EPILOGUE
TATIANA
The dress Dimitri bought me last week fits perfectly.
I smooth my hands down the dark blue fabric and check my reflection in the mirror one more time, making sure everything is in place for tonight's celebration.
My hair is swept up in a style that took me far too long to achieve, and the small scar above my eyebrow from that night at the police station has faded to almost nothing.
"You look beautiful." Dimitri appears behind me in the mirror, already dressed in a charcoal suit that makes him look dangerously handsome. I smile at his reflection and feel my body warm a few degrees. Months together now, and he's still got that effect on me.
"You're not so bad yourself." I turn to face him and straighten his tie even though it doesn't need straightening. "Are you ready for this?"
"A party celebrating the end of a war?" He pulls me closer by my hips. "I've been ready for months."
It's been three months since that terrible night, but we've only just gotten word that Malcom is finally dead. They hunted him down in Serbia and found another string of ties to the Balkans, and Luka Kolar himself put a bullet in his head.
I moved into Dimitri’s apartment when Lena decided she'd rather be at home with her mother, and the shock of learning about Arseniy took too much out of me. I couldn't work for a few weeks and rent wasn't going to pay itself. So far, Dimitri hasn't been unbearable.
"Have I told you today how fortunate we are that you noticed something was off about Linda?" Dimitri's hands slide up my back. "We never could've done this without you."
"You've mentioned it." I smile against his chest. "Several times, actually."
"Well, it bears repeating." He kisses the top of my head. "If you hadn't picked up on how suspicious she was being, we might never have been able to track her movements back to their headquarters."
Linda turned out to be exactly what we suspected, a mole who had been feeding information to the Kozlovs for months, helping them identify targets and plan attacks.
The bug on her phone recorded every conversation she had and who she talked to and gave us a complete map of the remaining enemy infrastructure.
We used that information to systematically dismantle everything they had left.
"I still can't believe you let me go back to work." I pull away slightly to look up at him. "Most men in your position would have insisted I stay hidden away somewhere safe." I place the credit on his shoulders, but I know if Yuri hadn't given the orders, Dimitri would’ve had me locked up.
"And now look at you, running hospitality for the whole casino…" He grins and presses a kiss to my forehead.
"Like you had a choice," I joke, but the decision to promote me was truly his.
Yuri suggested it, but Dimitri runs this place.
I love the work too, and knowing I make a difference around here makes me feel incredible.
It's such a good feeling to partner with someone and know they value your opinions and choices.
"We should probably head down." I glance at the clock on the nightstand. "Yuri will be wondering where we are."
"Let him wonder." Dimitri leans down and captures my mouth in a kiss that makes my knees weak. "I'm enjoying having you all to myself."
"We'll have plenty of time for that later.
" I kiss him back thoroughly before stepping out of his embrace.
"Right now, we have a party to get to and family who want to celebrate with us.
" It's strange to call these men my family now, though with men like this around me, who needs a big brother for protection?
Besides, they've grown on me and I'm not sure who I'd call when Dimitri is off working when I need a tight jar opened or a mouse snatched up.
He sighs dramatically but offers me his arm. "Fine. But only because you asked nicely."
We leave the penthouse and take the elevator down to the main casino floor where the party is already underway.
Yuri reserved the entire VIP section for tonight's celebration, filling it with family and trusted associates who fought alongside us, and I made sure the place was decorated appropriately.
Yuri spots us the moment we step off the elevator and makes his way over with a broad smile. His wife Inessa is beside him, heavily pregnant and glowing despite looking uncomfortable in her formal dress. It makes a longing for a family stir inside me.
"There they are." Yuri hugs Dimitri and then kisses both my cheeks in greeting. "We were beginning to think you'd decided to skip your own celebration."
"We wouldn't miss this." Dimitri shakes his brother's hand. "How are you feeling, Inessa?"
"Like I'm about to give birth to a small car." She laughs and rubs her swollen belly. "But the doctor says it could still be another week, so I'm trying to enjoy tonight while I can. Though I've had some small contractions."
"Well, you look beautiful." I give her a gentle hug, careful not to bump her stomach. "That dress is stunning on you."
"Thank you, dear." Inessa beams at me. "I heard you've been doing wonderful things with the hospitality department. Yuri says customer satisfaction is up thirty percent since you took over."
"She's being modest," Yuri interjects. "It's actually up forty-two percent. The woman is a natural manager."
I feel myself blushing at the praise, but Dimitri squeezes my hand and I can see the pride in his expression. He's been supportive of my work since I took over, never once suggesting that the job was beneath me. If anything, he encourages me to take on more responsibility.
The party fills up quickly as more family members arrive. Lev and Fyodor appear together with their partners, both looking just as dapper as their uncles. Then Vadim arrives with his wife, and Lazar and Oleg show up shortly after with drinks already in hand.
After an hour of socializing, Yuri calls for everyone's attention by tapping his glass with a knife. The conversations die down and people turn to face him expectantly.
"Thank you all for coming tonight." Yuri's voice carries across the room with natural authority. "We're here to celebrate something that seemed impossible just a few months ago. The complete and total victory over our enemies."
People raise their glasses and murmur agreement. Yuri waits for them to quiet down before continuing.
"I want to start by acknowledging the men who fought alongside us." He gestures to where several soldiers are standing. "Your courage and dedication made this victory possible. You risked your lives to protect this family and this city, and we are forever in your debt."
The men nod solemnly, accepting the recognition with quiet dignity.
"I also want to recognize my nephews." Yuri looks at Lev and Fyodor. "You both showed exceptional leadership during the conflict. You made your father proud and you've proven that the next generation of this family is ready to carry on our legacy."
Lev and Fyodor exchange a glance and raise their glasses to their uncle.
"To my cousin Vadim," Yuri continues. "Your tactical expertise and unwavering loyalty were instrumental in our success. Thank you for standing with us when others might have run."
Vadim juts his chin up in acknowledgment and his wife, Danica, leans her head on his shoulder, sweetly hugging his bicep with both of her arms.
"And finally." Yuri's voice softens slightly as he turns to face Dimitri.
"To my brother. We were distant for too many years, letting pride and old disagreements keep us apart when we should've been standing together.
This conflict brought us back together and reminded me why family is the most important thing we have. "
Dimitri clenches his jaw to hide his emotion, but he doesn't look away from his brother's gaze.
"The Gravitch name is stronger now than it has ever been." Yuri raises his glass high. "We control this city not through fear, but through respect. We protect our own and we eliminate threats before they can take root. That is our legacy and that is what we will pass down to the next generation."
Everyone raises their glasses and drinks to Yuri's words. The room fills with applause and cheers as people celebrate not just the victory but the unity that made it possible.
"One more thing before we continue the festivities.
" Yuri holds up his hand for silence. "If at any point tonight I suddenly disappear, please don't assume I've been kidnapped or that something terrible has happened.
" This gets a few nervous laughs from the crowd.
"My beautiful wife has been having mild contractions.
" Yuri puts his arm around her shoulders.
"The doctor says it could be nothing or it could mean the baby is coming early.
Either way, if her water breaks during dessert, I'm taking her to the hospital immediately and you're all free to keep celebrating without us. "
The nervous laughter turns into genuine amusement and warm applause. Inessa rolls her eyes, but she's smiling as people come over to offer their congratulations and well wishes.
Dimitri pulls me closer against his side as we watch his brother accept the attention and good wishes from family and friends. His hand rests possessively on my hip, and I can feel the contentment radiating from him.
"They look happy." I lean my head against his shoulder. "Really happy."
"They are." Dimitri speaks quietly so only I can hear, but I sense how proud he is of his brother. "Yuri lost his adult son almost one year ago. This baby is everything to him."
He goes quiet for a moment, and then I feel his lips brush against my ear, and it makes a warm shiver run over my skin.
"Do you think I'll ever be a father like my brother?
" His question has me glowing, and I turn in his arms so I can look up at him properly, studying his face to gauge how serious he is about this question.
"Do you want to be?" I keep my voice equally quiet.
"Maybe." He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "Someday… If you wanted it too."
"Well." I smile and reach up to trace the line of his jaw with my fingers. "We are partners in everything now. If you want to add tiny humans to our partnership agreement, I'm certainly open to negotiating those terms."
"Negotiating?" His eyes light up with amusement. "What kind of terms are we talking about?"
"Oh, you know." I pretend to consider it seriously.
"Standard partnership provisions. Equal decision-making authority.
Shared responsibilities for feeding, diaper changing, and dealing with tantrums. A binding commitment to actually be present instead of disappearing for days at a time on mysterious business. "
"That last one might be difficult." He's grinning now. "My business is very mysterious."
"Then I guess you'll have to become less mysterious." I kiss him lightly. "At least when it comes to your family."
"Our family," he corrects me. "And yes, I think I can manage that."
The band starts playing something more upbeat, and people begin moving toward the small dance floor that's been set up. Dimitri leads me into the crowd and pulls me into his arms, swaying with me to the music while conversations and laughter continue around us.
This is my life now. Running hospitality for a casino owned by the Russian Mafia, living with a man who's equal parts dangerous and devoted, surrounded by a family that accepted me like one of their own and protected me just as fiercely.
It's not the life I imagined for myself when my mother first moved us to St. Petersburg looking for steady work and a fresh start.
It's better.
"I love you," Dimitri says against my hair as we dance. "In case I haven't mentioned that recently."
"You mentioned it this morning." I smile against his chest. "And last night. And the night before that."
"Well, it bears repeating." He uses my own words against me.
"You're going to drive me nuts with that for months, aren't you?" My hands lazily play with the hairs at the back of his neck.
"Not long enough." He pulls me closer. "I plan to keep you forever."
"Forever sounds good to me." I rest my head against his shoulder and let him guide me through the dance. "As long as it includes more nights like this."
"It will," he promises. "All the nights you want and more."