Epilogue 1
Anya
Several Months Later:
Weeks After the Final Savage Empire Epilogue
Matteo didn’t go home for the birth of Jade’s third child, but he did go visit her once she had settled in more.
Her newest addition, Viktor Sage Moretti-Morozov, was only two weeks old when he met his Uncle Matteo for the first time.
He visited just in time for a big family dinner that welcomed Viktor and his slightly older cousin Vaughn into the world.
Rayna, Apollo’s wife, gave birth just a couple of weeks before Jade did, and both of their sons came out healthy and happy. Despite missing his family dearly, he only decided to stay for a couple of nights. I missed him like crazy while he was gone, but I couldn’t bring myself to go with him.
I still have struggles when it comes to trying new things and especially when it comes to meeting new people. Matteo has a large family, and the first time I meet more of them in person, I know that it shouldn’t be in the middle of a big, crowded event.
But Matteo is home now and has been for a little over a month. And today is a special day. I’m going to meet some of Matteo’s family, after all. I don’t even have to get on a plane for it either.
“Nervous?” my handsome fiancé asks, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me closer while we stand outside.
“If I was, I’d need to pull it together fast.” I chuckle. “They’re pulling up to the gate right now, it’s a little late to ask now.”
He rolls his eyes at my sassy reply. “It’s always good to check in, meraviglia. But I’m glad you’re in high spirits. I know everyone is really excited to see you.”
“I am too.” And it’s the truth.
I’ve already met half of our guests. In fact, I share blood with them. The other half, I’ve been virtually meeting with for months now. I’m ready for this step, and I’m not scared.
As two blacked out SUVs roll to a stop on the pavement just in front of us, I’m not surprised to see Dmitri hop out first. He was driving, but he makes a point to round the vehicle to open the door for his wife and presses a kiss to the top of her head before opening the passenger-side backdoor.
“Hiiiii,” Jade sing-songs, waving wildly as she notices us. “Ahhh, I can’t believe we’re finally meeting.”
She practically skips over to us and pulls us both into a dual hug.
“I have to help get the babies out of the car,” she says on an exhale before pulling back. “You two are so beautiful, ugh, I love it. I’ll be right back.”
Matteo chuckles and follows behind her, quickly being handed a child. Little Isobella clearly just woke up from a nap, probably having slept on the plane ride here. Her chocolate brown hair has gotten longer, and her curls bounce in two little pigtails as Matteo walks her over to meet me.
“Hi,” I say softly, hoping I’ll find recognition in her eyes.
“Can you say ‘hi’ to Aunt Anya?” Matteo asks, bouncing her slightly on his hip. She’s wearing a little pink dress with white shorts underneath, and matching white shoes. She’s as cute as a button and looks just like her mother.
“Hi,” she echoes quietly, shyly laying her head against her uncle’s chest.
Matteo grins, setting his chin softly on top of her head to hug her closer. “Such a smart girl, you are.”
Before I know it, the rest of the crew has come over to greet us too, in no rush to make their way inside the house. Dmitri is holding a very squirmy Cesar, while Jade cradles their youngest, and Ivan carries what appears to be three very full baby bags.
“Hello, Cesar,” I greet softly, stepping closer to my eldest brother.
He gives me a gummy smile and waves his hands at me while trying to lean away from his dad to get me.
“Fair warning, if you hold him right now, he’s going to drool on you.” Dmitri nods down at little Cesar.
“He’s teething and thankfully he doesn’t seem to be in a ton of pain, but he’s slobbering constantly,” Jade explains, chuckling as she does.
“I wouldn’t mind,” I tell her with a shrug, looking away from Cesar to peer down at the almost two-month-old in her arms. The reason that their trip took so long to plan but the true reason for the trip all together.
Viktor needed to be old enough to travel safely without compromising his health with an overexposure to germs, but he also needed to meet his grandfather. Dad hasn’t been able to see him yet, and I know he can’t wait.
So much so that he doesn’t wait for us to even come inside before he caves, coming out to stand with us. Jade grins as she puts Viktor in his arms, not even waiting for him to ask before she passes him over.
“Isn’t he handsome? I think he looks just like Dmitri.”
Matteo chuckles and shakes his head. “He doesn’t look like anyone yet. He’s a baby.”
Jade rolls her eyes, waving him off. “What would you know? You looked like a thumb as a baby.”
Matteo gasps, offended. “You never even saw me as a baby.”
“I’ve seen pictures,” she tells him before sticking her tongue out.
Dad doesn’t mind their antics but encourages them to end for the sake of hospitality. “Come on, let’s get you all settled in.”
Giving my brother and his family enough time to get settled was simple enough. They wanted to unpack and set up the babies’ sleeping arrangements. So while they worked, Matteo and I watched the twins while Dad and Ivan took turns holding Viktor.
Before I know it, we’re all sitting down at the table for dinner, and Jade is the one meeting new people.
“Lev and Mikhail, you’ve met,” my father points them out, nodding to his brothers. “But this is Lev’s wife—”
“Irina,” my aunt cuts in, introducing herself with a smile. “It’s so nice to meet you, Jade. Matteo and Anya have told me so much about you.”
“Aunt Irina,” Jade exclaims happily. “Anya has told me tons about you too. You’re gorgeous, no wonder you were a model.”
My aunt laughs happily at the comment. “You’re one to talk. Dmitri couldn’t have picked a more beautiful wife.”
“I’m Nadya,” my cousin pipes up. “Can I hold your baby?”
I have to tuck my lips in to smother a laugh at her blunt question.
“Nayda is Uncle Lev and Aunt Irina’s daughter,” I point out helpfully to Jade before gesturing to the two unintroduced parties. “And these two are my Uncle Mikhail’s sons—Aleksandr and Vik.”
“Wait, you both have kids?” Jade asks, looking between my uncles and their respective families. The question is so abrupt and seemingly random that I look down at her with a dip in my brows.
Irina starts to open her mouth to answer when my sister-in-law stands up, putting Viktor into Matteo’s arms with a swift but gentle push. His eyes widen as he accepts our nephew. Just as startled as Matteo, my lips pop open when I find an unfamiliar anger filling Jade’s fierce blue eyes.
“Which one of you is older?” The cold drop in her voice immediately changes the feeling in the room, and I wonder what’s set her off.
Uncle Lev tilts his head at the inquisition but raises a hand up, arm bent at the elbow. “That would be me.”
“The married one,” Jade says, fists clenching by her sides. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Jade,” Ivan says, eyes sparking with realization. I’m glad he seems to know where she’s going with this, because I’m completely lost. “Don’t.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” Aunt Irina says, her voice soft and hesitant.
Jade doesn’t reply because she’s too busy giving Lev the most lethal glare I’ve ever seen on her face.
My Uncle Lev has a bad habit of making people angry, but I don’t understand what he could have done to anger Matteo’s sister so quickly.
This is the first time they’re meeting for more than a few minutes.
“You just get to do whatever you want, is that it?” she demands. “What makes you so special?”
“Jade,” Ivan repeats, his voice imploring.
“No,” she hisses, looking right back at him.
“Why do you have to be bound by tradition when he isn’t?
I told you I would never pity your position because it’s important to your family—and to you.
But I’m not going to sit here and say nothing when I find out that that’s not true.
He has a wife, Ivan. A kid. Why should he get to have that when you can’t? ”
“Does she think—”
Dmitri’s voice cuts in over Irina’s. “Krasotka, you misunderstand.”
Her nostrils flare. “Do I? I told you that our sons wouldn’t be forced into this backward ass tradition. You promised me that you agreed but you never thought to mention that your uncles already ignore it?”
Ohhhhhh.
Realization finally hits me as I understand why she’s become so upset. Ivan is a Morozov second son. And as the younger brother to the heir, his life is meant to be dedicated to keeping Dmitri alive. Dmitri and now Jade as well, since they’re married.
A Morozov second son is never supposed to marry, nor father children.
All of their focus is meant to be spent on keeping the Pakhan or the Pakhan’s wife alive.
He’s meant to die for them, if necessary.
A messed-up tradition that I’ve never cared for.
But one that my brother Ivan has remained completely devoted to.
Jade has told me herself that she’s attempted to reason with him, now that they’ve become so close.
She tried to protest the necessity and the fairness of his position, insisting that he deserves a life of his own.
She’s told him time and time again that she would never be able to live with him dying for her.
And still, he refuses to budge. Because of honor, tradition, or if you ask me, stubborn pride.
Matteo thinks it’s closer to brainwashing. “When you’re raised to believe you have one true purpose, it’s not easy to shed the weight of those expectations,” he’d said. But I don’t like to think about my father as someone who could brainwash his son. At least not on purpose.
“Is that what this is about?” Uncle Lev asks in disbelief.
Jade steps forward like she’s going to go bite his head off for minimizing the situation, but what he says next stops her in her tracks.
“I’m not a second son.”
Her breath catches. “You’re not?”
Breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth, I realize that bad memories are about to be brought up. But this is knowledge even Matteo isn’t aware of yet. Unless my father confided in him without me knowing.
Dad clears his throat from the head of the table. “I think this is probably my fault. Irina, will you take Nadya to the kitchen? Thank you.”
I feel Matteo take my hand while easily keeping Viktor secure with one arm. Our eyes meet, and I know he can read what I’m feeling without me needing to say a thing.
I’m okay.
Once Aunt Irina and Nadya are fully out of the dining room, my father continues to address the group.
“I apologize, Jade. I understand why you thought…” he trails off, trying to find the right words.
“This has been a sore spot for our family for a long time. I asked Dmitri and Ivan not to speak of the uncle they lost over a decade ago, and it never occurred to me to take that command back once the sting wore off.”
Leaning against Matteo’s side, I let my head fall onto his shoulder and look down at little Viktor. Part of me is hoping that being so close to such a cute little baby will help keep some of my obvious sadness at bay.
My dad looks over at his brothers, and then back to his daughter-in-law.
“Our brother died when Anya was only a toddler. He took a bullet that was meant for me, and he died of an infection in the hospital two days later. The blood loss and the contaminated wound were too much, and there wasn’t anything anyone could do.
Viktor lived with us since I got married, and he did his duty for a very long time. ”
“Viktor?” Jade repeats, eyes beginning to water.
“I told you that I had an Uncle Viktor. I only left out the circumstances of his death. I was always going to tell you,” Dmitri explains softly, taking her hand in his. “I thought it was poetic that we name our second born son after the last man to give his life to the tradition that we’re ending.”
“And for the record,” Dad speaks up once more.
“I’m glad to see the tradition die out. I should have done away with it myself.
If I could do it again, I would. I would have my children know that I love them all the same, and I’d never wish for any of them to live a life without every bit of happiness they can get their hands on. ”
Dmitri looks completely bewildered by Dad’s words, but Jade almost bursts into tears of joy. She’s so relieved to hear him say what he’s just declared openly in front of the whole family.
But her smile falters as Ivan leaves the room without a word.
“I hope he’s okay,” I whisper worriedly to Matteo.
…
“He will be.”