Page 70 of Bound Vows

“I know so. Elena always believed that love could redeem even the darkest circumstances. Our marriage proves she was right.”

The drive to the Hamptons takes us through familiar territory where we once conducted criminal business, but now, the same routes lead to construction sites and shipping facilities that operate within legal boundaries. The transformation feels symbolic of everything we’ve accomplished together.

As we enter our home—a mansion that serves as our residence and a symbol of our successful transition to legitimacy—I realize that redemption is possible when you find someone worth changing for. The criminal empire I spent sixteen yearsbuilding through blood and fear has been replaced by something infinitely more valuable: a legitimate legacy that our future children can inherit without shame.

Elena’s memory lives on through the foundation that bears her name, while Maya’s love provides the foundation for everything we’re building.

“I love you,” I tell Maya as we settle onto our living room sofa overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

“I love you, too,” she replies while curling against my side. “Even if you kidnapped me and forced me into marriage.”

“I did us a favor. Otherwise, we never would have discovered how perfect we are together.”

As the sun sets over our empire, I know that whatever challenges await our family, we’ll face them together. The Volkov name might have begun with tragedy and revenge, but it will continue with love and hope and the promise that some stories really do have happy endings.

The End