jenny’s cheeks flush a delightful shade of pink. “Dad! I thought we agreed never to speak of that again.”
I smile at her embarrassment. It’s moments like these that remind me how far we’ve come, and how much our lives have changed.
Luca squirms in Jenny’s arms, his chubby hands reaching out toward the twinkling lights on our Christmas tree. At fifteen months old, he’s a perfect blend of Jenny and me—my dark hair and her warm brown eyes—but very much his own little person already.
“Here, let me take him,” I offer, standing up and crossing the room. Jenny passes Luca to me, and I settle back into my seat with our son on my lap.
Mabel leans forward, eyes twinkling. “Ivan, we’ve shared plenty of Jenny’s childhood stories. What about you? Any embarrassing moments from your youth?”
The question catches me off-guard. My childhood is not something I often discuss, filled as it was with darkness and struggle, but looking at the expectant faces around me, I realize this is my family now. They deserve to know all of me, except the truth about the Bratva . I won’t ever tell my in-laws about that for their safety.
I adjust Luca on my lap, “I didn’t have many opportunities for embarrassing moments as a child, but there was this one time at the orphanage...”
Jenny flashes me a smile, silently offering her support.
“I was about eight years old. There was this older boy, Nikolai, who always picked on the younger kids. One day, I decided I’d had enough. I challenged him to a fight behind the building after lights out.”
Jacob arches a shaggy brow. “And did you win?”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Not even close. Nikolai was twice my size. He knocked me down with one punch, but I got back up. Again and again. I think I surprised him with my stubbornness.”
“What happened then?” asks Jenny with concern even though she knows this story is from long ago.
“The caretaker found us. We both got in trouble, but after that, Nikolai left the younger kids alone, and he started looking out for me, in his own way, until I was transferred to ‘St. Sergius’s the next year.”
The room falls silent for a moment, the faint shadows from my past hanging in the air. Then Luca giggles, reaching for the ornament dangling from the lowest branch of our Christmas tree, and the melancholy fades.
“No, no, moy mal’chik ,” I say gently, catching his hand. “Those aren’t for playing.”
Jenny smiles at us, her eyes soft with love. “I think it’s time for someone’s bedtime,” she says, standing up and taking Luca from my arms.
As she leaves the room, Mabel turns to me. “Ivan, I hope you know how grateful we are for everything you’ve done for Jenny and Luca. You’ve given them a wonderful life.”
I swallow hard, emotion threatening to overwhelm me. “They’ve given me far more than I could ever give them,” I say quietly.
Jacob nods. “Family has a way of doing that.”
When Jenny returns, she settles back onto the couch beside me, curling into my side. I wrap my arm around her, marveling at how perfectly she fits against me.
“So, what did I miss?” she asks, looking around at our gathered family and friends. Andre and Daniil stand somewhat stiffly near the fireplace, observing quietly. They seem to feel out of place, but Jenny insisted on inviting them, and I had no reason to deny her.
“We were just telling Ivan how happy we are that he’s part of our family,” says Mabel warmly.
“I was just getting some more of Mabel’s maple cream fudge,” says Marcus, reappearing from the kitchen and licking his fingers.
Jenny looks up at me, leaning up to press a soft kiss to my cheek.
As the conversation flows around us, I reflect on the journey that brought us here. The danger, the fear, the uncertainty—it all seems like a distant memory now. Yet I know without those trials, we might never have found our way to this moment.
“Ivan?” Jenny’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Are you okay?”
I look down at her, taking in the concern in her eyes, and the love that radiates from her very being. “I’m perfect,” I assure her, tightening my arm around her shoulders.
The evening wears on, filled with more stories, laughter, and the comfortable silences that only come with true belonging. When the others are occupied, Marcus subtly gestures me toward where he stands with Andre and Daniil.
He’s spent the last several months helping me with my mission to get out of the Bratva , so I expect this to be something about that. I want to tell him now isn’t the time, but his words stop me cold.
“I finally identified the mole,” he says softly.
I freeze and look around before lowering my voice. We’ve been searching for two years, convinced someone sold us out to Alexei, but they’ve proven elusive.
Marcus leans closer, his voice dropping to ensure our conversation remains private. “The mole was Anton Petrov’s kid. The mechanic’s son.”
I straighten, processing this information. Anton has worked on our vehicles for over a decade. His son, Anton Jr., is seventeen—smart, tech-savvy, and desperate to attend university.
“How?” I ask, keeping my expression neutral as Jenny laughs at something her father said across the room.
“Alexei approached the kid at his part-time job. Offered him fifty grand for college if he’d hack his dad’s phone and upload spyware. The program infected all our phones through the shop’s network when we brought vehicles in for maintenance.”
The pieces click into place—the information leaks, and the way Alexei always seemed one step ahead. “That explains how he knew our movements.”
“What do you want me to do with the kid?” he asks.
I study Jenny as she bounces Luca on her knee, her face glowing with happiness. Two years ago, I would have demanded harsh punishment for such a betrayal. Now, looking at my family, I see things differently. “That’s your decision now, Marcus. You’re the one in charge.”
He nods slowly. “Since it’s Christmas...maybe have him work off his debt. Few years of shit jobs at minimum wage while having to wait to go to college. Better than the alternative.”
“I agree.” The boy made a terrible choice, but he’s young. There’s still time for him to learn.
“I’ll handle it,” says Marcus.
“Good.” I clap him on the shoulder. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need everyone’s attention.”
I move to the center of the room, tapping my crystal wine glass with a silver spoon. The clear ring cuts through the chatter, and all gazes turn to me.
“I’d like to thank everyone for being here tonight,” I say, meeting Jenny’s warm gaze across the room. “Two years ago, I never imagined I’d be standing here surrounded by family...”
The room falls silent as I trail off and then clear my throat. There’s a huge lump in my throat, and nerves threaten to paralyze me. I’ve waited for this moment, working tirelessly to extricate myself from the Bratva and build a legitimate life. Now, standing before our gathered family and friends, I’m ready to take the next step.
I turn to Jenny, catching her gaze. She looks radiant in a deep green dress that hugs her curves. The sight of her takes my breath away, as it has since the moment we met.
“Jenny.” My voice is steady despite the emotions swirling within me. “These past two years with you have been the happiest of my life. You’ve shown me what it means to love, to trust, and to build a future together. You’ve made me a father and given me a family.”
Her eyes widen slightly, a flicker of realization crossing her face as I reach into my pocket, withdrawing a small velvet box. I lower myself to one knee, and a collective gasp ripples through the room.
“You’ve stood by me through the darkest times. You’ve seen the worst of me and loved me anyway.” I open the box, revealing a stunning diamond ring nestled inside. The stone catches the light, throwing rainbows across Jenny’s face. “I promise to spend the rest of my life making you as happy as you’ve made me. Jennifer Graham, will you marry me?”
Jenny’s eyes fill with tears, glistening in the soft light of the room. Her lips part, a trembling smile spreading across her face. She nods, the movement small at first, then more emphatic.
“Yes,” she whispers, looking like she might cry. “Yes, Ivan. Of course I’ll marry you.” She must know what the proposal represents. I’m finally free of the last vestiges of the Bratva empire, so I can keep my promise to ask her to marry me.
Relief and joy flood through me when I slip the ring onto her finger. It fits perfectly, as if it was always meant to be there. I rise to my feet, pulling her into my arms. Our lips meet in a kiss that’s both tender and passionate, a promise of the future we’ll build together.
Applause erupts around us, but I barely hear it. All I can focus on is Jenny, the warmth of her body against mine, and the softness of her lips. When we finally part, her eyes are shining with happiness.
“I love you,” she murmurs, tracing the line of my jaw. “I understand what this means, and I love you so very much.”
“I love you too. My love. My everything.”
As we turn to face our cheering friends and family, I’m struck by how far we’ve come. From the dangerous world of the Bratva to this moment of pure joy, it’s been a long and often treacherous journey.
Mabel is the first to reach us. She envelops Jenny in a tight hug, tears streaming down her face. “Oh, sweetheart,” she says, her voice choked with emotion. “I’m so happy for you both.”
Jacob claps me on the shoulder. His eyes are suspiciously bright as he pulls me into a brief, but heartfelt embrace. “Welcome to the family, son,” he says gruffly. “About time,” he adds but winks to soften the slight criticism.
As more well-wishers surround us, offering congratulations and admiring the ring, I keep Jenny close to my side. “How long have you been planning this?” she asks in a low voice, leaning close to be heard over the excited chatter around us.
I smile, remembering the weeks of preparation, the secret meetings with the jeweler, and the nervous anticipation. “Two years to be able to propose. As for the actual proposal…longer than you might think. I wanted everything to be perfect.”
She laughs. “It is perfect. You’re perfect.”
I shake my head, thinking of the long road that led us here. “I’m far from perfect, lyubimaya , but with you and Luca, I want to be the best version of myself.”
Jenny’s eyes soften, understanding the weight behind my words. She knows the demons I’ve faced, and the darkness I’ve fought to leave behind. “You already are,” she says softly, squeezing my hand.
We move through the room, accepting congratulations and sharing our joy, and I’m struck by the contrast between this moment and my past life. The warmth of family and friends, the open displays of affection—it’s all so different from the cold, calculated world of the Bratva . There were warm and happy times when I first joined, but when Lena died, that disappeared too. This is permanent. I know it on a deep, instinctive level.
Marcus approaches, a rare smile on his usually serious face. “Congratulations, boss,” he says, shaking my hand firmly. “It’s about time.”
“Not your boss any longer,” I say with a smile before clapping him on the shoulder. “Thanks, Marcus. I couldn’t have done it without your help.”
Jenny raises an eyebrow, looking between us. “Oh? And what help was that?”
He grins, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Someone had to keep him from spilling the beans every time he looked at you. The man’s been like a lovesick puppy for weeks.”
Heat rises to my cheeks, but I can’t deny it. Jenny’s laughter rings out, bright and joyous. “Is that so?” she teases, leaning into my side. “And here I thought you were just being extra attentive lately.”
“What can I say?” I shrug, pulling her closer. “You have that effect on me.”
As the celebration continues around us, the ring on her finger catches the light, a constant reminder of our love and our future. Looking into Jenny’s eyes, I see everything I’ve ever wanted reflected back at me. Love, trust, and the promise of a lifetime together.
“Thank you,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to her temple.
She looks up at me, her brow furrowing slightly in confusion. “For what?”
“For saying yes,” I reply simply. “For believing in us. For everything.”
Jenny’s smile is radiant as she rises on her toes to kiss me softly. “Always,” she whispers against my lips. As we turn back to our guests, ready to celebrate this new chapter in our lives, I’m filled with a sense of joy, peace, and purpose. This is home, family, and everything I’ve always needed and wanted.