Epilogue
Alessia
Getting a birthday gift for a man was hard, but getting one for a mafia boss was nearly impossible. Especially when he didn’t know that I knew it was his birthday. Rodion clearly didn’t care about these things, and I would bet my new job he didn’t even remember today was his.
I held my phone higher for Carina on a video call. She was helping me pick a gift.
“You could’ve settled for a watch,” she said.
“No, that’s what I bought for Marco’s birthday,” I teased, holding up a black wallet. “Too dark?”
Carina narrowed her eyes. “No, it’s classic. Not flashy. He’ll like it.”
“It suits him,” I said. “It’s hard to buy something for a man who already has everything, but I also have the bracelet, it should be enough.”
“The guy has you. That’s already the best gift.”
I laughed as I walked to the cashier to pay. Excitement was already bubbling in me at the thought of seeing Rodion. He had been away for a week, which felt too long.
“What if he doesn’t show up?”
Carina grinned. “You said he was the one who planned this date. Plus, I talked to Matvet, they left Miami hours ago.”
My teasing side kicked in. “Oh, I’m sure you know a lot. Please, tell me more.” The cashier handed me the shopping bag and my card, and I walked out.
“There’s not much to tell. He is still an asshole.”
“And he happened to just inform you they were leaving Miami?”
Carina groaned, realizing I had trapped her. “Fine. We talk. Not much, but we talk. And after all, it was just a one-night thing, with no strings attached.”
I reached my car and slid inside. When I said my car, I meant Rodion’s car. He casually bought it for me as a gift for getting a job. His version of casual was top tier. One moment I didn’t have a car and the next, I had a Porsche.
“You were drunk. I get it.”
“Whose fault is it?” Carina asked, and I scoffed.
It turned out that when I left for Italy, Carina, and Matvet were both stressed enough to go out and drink.
And somehow, they ended up in the same club.
They drank, argued, and by the end of the night, they were too drunk to resist taking their stress relief to the next level.
“But Matvet is a sweetheart. So, I will take the blame.”
“Sweetheart my foot, but I will give him this,” She paused, and I stared at the screen, waiting for her to continue. “He is good in bed.”
I burst out laughing and shook my head. “You know what? I’ve got to go. It’s ten minutes to our date, and I’m guessing Rodion’s already there.”
Carina waved. “Have a good one. Tell me everything later.”
“Okay. Bye.”
I let her hang up and focused on reversing carefully. I was still getting used to maneuvering in tight parking spaces without scratching anyone’s car. Once I managed to pull out, I drove off, excited about this night.
In less than ten minutes, I pulled up outside the restaurant. My pulse quickened before I even killed the engine. The last time I had a date here with Rodion, I left in tears. But as I stepped out of the car, I reminded myself that this time was different.
The valet approached, and I handed him the keys. Drawing a slow breath, I straightened my dress and walked inside. The hostess took my coat and led me upstairs to the same section as last time.
When Rodion said he wanted to redo everything, he meant it.
As I stepped inside, the soft glow of candlelight washed over me.
The air carried a faint scent of sandalwood and rose.
The space was intimate, with only one table set for two.
Rodion had already arrived. He wore a black fitting suit, the sharp lines accentuating his broad shoulders.
He stood when he saw me, and for a heartbeat, the world went still.
His dark hair caught the candlelight, and the faint stubble along his jaw made him look effortlessly handsome.
He carried a bouquet of red roses as he crossed the space toward me, eyes locked on mine. My breath caught somewhere between nerves and warmth.
“Hi,” he greeted, handing me the bouquet.
“Hi,” I echoed, glancing down at the flowers before meeting his eyes again. “You’re here.”
“I’m here.” He stepped closer. One hand slipped around my waist, the other brushed my cheek. “How’s my girl?”
“She missed you,” I whispered.
Rodion leaned in and pressed his lips to mine in a deep, unhurried kiss.
“Yes?” he murmured when he pulled back, his mouth still close enough for me to feel his breath.
“She’s very excited about this date.”
He kissed me again, slower this time, his lips curving against mine. “And?”
“She’s happy to see you,” I said, and his low chuckle brushed across my skin. “And how’s my man?”
Rodion’s eyes searched my face as if he were memorizing me all over again. “He feels at home now.”
I smiled and whispered. “Yes?”
“He missed you,” he breathed. “More than you’ll ever know.”
He dipped his head and claimed my lips again. This time, his tongue slid into my mouth, deep and hungry. The kiss carried the warmth I had missed for the entire week he’d been away. When he finally drew back, his forehead rested lightly against mine.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I glanced down at my red fitted dress. “And you look neat.”
He smiled back and took my hand, guiding me toward the table. He pulled out a chair, and I sat, placing the bouquet and the small shopping bag on the table. Rodion took his seat across from me.
My eyes drifted to the table in the far corner. “That was our table last time,” I said.
He followed my gaze. “Do you want to sit there?”
“No, I was just looking.” I exhaled. “But why are we alone on this floor?”
“I bought the restaurant,” he said.
I froze. “You what?”
“You chose this one for our date that day. That means you loved it,” he declared.
A waiter approached with our wine, and I let him pour and left before I asked, “So you bought it?”
“Yes, darling.” He leaned back, looking all relaxed while I tried to process how impossible he could be. “And the boutique where you bought the dress you wore that night.”
My mouth fell open. “Rodion?”
“They’re yours.” He took a calm sip of wine and changed the subject as if we had been discussing the weather. “How’s work?”
I perked up, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I love it. The other employees are really nice too.”
He raised a brow. “And the pay? I hope it’s not some nonsense amount.”
I groaned and rolled my eyes. “Here you go again.” I took a slow sip of my wine. “Always the auditor.”
His mouth curved slightly, and I caught the soft look in his eyes as he watched me. “Do you have to work?”
“I’m not having this discussion again. What do you expect me to do, stay home bored while you’re out there working?”
“Travel,” he said, and I laughed.
“That sounds amazing, but we could travel together once in a while. On weekends, maybe. I still have to keep my job.”
“You can come and manage this restaurant. Or the boutique.”
“Rodion,” I said his name in a warning tone.
“Yes, darling.” He took my hand, his gaze never leaving mine.
I sighed, deciding to steer the conversation elsewhere. “Oh, by the way, I got you this.” I pushed the small bag towards him. “Happy birthday, Rodion.”
His eyes dropped to the bag, and confusion flickered across his face. For a second, I thought maybe I’d gotten the date wrong.
“It’s November fifth,” I said, hoping I hadn’t embarrassed myself.
“Yes.” He looked up again, still holding my hand. “That slipped my mind.”
I pulled my hand free. “Open it.”
Rodion reached into the bag and pulled out the wallet. A rare smile curved his lips. “Now look at this.”
“You like it?”
He opened it, checked inside, and then looked at me. “Yes.” He did. The look on his face said everything.
“I’m glad,” I said, grinning. “There is something else.” I took the bag and handed him the small box. “So you know, it was hard finding something that felt right for you. So you’d better love this one too.”
He opened it and stared inside for a few seconds before rubbing his forehead with a laugh. “R & A,” he read our initials aloud, eyes glinting.
“Why are you laughing?”
Rodion took the black leather bracelet and ran his fingers along the engraving. “I’m surprised you didn’t write A & A.”
I laughed. “Don’t tease me. And in my defense, you wore rings with Artur’s name, and your dagger had his name on it. What did you expect?”
“I love it, Little Gem.”
He slipped the bracelet onto his wrist, still wearing that unguarded smile. “How did you know?”
Chuckling, I flipped my hair. “I have many ways.” I teased, knowing full well his grandmother had told me while showing me an old album of the three brothers. “But if you must know, your grandmother mentioned it when she was showing me your old pictures.”
“Hm.” He took a sip. “When was this? Before you decided to run away from home?”
That made me chuckle. “Rodion, my parents’ house is also my home.”
He smirked. “I’m sure your father knows where your real home is, baby. Stop rebelling.”
Rodion always had a way of winning arguments, not by pressure, but by confidence.
The waiter returned with our food, setting down our plates and refilling the glasses. Once he was gone, we began to eat.
“I wanted to spend time with Papa and Mamma,” I said, twirling the stem of my glass. “And … well, I have to admit, your grandmother is determined to have great-grandchildren.”
His brows drew together. “She said that?”
“I got a stomach issue and threw up, and she believed it had to be a pregnancy.”
Rodion went still before asking, “You never told me you were sick?”
“It wasn’t serious—”
“Little Gem.” His tone softened, but his expression didn’t. He set down his fork and knife, leaning forward slightly. “When I said I have to know everything, I meant everything. Even if it’s just a headache.”
I sighed, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. “Rodion, people get sick. It wasn’t worth bothering you. If it were serious, I would have told you.”
“People, yes,” he said. “But you’re my girl. That’s the difference.”
This man was impossible. Carina was right, Rodion could make possessiveness sound like poetry.
“Fine,” I muttered, stabbing at my food. “Jesus.”
He watched me with that unshaken patience. I took another bite, swallowed, and added quietly, “I’m fine.”
Rodion resumed cutting his steak. “You didn’t check if you were pregnant?”
I blinked at him. “You think I am?”
He gave a faint, knowing shrug. “I wouldn’t mind.”
I scoffed, a laugh slipping out. “Too bad. I’m on my period, so no.”
That earned me a small smile. “Do you love kids?”
After finishing my bite, I answered, “I don’t mind them. But definitely not now.”
“I see,” he murmured.
“What about you?”
He stayed silent for a few seconds before replying. “I want a mini you. She would probably be as stubborn as her mother.”
I laughed. “You want a girl?”
“Five girls,” he said, his eyes glinting. “And five boys.”
I nearly choked on my wine. “Ten kids? Are you planning a small army or a family?”
He chuckled, the sound melting through the quiet restaurant. “Maybe both.”
He reached out and brushed something from the corner of my lips before he drew his thumb to his mouth and licked it. “I want chaos. Think about it—”
“No. Nope. Not a chance. Two or three, that’s enough.”
“Hm.” He nodded, pretending to consider it. “Okay, let’s say three.” He leaned back in his chair. “Do you want a boy?”
“Don’t you?” I teased.
His jaw tightened. “Men in my family are assholes.”
“So you think our son would turn out like you guys?”
“It’s in the blood,” he said without a trace of humor in his tone.
“Well, I’m sorry, but I also want a mini you. Conversation closed.”
I let my eyes drift to the window. The city lights flickered against the glass like distant stars. This was precisely how I pictured a date with him. Just us being real.
When I looked back, Rodion was still watching me with that look that stripped everything else away. If love ever had a face, this was what it looked like.
“What?” I asked, smiling.
He didn’t answer right away. He just held my gaze before finally speaking. “If we get a son, he’ll be like me.”
“I know.”
“Will you be able to deal with the two of us?”
What was wrong with this man, and why was this conversation so endearing? “A mini Rodion? That’s actually cute to imagine.”
“You know he’ll be like me,” he repeated.
“I know, sweetheart,” I said, matching his tone.
Rodion leaned forward and took my hand, his thumb tracing slow circles over my knuckles.
“Why?” I asked softly. “You don’t want a son?”
He lifted my hand and pressed a kiss to it, his lips warm against my skin. “He won’t be a sick bastard like his father was.”
I rolled my eyes with a scoff. “I’m about to slap you now.”
He was serious, but I didn’t want the mood to shift. This had always been Rodion’s deepest fear. He feared he would one day treat his child the way his father treated him.
“But in case he would be—”
“You’ll be there for him,” I beat him to it. “You’ll be a good father. I know that.”
That silenced him for a moment. He leaned in again and brushed his lips over my hand, the tension in his features fading.
“Alright, a son and two daughters.” He murmured.
That actually sounded so nice. “A mini Rodion and two little versions of me.”
His rare smile stayed on his lips. The world saw Rodion Konstantinov as a man to fear, the one who gave orders and ruled in silence and shadows. But across the table, with candlelight softening the lines of his face and the faint scent of roses between us, he was simply my man.
The man who smiled only for me.
The man who made the future sound less like a risk, and more like a promise.
THE END