Page 67 of Toxic Salvation (Krayev Bratva #2)

SIX MONTHS LATER

“Kovan?”

I stick my head into the nursery to find Pavel and Charity dipping their toes into family life by babysitting both boys.

Charity has Tali on her lap, but he’s more interested in crawling over to the race track that Pavel and Luka are constructing. Plastic pieces scatter across the hardwood as they debate the optimal curve configuration.

“He was here ten minutes ago,” Charity tells me, bouncing Tali absently. “Played with the boys, changed Tali’s diaper, gave them both a kiss, and then he disappeared.”

“Dammit. Did he say where he was going?”

Pavel and Charity exchange a look—the kind married couples share when they’re keeping secrets.

“He’s busy today, V,” Pavel says. “Is it urgent?”

“Depends on your definition of urgent. Luka, did Papa happen to mention where he was off to next?”

“He said that he had something speci?—”

“Oh, no!” Pavel lunges forward as part of their race track collapses. “Sorry, kiddo, that was my fault.”

“As you were. I’ll find him myself.” I give Luka a parting wink and hurry down the hall.

I check his office first—empty. Then the gym, the kitchen, even the wine cellar. Nothing.

I end up sticking my head into Mom’s room. She’s propped up in bed doing the crossword, reading glasses perched on her nose.

“Mom, have you seen Kovan?”

“Actually, I think he was looking for you. He was here an hour ago asking about your evening plans.”

I frown. “Weird. Why wouldn’t he just ask me directly? He has my schedule memorized. He knows I have the evening off.”

Mom shrugs. “He had a meeting with the FBI today. Maybe he forgot.”

“The FBI?!” I stare at her. “Are you serious? He didn’t mention that to me.”

She winces. “Oops. I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to get him in trouble. I thought you knew.”

That’s the thing—I should have known. Kovan tells me everything. I return the favor. The fact that he kept something this important from me means the meeting was about me.

The allegations Jeremy planted against me went all the way to the FBI. Because of who I am and who I’m married to, I’ve been able to continue my life normally, but there’s still an axe hanging over my head. The FBI has been investigating St. Raphael’s for months.

Thanks to Jeremy and Ihor, all roads lead back to me, courtesy of all the false information they planted.

It doesn’t help that they have actual evidence of my father’s crimes. Which fits perfectly with the whole “shady crime family” narrative that has a very real possibility of taking me down.

“Vesper—”

“It’s okay, Mom.” I turn down the corridor. “I’ll find him.”

I’m circling the living room when Osip walks in, watching me with amusement. “If you want to play fetch,” he chuckles, “I have a stick in the backyard we can use.”

“Bite me, Osip. Where’s my husband?”

“He’s not really your husband, though, is he?” Osip grins. “I mean, that whole marriage under the stars thing was romantic and all. But it hardly counts legally.”

“For fuck’s sake, why are we even talking about this?”

Osip takes a step back as though he’s worried I might bite. “Yikes. What’s got you all worked up?”

“Did you know that Kovan was meeting with the FBI today?”

He blinks rapidly. “I’m not sure he mentioned that to me?—”

“Cut the bullshit, Osip. You’re a terrible liar. Where is he?”

He points toward the garden. “Went for a walk in that direction, I think.”

Great. The man hardly has time for a proper conversation with me these last few days, but he has time for a leisurely stroll through the garden.

I abandon my shoes and hit the grass with bare feet for maximum speed. My skirt billows behind me as I search for my husband. I end up having to call out his name. It’s very Catherine and Heathcliff on the moors.

Except the stakes are so much higher.

“Vesper?”

Kovan appears from behind the rose bushes. His white shirt brings out the green in his eyes.

“I’ve been looking for you all day,” I snap. “What’s this I hear about a meeting with the FBI? It’s about me, isn’t it? They’ve concluded their investigation and found me guilty. I’m going to jail. Is that why you’ve been avoiding me all afternoon?”

Kovan steps forward and grabs my shoulders. “Someone’s had a few too many cups of coffee today.”

“I’ve had only one. Why didn’t you tell me about this meeting?”

“Because I didn’t want to worry you. Clearly, that worked out really well.”

I bite my lip. “Kovan, I’m freaking out here?—”

“You’ve been cleared of all charges,” he interrupts. “You’re not going to court, Vesper. You’re officially off the hook.”

My lungs fill with air. For a moment, I feel weightless. Then: “Seriously?”

“Seriously.” Kovan smiles.

“But how?”

He pulls me into his arms. “I found Jeremy.”

“No!” I gasp. “I thought he’d disappeared off the face of the planet.”

“No one disappears until I make them disappear. I found the pathetic fucker hiding out in West Texas. He changed his name, created a whole new identity for himself. I believe he was planning on leaving the country. He didn’t count on me catching up to him before he made his move.”

“So he confessed?”

“I made sure he did.”

“Does that mean?—”

He puts a finger to my lip to shush me before I can get into the grisly details. “Jeremy Fleming is going to prison for a very long time, Vesper.”

My legs buckle, but Kovan catches me. “I can’t believe it. It’s over then, isn’t it?”

“It’s over. You’re in the clear. We all are. The Keres is officially dead, Jeremy is in custody, and Ihor and Yana are maggot food.”

Taking his hand, we walk over to the stone bench together, and I drop down heavily. “I’m in shock.”

“I told you I’d keep you safe, didn’t I?” Kovan says. “I can’t believe you ever doubted me.”

I rest my head against his shoulder. “I feel like I can finally live my life. I feel like I can finally be happy. Thank you, my love.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I’d do anything for you.”

I pull his face to mine and kiss him the way I kiss him in our bedroom—the kind that has an ulterior motive, that’s meant to lead to other things. Sexy things. Dirty things.

“Whoa, hold on a second?—”

That’s a first. He never breaks this kind of kiss.

“You said you’ve been looking for me all day?” he asks.

“Right.” I gulp air and try to catch my breath. “You know what? It’s not important.”

“Vesper…”

“Okay, well, things have felt a little off at the hospital for the last few months. I don’t know if it’s because of the FBI investigation or if something has changed for me, but…”

“Yes?”

“I think I want to leave St. Raphael’s.”

He looks stunned. “And do what?”

“I was thinking private practice,” I explain. “I could start up a clinic of my own. Like Dr. Mann, except I’d hire better architects. And better security.”

He smiles. “That’s a brilliant idea.”

“You think?”

“As long as it’s what you want.”

“I think it is. The last six months have been so intense. I’ve missed more bedtimes than I can count, and being on call means I have to keep disappointing the boys every time I get summoned away.

This way, I’ll still get to practice medicine, but I’ll have more control over my schedule.

More time at home with the boys and more time with you. ”

“Sounds fucking perfect.” He pulls me onto his lap.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you all day, but you’ve been so busy. Was it because of the FBI meeting, or is there something else going on that I should know about?”

Kovan smiles. “Well, since you asked…”

He gets to his feet and pulls me up, too. Then he leads me through the garden until we reach the alcove—the pretty little half-lawn that’s cut off from the rest of the grounds by tall trees and flowering plants.

Except it’s not the alcove as I know it.

A gorgeous, ten-foot arch looms against the willow trees, decked out in lilacs, yarrows, and lupines. The entire space is covered in fairy lights hanging down over…

Well, over everyone. Mom. Pavel. Charity. Waylen. Osip. And, of course, our beautiful boys.

I turn to Kovan and shake my head. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”

“What’s happening is I got your name cleared today. And I figured, what better way to celebrate than to make it official and get married? Legally.”

My jaw drops. “You mean…”

“I’ve gotten ordained,” Waylen chimes in as he saunters up to us. “And all the legal paperwork has been processed. There’s nothing left to do but say your vows.”

“But we already said our vows.”

“Not in front of us!” Luka cries, balancing Tali on his hip.

“We love you both, Vesper,” Mom says. “And we should get to see you get married.”

I turn to Kovan, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. He kisses me softly on the lips.

“Well, Doctor? What do you say?”

Blinking away my tears, I laugh and nod. “Let’s make it official.”

Everyone whoops and claps. Luka rushes over to us, and we do a big group hug—just the four of us. Then Kovan cups my face, his eyes bright with happiness.

“I’ll be waiting for you under the arch,” he says, plucking Tali from Luka before walking to the other end of the lawn.

Luka stands up straight. He’s almost up to my shoulder now. “Come on, Mama. I’m walking you down the aisle.”

I can’t help but laugh through my tears.

As we walk toward Kovan, everyone starts throwing rose petals. Mom and Charity are already sobbing, and Tali’s chubby little legs are shaking with excitement as he watches Luka and me approach.

It’s not the wedding day I’d imagined.

It’s so much better.