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EPILOGUE

MIKHAIL

One Month Later…

“Alexei, it’s fine. Stop panicking!” I pat him on the shoulder trying to stop him running round. It’s exhausting me just watching him.

Probably the lack of sleep. Misha has a good set of lungs on him.

“It’s Misha’s baby shower, Miki, and the cake is not here yet.”

“Nikolai is fixing it. Everyone is on their way and your house looks like a circus threw up in here.”

I glance over at Lara clapping at the flamingos to get them outside.

Galena is a bit scared of the birds.

“Hey, big man.” A glowing Ana walks over, cradling our little boy in her arms.

She is incredible. We’ve been in our own little bubble for a month.

I’m enjoying this family man life.

Jax and a heavily pregnant Sofia walk through the door, Maeve running straight for Alexei, and Maverick in Jax’s arms grinning at all the balloons.

“Daddy! Pop!” He claps his hands.

“Anyone for vodka?” Enzo comes in from the kitchen with an enormous bottle. His eyes are red, he looks like he’s slept worse than me this month.

He’s been quiet.

“It’s 11am, Enzo.”

“Wait till 12.” Alexei smirks, not realizing Lara is right beside him until she taps his arm.

“We have a flight to catch later, Sladkiy.”

Wrapping my arm around Ana’s shoulder, I press her tight against my side just as Nikolai and his clan make their loud entrance.

Elena and Galena are giggling, heading straight for Maeve. With a huff, Nikolai drops the white box on the dining table.

“Fucking hell, Niki. The cake!” Alexei rushes over throwing the lid behind his back. He looks up and glares at Niki.

“You’re lucky.” He wiggles his finger.

Niki leans against me. “Can I punch him? He’s been a pain in the ass all week worrying about this party.”

“No. Brother. He’s done us proud.”

“Fine,” he grunts, walking past me and stopping in front of Ana.

“Can I have a cuddle with my nephew?”

“Of course.” Ana carefully hands a scrunched up Misha into Nikolai’s arms. He starts lightly bouncing on his feet. I watch his eyes land on Enzo knocking back a shot.

Niki nods to me at the back door.

“I’ll be back in a second.” I kiss Ana and stride over to Enzo, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him outside.

“Talk.”

He slumps down on the seat and pulls out a packet of cigarettes. Nikolai takes a big step back.

“I got so close to finding out the truth and then poof.” He mimics an explosion with his hands. “Gone. Again.”

I frown looking at Nikolai, he seems just as lost as I am with his riddle.

“Who?” I question.

Enzo sparks his lighter and takes a long drag.

“The ghost from my past. The reason I am who I am today. The woman who carved my damn heart out of her chest.”

“Give us a name and we can help you.”

Enzo cackles, his blue eyes burning into mine.

“No one can help me. If I’m right, I could be walking into my own death. That might put me out of this misery.”

I press the bridge of my nose.

We cannot lose Enzo. And he sure as hell is not going to war in this state.

“There isn’t anyone we can’t find, Enzo. You know that.”

He shakes his head, laughing to himself.

“There is. You know damn well there is. I’m ready to tear our worlds apart, Miki. Be prepared.”

Oh fuck.