Epilogue
Saige
“Grief, I now understand, is a sort of madness, in the same way that falling in love is madness.”
Patrick Swayze
I was lucky in that both my parents and my brother were still alive. When I’d lost my grandparents, the pain had been horrible, but I’d known they’d all lived long, wonderful lives. Maybe the realization had offered some comfort.
With the death of a child or a sibling, things hit differently.
Also with a close friend. After what had occurred on the terrace the night before, I’d called my brother.
Just to check in. He’d told me he’d tried to find the anonymous person who’d bailed out my parents, but was convinced there were real angels on this earth.
Maybe there were. Tonight dressed in an Armani tux.
I stood across the ballroom from where Stash held court with his brother, cousin, and Kazimir’s second in command. I’d grown to like Kirill and could see why he was thought of as a family member.
They’d all taken Mikhail’s suicide very hard, although I knew instinctively they would do their best to hide their grief.
“They look formidable. Don’t they?” Rafaela asked. With her on one side and Vivian on the other, we had the best location in the ballroom to enjoy the party from afar. Close to a champagne bar, where I had consumed more than one glass.
I’d spent some time with both ladies, one happily married to Kazimir, the other to Kirill. They were goofy and intelligent, powerful in their own right. A telling of how things could be inside the Chertov family.
“Yes, they do,” Vivian said from the other side. “But we know their secrets and can set them straight when necessary.”
“I’m not sure about that. I don’t know Stash very well.” Sighing, being able to study him from afar was distracting.
“Oh, you know more than you think you do. Besides, he can’t make a move without you.” Rafaela laughed. “Just like Kazimir was with me.”
“Please. Stash is his own man and I can honestly say he can be a pain in the ass.” Even though the words slipped from my mouth, I was mostly teasing. He’d taken me on a tour of my new office earlier. I should say a christening of my new desk.
I shuddered from the thought, my pussy aching from his… rough hands.
“She doesn’t understand,” Vivian cooed.
“She will. Very soon,” Rafaela said, laughing and lifting her champagne glass.
“Oh, you think I have him under my thumb already?” I did find it curious he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off me. I’d known him for months. Months of aggravation at his rudeness. His cold demeanor.
His challenges.
His eyes and the way he’d looked at me.
I’d endured the long hours for less pay than I’d thought I was owed. And the heat of the moment when he’d walked into a room.
And his sadness, a grief that he’d yet to handle.
Something had changed between us and now, every moment of every day, I wanted more.
“We know so. And it looks good on both of you.” Vivian squeezed my arm and at that moment, my handsome date strolled through the crowd toward me. He was almost a full head taller than everyone else so I could keep track of him easily.
As he approached, his nostrils flared, his eyes sweeping all the way to my high heels.
“My beautiful woman,” he said in his usual possessive tone.
“Your woman, huh?”
“Absolutely.” He slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me against him. “Don’t forget that.”
“I don’t think you’re going to allow me. Are you?”
His grin was boyish. “Not even a chance.”
He’d held me all night long, maybe hoping we’d both forget the horrible scene.
If there was anything to be thankful for, it was that Mikhail spared his family losing anyone else.
I’d seen and heard the intense pain in the man, someone who’d lost himself in hatred and a rage that I knew Stash was capable of.
“I was beginning to think you forgot me. You were on the phone earlier. You ignored me. A girl could get jealous.”
“I have no doubt you’d hunt and trap any other woman who looked at me.” His grin faded, the look becoming more serious. “I had a nice conversation with my mother.”
“You did?” I wasn’t surprised.
“I did. I told her how sorry I was for treating her so badly.”
“I’m glad. I’m sure she was happy you called her.”
“She was. We had a nice long talk, including about you.”
“Uh-oh.”
He nodded, the mischief returning. “I told her you were very much alike. Far too much.”
At least we could both laugh. “Well, then maybe one day we’ll meet.”
“I’m sure you will. Soon, I hope. She also offered her blessing.”
“On me? Great,” I snarled, still teasing.
The music stopped and instantly, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
“She did,” he laughed and backed away from me. “She also offered advice that I plan on taking.”
The lights cut out. What in the hell was going on? “I’m afraid to ask about what.”
There was no sound as a swirling of luminous lights trickled down from the ceiling, washing over us.
Me standing with my mouth open and with the man I’d fallen in love with now on one knee. In his hand was a velvet box and, in the periphery, I noticed shadows as everyone at the party crowded around.
“My mother mentioned that women like to be wooed, including when a man asks for their hand in marriage. I decided now was the time to take my mother’s advice. Saige Mitchell, I’m a hard man, someone you’ve called everything from a bastard to a prick.”
No, he did not just say that.
The laughter of the guests echoed in my ears while I stood completely embarrassed, heat crawling up my face.
“And you’d be right. I do have a good excuse.
I’m a Chertov. Russian born. Russian bred.
And I won’t apologize for that. But you’re the woman who counters my anger and sadness, my grief and disappointment.
You’re the only woman who’s ever brought me joy and peace.
And God willing, I will do everything in my power until I take my last breath to make you happy.
Will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife? ”
The entire room was holding their breath.
As if to add insult to injury, someone pushed me gently from behind.
Still, I made him linger a little longer while I twisted my lips. “You are a pain, difficult to work with, and very hardheaded, but I do love you, Stash Chertov.”
“So…” he pushed, rolling his eyes.
“So… Yes, I will.”
The guests erupted in applause as he slipped the ring on my finger. I’d never seen a man look at a woman the way he was at me and every inch of my skin was on fire.
Forget about my core.
When I was in his arms once again, the lights and music resumed, champagne flowing and laughter all throughout the room.
Because of our joy.
He pulled me into him, just the two of us.
“You’re a terrible man.”
His grin was indicative of his happiness, more so than I’d ever seen since I’d known him.
“You do realize you will learn to obey me, right?”
I laughed, throwing my head back. When I locked eyes with him again, I licked my lips for enticement. “We shall see.”
“Oh, you will.” He spun me around, the light in his eyes dimming. “I have one question.”
“What is it?”
“What did my brother say to you last night?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“I do. One chapter ending before another begins. A beautiful woman reminded me that life was precious.”
“He said he wanted you to know he loved you.”
Without love there could be no sense of grief. The quote I’d thought of earlier seemed very appropriate for today.
I loved Stash with all my heart. Would there be challenges and sadness in our relationship? Yes, but we’d face them together.
Because of one thing.
Love.
The End