Epilogue
Luna
It's Christmas Day, and everyone is in the house. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone, including Anton, Sergey, and Goran at the table with us because we didn't want to exclude them. They're part of our daily lives, and Victoria cares for them all like older brothers. It's funny watching her surrounded by all these men who look like they've stepped out of the Special Forces.
Even Julia and Maksim showed up, though Max has a stone face and the only time he relaxed was when he gave Victoria their gift.
Her own machine gun. Yep. That's what she got.
I shake my head while watching Niko, who's explaining for the fourth time why she can't have a car.
Anuska bustles around trying to put food on everyone's plates, while Goran inspects each gift before letting Victoria see it.
"What a family." Julia's voice comes from behind me.
Her hair is tied in a high ponytail, making the strands swing with each step. She's wearing cargo pants and a brown T-shirt that perfectly complements her olive skin. She has a natural beauty that no makeup could do justice to.
"Tell me about it," I say with a laugh.
"You’re lucky to have each other," she whispers, and I sense a trace of regret in her voice.
We've managed to spend some time together discussing plans for the human trafficking victims Max is trying to save, but I didn't want to intrude into her life. I know she's been through things she doesn't want to talk about.
"You know you and Max are part of this family now," I tell her, trying to figure out what's going through her head.
"I have two sisters in Mexico. Every Christmas I think of them. They're safe. That's all that matters, but with each year I'm not with them, I feel like I'm losing a piece of my soul," she whispers, and the pain in her voice feels so raw.
"Can't you bring them here? Now that Max has taken power?" I don't know all the details, but I haven't heard of any ongoing conflicts.
"It's not time yet. Aleksandr has disappeared and I won't risk their lives," she tells me, and her eyes go to Max who's in a conversation with Anton. "I wanted him to have this so badly. Before I got to Russia, I had a family, Luna. I had the warmth of a home. He didn't. You know the first gift anyone ever gave him was from me? How do you not receive any gifts until you're nineteen?" she says, and my soul aches listening to her.
I take her hand and squeeze it.
"I think you are the greatest gift of his life, Julia."
Because anyone who looks at them sees how the air changes around them when they're next to each other.
"And he's mine," she whispers.
The doorbell rings, and I already know who it is because she’s always late. I rush to the door and when I open it, I’m a little shocked because Roxy is there, wearing a fitted cashmere dress, and beside her, Damien has his arms full of gifts.
"Uhh... Merry Christmas?" I say, still surprised to see Damien in jeans and a jacket and carrying gifts with red bows.
"Don't ask. This psycho was waiting outside my apartment door when I left to come here," Roxy tells me, and I know that tone.
It's her "I want you to think I'm angry, but I actually like it" tone, and I give her a "what the hell are you doing" look, which she catches and just shrugs at.
"Need help, Damien?"
"No, tygrysek," he answers with a smile, and I roll my eyes.
When we reach the living room, all eyes turn to Damien. Roxy already has a champagne glass in hand, and I see her in an animated discussion with Julia. My best friend probably knows her pin code and first grade teacher's name by now.
Roman comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me. "When is everyone leaving?" he says with a sigh, and I can't help but laugh.
"We've barely all gotten together. And besides, I haven't given you your gift yet," I tell him, reaching under the tree to get the box I put there for him. It was almost impossible to think of what to get someone who has everything they could want. He raises his eyebrows and looks suspiciously at the small wrapped box.
"Come on, I don't want to faint from anticipation," I tell him.
He slowly opens the wrapping, and when he sees what's inside the box, he freezes.
I asked Gregory to make a special model of the monitoring bracelet. This one is programmed to display alerts, including emergency alarm notifications, for all family members because, yes, I gave everyone bracelets to wear.
That's how they were able to locate me when all the madness with the Irish and Maksim happened.
For my love, there's something special engraved on the back. When he turns it over, I watch him read "Zhizn moya."
My life. Because that's what Roman has become to me.
"I couldn't think of a better term of endearment," I tell him, feeling slightly shy because his silence makes me nervous.
God, what if he hates the idea? I know it's just a gift and he probably won't wear it and that's fine, but somehow the thought that I missed the mark creates a void in my stomach.
"It's perfect," I hear him say and raise my eyes to look at him.
There's warmth in his gaze and his smile is enough to wake all the butterflies in my stomach.
"Really?" I ask, analyzing his features.
I don't think he'd lie to me, but I also know he wouldn't want to hurt my feelings.
"I wanted to postpone this gift until I met your parents, but I can't wait until then," he says and gets down on one knee.
I freeze, my whole body in a state of shock. No. I mean no. It can't be.
Roman pulls out a velvet box from a pocket inside his jacket, and when he opens it, the most beautiful ring sparkles in the lights from the Christmas tree. It has a large emerald in the center and around it…I hope those are orange-colored cubic zirconias. There aren't orange diamonds, are there?
"Luna, moya dosha, will you..."
I feel all eyes fixed on us. Roxy lets out a squeal of excitement, while Niko starts laughing.
"YES!" I don't let him finish because I can't stop the answer from coming out of my mouth.
"You don't even know what I was going to ask," he tells me, smiling, and I lean toward him and kiss him.
"It better involve the two of us, a priest, and an eternity beside you," I whisper against his lips.
His eyes darken and he stands, lifting me with his arms around my waist.
"Be sure that without an eternity, you won't escape from me."
When he puts the ring on my finger and I look at my hand, I feel like my heart has tripled in my chest. How is it possible to love him even more than I loved him before?
Many congratulations and hugs follow, and I know this has just become my favorite holiday. We were planning to visit my parents before the end of the year so they could meet Roman. They'll be ecstatic—after getting over the shock of finding out that I have a boyfriend whom they knew nothing about.
We’ve decided not to tell them everything. It's better for them.
Roman moves behind me and admires my hand with the ring.
"It's perfect," I whisper.
"No, you're perfect," he tells me and exhales, relaxed.
I notice Maksim coming toward us with a stormy look.
"Roman, we need to leave. We received an alert about Aleksandr," he tells us, and we both look at them with instant concern.
"Take men with you," Roman tells him, and Maksim just nods.
Before they leave, I hug Julia and feel her surprise.
"Take care of him," I tell her, just for her to hear.
"Always."
That's all she says before they both head out the door.
"The problems aren't over, are they?" I ask Roman, trying to wrap myself in his warmth.
"Something tells me we have a long way to go before they're over."