Epilogue - Avit
I rounded the SUV and opened Sienna’s door just as Mariya stepped out of the back seat with Sienna’s ceremony gown draped over her arm. I took Sienna’s hand and helped her ease out of the vehicle.
Five months pregnant, her bump was visible now…small, perfect, impossible for me to stop staring at, the life she was carrying…a piece of each of us.
She wore a simple, sleeveless black dress that skimmed her knees and black flats. Her morning sickness had mostly settled, but the heat took her down fast. She’d passed out a few times over the last few months.
The first time it happened, she was out shopping with the women. When I got the call, I'd planned to lock her in the house until the baby was born, consequences be damned.
But my family dragged me off that ledge, reminding me that Sienna was inches from graduating.
Dr. Decker gave us a plan on how to manage the spells and how to keep her and our child safe.
So, I forced myself to breathe and support her in every way that I could, even if every instinct in me wanted her sealed in bubble wrap and kept her hidden away.
On campus, she lived in her regular hoodies, sweatpants, and parked herself directly under the AC vent. But the second she climbed into the car with me after class, she stripped down to a tank top and boy shorts. I always kept a coat in the back seat for emergencies.
Not that I minded my wife half-dressed in my car. Sienna in fewer clothes was a blessing to every part of me, and she never pulled away when I touched her, which was often.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, brushing my thumb along her cheek.
“Excited…nauseous…relieved?” she said, her eyes twinkling.
I cupped her jaw, leaned in, and kissed her softly. She kissed me back.
“I’m proud of you, angel,” I murmured against her lips. And I meant every damn word.
Someone cleared their throat, and I glanced over. Mandy stood there, grinning broadly.
“Hey, lovebirds. Hi, Mariya.”
“Hey, Mandy,” Mariya replied. I lifted a hand in greeting as Sienna pulled her into a quick hug.
“Are you ready to graduate?” Mandy asked.
“Oh, definitely,” Sienna grinned.
God, she looked happy. I’d burn down the world to keep that smile on her face.
“Then kiss your husband, because I know you want to, and let's go inside with the others. We’ve got fifteen minutes until showtime.”
Sienna turned toward me, and I kissed the hell out of her, coaxing a tiny little moan that made my cock twitch.
“Well, damn,” Mandy said, fanning herself. “I think I got pregnant just watching you two.”
Mariya and Sienna laughed.
I smiled at Sienna. “I’ll see you when it’s over.”
“You will.” She gave me one last soft smile before taking her gown from Mariya. Mandy hooked an arm around her and guided her inside, Wexler and a small team trailing them.
The rest of the family stayed at the house to set up her celebration.
With Vera ready to pop any day now, Jaroslav shut down any idea of dragging her out here.
Pyotr was helping the women prep, and Marten and the others had business to handle.
Because Bratva business didn’t pause for graduations, pregnancies, or anything else.
And the more of us gathered in public, the bigger the target. More men meant heavier security, which meant more attention. Sienna hated the spotlight before, and more so now after Oskar.
So, I had plain-clothes security detail covering every inch of this venue. Every door. Every exit. Every blind corner. She’d been taken once, once…and that was all I needed to ensure she'd never be taken again. And in a place this crowded, I wasn’t giving fate a second chance.
Mariya slipped her arm through mine. “Come on, let’s get inside and find our seats.”
We stepped into the university auditorium, found our seats, and a security detail sat around us.
“If you smile any wider, your face is going to crack,” Mariya murmured as we settled in.
I chuckled. “I’m proud of my wife. After everything she’s been through, especially these last six months, seeing her cross that stage today…that’s something to be damn proud of. I just wish her mother were here to see it.”
Mariya squeezed my arm. “I’m glad you married her. If she’d ended up with anyone else, she might not be crossing that stage at all.”
“And I’m glad she has all of you,” I said quietly. “Especially now that Mandy’s leaving for her internship in the UK.”
“We’ll always have Sienna’s back. You can count on that.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“And you did get in touch with Kimberly, right?”
Kimberly Fraizer was the photographer Artyom had first hired for Ninel’s maternity shoot.
He’d been impressed, not an easy feat, and him allowing anyone that close to Ninel meant he put her through a full background check.
She’d also shot photos of Dominic when he was born, taken a few family portraits after that, and every time, it was the same protocol: we paid for every piece of equipment she used, escorted her to a controlled studio we prepped ourselves, and made damn sure none of the photos ever leaked.
“Yeah,” I said, nodding toward the middle aisle of the auditorium. “She’s right over there setting up.”
Mariya followed my gaze and smiled.
“Good. Because the others and I fully intend to rewatch this recording a thousand times.”
I groaned. “As long as Katya doesn’t ask Sienna to put the gown back on.”
Mariya snorted. “Now that,” she said, “is something I absolutely cannot promise.”
I smirked and shook my head.
Just then, Dean Hale stepped onto the stage, and the soft buzz of the crowd faded. Mariya and I turned our attention forward as the ceremony officially began.
Throughout the ceremony, I responded to e-mails, texted Pyotr a few times to make sure things were on track at home, and to check in on Vera as well.
“I think it's time,” Mariya whispered next to me.
I tucked my phone into my jacket and sat straighter.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Dean Hale smiled, “please welcome to the stage a truly exceptional graduate, whose brilliance, dedication, and vision have set a standard for excellence in our program.
“Sienna Romonoff has completed her Master of Science in Cybersecurity, graduating summa cum laude, placing her at the very top of her class. In addition to her master’s degree, Sienna has earned graduate certificates in cryptography and ethical hacking, demonstrating not only mastery of advanced cybersecurity techniques but also a commitment to pioneering knowledge in the digital realm.
“Throughout her time here, Sienna has been a leader both in and out of the classroom, consistently demonstrating innovation, intelligence, and integrity. Her extraordinary academic record and contributions to research and her peers have earned her the honor of valedictorian.
“Please join me in congratulating Sienna Romonoff!”
Mariya shot to her feet, clapping and whistling. “Yay, Sienna!!! Woooooo!”
I rose too, clapping, my chest swelling with pride. The audience and students joined in, cheers and applause filling the auditorium.
Sienna held onto Wexler's arm as she cautiously made her way up the steps. She crossed the stage gracefully, received her hood, took her certificate, and then strode to the podium to deliver her valedictorian speech.
When Mariya and I sat back down, she glanced at me. “Avit, I thought Sienna was just doing a regular IT master’s. I had no idea she was training to be a world-class hacker.”
I chuckled but didn't say anything. My brothers and I had agreed not to broadcast exactly how good Sienna's skills were, or how she’d dug up every bit of dirt on Oskar. That kind of attention could put her in danger, and we weren’t about to risk it.
“The baby she’s carrying? Will be a genius. Might start college at five,” Mariya teased.
I chuckled, my eyes drifting back to Sienna. Even though I’d heard her speech a thousand times while she practiced at home, watching her deliver it was something else entirely.
When her speech neared its end, I rose.
“Where are you going?” Mariya asked.
I winked. “To get my wife.”
I reached the stage just as Sienna finished. Her eyes lit up when she saw me, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Taking her hand, I slid an arm gently around her waist, guiding her down the steps.
“You truly are remarkable,” I murmured, brushing a soft kiss to her temple.
“You’re not too bad yourself,” she teased.
“And I’ll show you just how remarkable you are when we get home.”
Sienna rolled her eyes, a blush rising to her cheeks. I let her go at the bottom of the stairs and waited until she was seated before returning to my own.
An hour later, after the ceremony, photos, and a tearful goodbye with Mandy, we were on our way home.
We cranked the AC on full, giving Sienna some relief.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to the house.
Mariya slid out the back quietly and headed inside.
On the way back, Sienna had fallen asleep, her head resting against the headrest, eyes closed, her chest rising and falling softly.
I just sat there, watching her, and wondered how the hell I’d gotten this damn lucky.
I leaned over and kissed her gently. She responded then, eyes fluttering open.
“We're home,” I said as I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“Do I have to get out?” she complained playfully. “I'm so comfortable here.”
“Unless you want everyone in the house crammed into this car, I think we do.”
“Fine,” she pouted. “I don't think Vera would forgive me for that.”
I laughed. “Stay put, I'm coming around.”
I hopped out of the vehicle and, in a matter of moments, was helping Sienna out of the car and through the front door.
As soon as we reached the living room threshold, the women screamed, “Congratulations, Sienna!”
I barely moved out of the way in time, or I would’ve been trampled in their rush to hug her.
“Vera moves quickly for a heavily pregnant woman, doesn’t she?” Pyotr said, amusement in his voice.