Page 71

CHAPTER 70

MIKHAIL

Song- Atlantic, Sleep Token

I’ve never felt so at peace in my life. Running my hand over a sleeping Ana’s little bump.

Everything has fallen into place.

Not just for me, but for all my family.

Jax has Sofia and his kids, Niki and Mila are living in their crazy bubble, and she hasn’t stabbed him in a while, and Lara and Alexei are happier than ever with their flamingos and skydiving.

And me.

I have a wife and a son on the way. Something I never imagined in my future. I never believed I deserved this.

The scarred monster.

But she saw through me, she was fated to be mine. No one could love me as fiercely as her. She has given me the confidence to be a better version of myself.

I’ll always be a monster. It’s bred into me. Never to her. Just for her and my family when I need to.

This woman saw my flaws and loved me deeper because of them.

She snores softly against my chest. I stroke her dark hair away from her face and tuck the blonde streak behind her ear.

“You’re perfect, pretty girl,” I whisper.

I could sit and watch her all night. She has me hypnotized. Not just by her beauty, but by her pure soul.

She smiles and rubs her face against my chest.

As the rain beats against the window, I grin, thinking about that night in Russia.

I think that’s the night I realized I love her. That I could never let her go again.

“Hey, iskorka?” I whisper.

“Hmm?” Her eyes flutter open as I stroke her cheek.

“It’s raining outside.”

She lifts her head and rubs her eyes.

“It never rains here, does it?” She holds back a yawn.

“Hardly ever, baby.”

When she sits up, I push myself off the bed and hold my hand out to her.

She raises a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, and I wink back, a playful glint in my eye.

“A pretty girl once asked me to dance in the rain with her and look up at the stars.”

“Did she now?”

The warmth of her hand in mine sends a jolt through me as I nod.

“And did you do it?” she asks, chewing the inside of her mouth.

“I danced with her. Yes. But I didn’t look up at the stars. I didn’t need to.”

She tilts her head, her dark hair falling around her face, as I lift her to her feet, looking down at her small form.

“And why is that?”

“Because the spark I needed to bring me back to life was standing right in front of me. With her big, blue eyes piercing into the depths of my soul. Turns out, she was the missing piece in my life that I’d been searching for. She is my soulmate. My first true only love.”

“So I was right?” She gives me a wide grin and my heart flutters.

Fuck. I love her so much.

“You were right, baby. I knew it then, I know it now. Entangled with me, forever.”

My hands run over her stomach and tears fall down her cheeks.

“I have one more question for you,”

“What’s that, big man?”

I wipe the droplets away, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

“Will you do me the honor of dancing in the rain with me, pretty girl?”

I grip both sides of her face and press my nose to hers.

“I’d love to dance in the rain with you, handsome.”

I press my lips against hers, and she strokes the scars on my cheek. Sliding my left hand down her body, I rest it over her bump, feeling my little man kick my palm.

Closing my eyes, I relish in this perfect moment.

It’s like time stands still.

I almost wish I could stay here forever.

As I pull away, her glassy blue eyes meet mine, and I’m lost for words.

“Come on.” I swipe my sweater from the side of the couch and help her put it on before leading her outside.

The rain beats down over us. The cold water can’t even tame my fire for her.

I spin her round like a ballerina and then tug her flush against me, holding her close as we sway in the gentle drizzle.

There isn’t a soul on this planet I could love more than this woman in my arms right now.

Our children, yes.

But without her, our future wouldn’t exist.

I’d still be living in the depths of my own hell, letting the scars of my past taint my future.

She clawed her way in. She took my heart in her hands and she claimed it as hers.

Anastasia Volkov saved me when I didn’t even realize I needed to be saved.

And I will repay her for the rest of my life.

I will worship and adore her.

Fuck, I’ll even bark for her.

And I will forever be owned by my pretty girl.

I was right when I gave her the nickname “iskorka”. The woman that sparked me back to life.

Love is about letting them claim your soul and your heart.

True love is finding someone who will dance in the rain with you, and love your imperfections when you can’t yourself.

“I will always dance in the rain with you, pretty girl.”

The End.