Epilogue - Mihai
EPILOGUE - MIHAI
M addy’s lying on her side, her head propped up on her hand, those big brown eyes fixed on me. She looks so fucking peaceful, and after the chaos of the past few weeks, it calms me in a way nothing else ever has.
I’ve never felt this before. Not this quiet, not this… safe. Safe is a strange word to use, considering the shitstorm we’re all in, but that’s exactly what it is. She’s become my refuge, and I don’t know how I’m going to let her out of my sight again.
“You’re staring,” she says softly, her voice carrying that light English lilt that gets under my skin in the best way.
“Yeah,” I reply, not bothering to deny it. “Can’t help it.”
She laughs softly, and I shift closer, lying on my side so we’re face to face. My hand finds her waist, anchoring her to me.
“Thank you,” I murmur, my thumb brushing her skin just above the waistband of her shorts. “For tonight. For… everything.”
She blinks, her lips parting slightly. “You don’t have to thank me.”
“I do,” I insist. “You have no idea what it means to me. What you mean to me.”
Her blush deepens, and she looks down, her fingers playing with the edge of the blanket. “You’re not bad at this whole emotional thing, you know?”
I chuckle, the sound rumbling low in my chest. “Don’t get used to it.”
She laughs again, and it’s such a beautiful fucking sound that I wish I could bottle it and keep it with me. But then her expression shifts, and I know she’s about to bring up something serious. I brace myself.
“When do we have to go back to Willow Bridge?” she asks quietly, almost like she doesn’t want to break the peace between us.
I sigh, running a hand through my damp hair. “Soon. The break’s almost over, and with everything happening…” I trail off, not wanting to lay all the shit that’s going on at her feet. “It’s not safe anywhere else.”
She hesitates, biting her lip. “I’ve been thinking… what if I didn’t go back?”
My head snaps toward her, my brows furrowing. “What?”
“I mean, I like it here,” she says, sitting up a little. “The city, the energy—it feels more like me. Willow Bridge is… I don’t know. It feels like I’m trapped sometimes.”
Her words hit a nerve, and I sit up too, turning to face her fully. “Maddy, the city isn’t safe right now. Not with everything going on. Staying here isn’t an option.”
“I know,” she says quickly. “But?—”
“No ‘but,’” I cut in, my voice firmer than I intended. “You’re with one of the Five Crowns now and that puts a target on your back.”
She flinches slightly at my tone, and I immediately regret it. Softening my voice, I reach for her hand.
“Baby, listen to me. I’d love to keep you here, but with everything that’s happening… it’s too dangerous. Willow Bridge is the safest place for you.”
Her eyes flick to mine, filled with both frustration and understanding. “I just don’t want to feel like I’m hiding.”
“You’re not,” I say, squeezing her hand. “You’re being smart. If something happened to you because you stayed here, I’d never forgive myself.”
She hesitates, then nods slowly. “I hate that you’re right.”
I smile, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “You’re my everything now, and they’ll see that. They’ll use you against me if they can.”
She looks stunned, her lips parting as if to argue, but no words come out. After a moment, she swallows hard and nods. “I… I understand.”
I cup her face in my hands again, forcing her to look at me. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Do you hear me? I’ll protect you with everything I have.”
I lean in, pressing my lips to hers in a kiss that’s both tender and desperate, needing her to feel how much she means to me.
When I pull back, her eyes are still closed, her breathing uneven. “Okay,” she whispers. “We’ll go back to Willow Bridge.”
“Good,” I say softly, resting my forehead against hers. “And when this is all over, I’ll bring you back here. I’ll show you everything. The city, the countryside, all of it. You’ll love it.”
She smiles, a real one this time, and it lights up her whole face. “Promise?”
“Promise,” I say, sealing it with another kiss.
For now, all I can do is focus on keeping her safe and taking down anyone who dares to threaten her. Because Maddy isn’t just the woman I’m falling for—she’s my world now, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.
T he quiet hum of the city filters in through the half-open window as I sit on the edge of the bed, my gaze fixed on Maddy. She’s sprawled out on her stomach, one arm thrown over the pillow and I trace the curve of her cheek with my gaze, committing every detail to memory.
Her blonde hair spills over the pillow like silk, and her face is relaxed, free from the shadows of fear and guilt that often linger when she’s awake.
God, she’s beautiful. The way the faint glow of the moonlight falls on her bare shoulder makes me want to crawl back under the covers and hold her for a little longer.
But I can’t. Not tonight.
I lean down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, careful not to wake her. She shifts slightly, murmuring something incoherent, and I smile. It’s these quiet moments that make me realize how much she’s become a part of my life—a part of me.
But the peace doesn’t last. My mind shifts, as it always does, back to the chaos of the past few days. I sigh, grabbing my phone from the nightstand and step into the living room, closing the door softly behind me.
I scroll through my contacts until I find Connor’s name and press call. It doesn’t even ring twice before he picks up.
“Mihai,” Connor greets, his voice sharp but slightly tired. “Figured you’d call.”
“I had to. Tell me where we stand,” I say, walking over to the kitchen and leaning against the counter.
Connor exhales heavily. “My father found out who’s behind the kidnapping—Anthony Dawson.”
My jaw tightens. “Santiago mentioned the fucker, according to Maddy. How the hell did your dad get that information so fast?”
Connor snorts. “He had a bit of help. Konstantin, surprisingly. That bastard’s tracking skills are damn near supernatural. Traced communications straight to Dawson’s crew.”
That catches me off guard. “Konstantin? Didn’t think he’d be the type to play tech genius. That’s what we have Nikolai for.”
“Neither did I,” Connor admits with a low chuckle. “But he’s full of surprises. Marina might’ve been onto something when she told him she wouldn’t be just some arranged bride. Looks like he’s trying to prove his worth.”
I can’t help but smirk. “That sounds like Marina.”
“Yeah, and he’s… handling it,” Connor says, though there’s a note of amusement in his voice. “Not sure if it’s just the challenge he likes or if there’s something real there, but he’s determined. I’ll give him that.”
I nod, though he can’t see me. “What’s the next step?”
“Simple,” Connor says, though his voice hardens. “We’re taking the fight to Dawson. He’s not gonna know what hit him. First move: we take his youngest son, Malachi.”
That makes me stop in my tracks. “You’re kidnapping his kid?”
“An eye for an eye,” Connor says bluntly. “Dawson took our girls; we’ll take his son. No one is supposed to know this son even fucking exists and Dawson dotes on him. So, perfect fucking trade.”
The ruthlessness in his voice isn’t new, but it still sends a chill down my spine. Connor’s always been the laid-back one, the joker, but when it comes to his sister—or anyone he considers family—he’s a fucking hurricane.
Connor Cunningham has no qualms about being shameless to get his point across.
“Who’s going with you?” I ask.
“Me, Konstantin, and Nikolai,” Connor replies, the distaste in his voice evident. “Not my choice, mind you. Orders are orders.”
I sigh. “I don’t need to tell you to keep your head clear.”
“Don’t worry about me, mate,” Connor says, though his voice softens slightly. “But let’s get one thing straight—I’d rather chew glass than work with Nikolai right now. That piece of shit broke every bit of trust we had. If it weren’t for Marina and Cat, I wouldn’t even consider it.”
“I get it. But he wants to find Cat, too. That’s got to count for something.”
“Maybe,” Connor mutters. “But I’ll never look at him the same way.”
The weight of his words sits heavy between us. Nikolai’s betrayal cut deep, and while I can see both sides, I know the road to fixing this won’t be an easy one.
“Connor,” I say after a pause, my voice quieter. “Be careful.”
There’s a brief silence before he responds, his tone softer. “I will. You know me.”
“Yeah,” I say with a small smile. “That’s why I’m telling you to be careful.”
He chuckles. “Touché.”
We sit in silence for a moment, the gravity of the situation hanging in the air. Then Connor speaks again, his voice more serious. “Look after Maddy, yeah?”
“Always,” I say without hesitation.
“Good.” There’s a pause, then he adds, “And Mihai? Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For always having my back.,” he says, his voice steady.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “You don’t have to thank me for that, Con. You’re my brother.”
“Aye, that’s why I’m thanking you,” he says. “Chat soon.”
The line disconnects, leaving me in the silence of the penthouse. I sit there for a moment, staring out at the city lights, my mind racing.
Dawson’s involvement makes sense, but it’s not enough. Someone had to tip him off about the girls’ movements, someone close enough to know the routes and schedules. The thought of a deeper mole among us makes my blood boil.
I stand, pacing the room, trying to shake off the unease. Maddy’s face flashes in my mind, the way she looked at me tonight, her trust so unwavering. I can’t let her down. I can’t let any of them down.
When I finally head back to the bedroom, I stop in the doorway, my breath catching at the sight of her. She’s shifted in her sleep, the sheet tangled around her legs, her face serene. Despite everything, she looks peaceful, and it steadies something in me.
I climb back into bed carefully, sliding under the covers. She stirs slightly, her hand instinctively finding my chest, and I place mine over hers, holding it there.
“You’re my reason to fight,” I whisper, though she can’t hear me. But then she stirs slightly, murmuring something.
“Everything okay?” she mumbles sleepily, her eyes barely opening.
“Yeah,” I whisper, pulling her into my arms. “Everything’s fine. Go back to sleep, baby.”
“Hmm…” She snuggles closer, her warmth grounding me, and for a moment, I let myself believe it’s true.