Page 143 of Scarlet Promise

“Ready,” I say.

He turns the screen, and there, in black and white, is our baby.

“Our bunch of dividing cells is even more beautiful than I imagined,” Ilya murmurs.

It’s nothing more than a blob, but it’s ours, a thing made from love, a thing that’ll be a child one day.

I let out a small sob, and Ilya kisses my hand again.

“The heart is fast,da?” Ilya asks.

“Heartbeat’s racing, yes,” the doctor says, “but that’s normal and a good sign.”

I can’t stop smiling at that blob.

“We made that,” I whisper.

“I know,” he whispers back.

The happiness inside me is so huge that it’s almost unbelievable. Because that’s all there is. Just happiness. For the first time in a long time, my feelings aren’t marred by sadness.

I’m lucky. Ridiculously lucky to love and be loved by two amazing men. One is gone, yes, but never forgotten, and the other…

Ilya’s here. Mine. Going nowhere.

The doctor cleans me up, and then we’re given the official stamp of release. We head home, and Ilya sits me on the bed upstairs. Albert runs around us and investigates everything in the room with his tail wagging, happy to be home with us both.

I know how he feels.

What I want is to shower and change and start anew in a symbolic way. Maybe get all dirty again. But the look in Ilya’s eyes makes me stay where I am.

“I want you to know I’ll never leave your side again, Alina.”

“Same for me.” I smile as he leans in, kissing me softly.

But then he straightens.

“I’ve been thinking,” he says. “What if Demyan and I merged our two bratvas together?”

I frown. “Rule together?”

“Demyan can rule. I’m more than happy to go back to being second-in-command. It’s the only way I can see my bratva surviving anyway.”

“You have loyalty?—”

“Some now. Yes. But I’m not your brother. I’m better behind the scenes. Demyan’s better at the front, and enemies and friends alike respect him. But I know he needs me to temper him, and I need him to make the bratva work. So our bratvas being one makes sense. We can do it officially at the end of the twelve months.

“In all honesty, I’m just not cut out to be pakhan. I want to be with you. To be a big part in our child’s life. I got a chance with you that I understand now. And I think it’s a gift from Max,malyshka.

“I won’t squander it. I want to do what he’d have done. Focus on you and our family. Max has a place in your heart, just as he should have, and I don’t want to focus on you for him, but for us. I’m just acknowledging his gift.”

My heart squeezes so tight, and I can’t move. “You are the most incredible man I’ve ever met, Ilya. Hands down.”

“We can work on your dreams together. The dogs, cats too.” He smiles. “We’ll save the shelter, build more, and have a sanctuary, too. There’s a world of possibilities, and we’ll explore them together.”

“Oh, Ilya…” I swallow. “Call Demyan.”

He does and puts it on speakerphone.