Page 97 of Obsession of the Bratva

The officiant smiled.

“With the power vested in me by God, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Nico did not wait for permission twice. The second his hands settled around my waist, the world disappeared. The kiss was warm, certain and familiar. The continuation of a story rather than the beginning of one. Applause erupted around us and cheers followed. Someone whistled and it sounded a lot like Fyodor. I laughed against Nico’s mouth and he smiled.

And for the first time in a very long time, everything felt exactly as it should.

Not perfect. Not simple. Not easy.

Just right.

And somehow that was even better.

Epilogue - Vera

Two Years Later

“Vera.” I smiled before I even turned around.

Only one person in the world could make my name sound like both a warning and a love letter.

“Yes, my darling husband?”

It had been two years to us being married, and I still enjoyed referring to Nico as husband. A long-suffering sigh echoed from behind me and I grinned. Two years. Two whole years. And annoying Nico Romanov never became dull. Perhaps I enjoyed it even more than I had when we were dating. I turned away from the balcony and found him standing in the doorway with our daughter balanced on one arm.

My heart immediately melted. It happened every single time. No exceptions. The man looked exactly as dangerous as he always had. His shoulders were deliciously broad, and his jawline remained sharp. The very same eyes that freeze entire rooms were trained at me with an expression that could only be called love.

All of that intimidation in his body disappeared the second he was holding our daughter. She was asleep against his shoulder, one tiny hand fisted in the collar of his black shirt. Her dark curls were slightly messy, and her cheeks were round.

She was perfect. And completely capable of controlling the most feared man in Miami.

“She is asleep?” I asked quietly.

Nico glanced down, and his expression softened immediately.

“Finally.”

I laughed. “That bad?”

He looked personally offended. “She negotiated bedtime.”

“She’s two.”

“Exactly.”

I bit back another smile as he walked into the room and carefully lowered himself onto the couch. Every movement was deliberate and measured, as though he was transporting state secrets instead of a sleeping toddler. Then again, to Nico, there wasn’t much difference.

Sophia Romanov was the center of his universe.

He would never admit it quite so openly, but everyone who saw them together knew it anyway. Especially me. Our daughter shifted slightly against him, and Nico froze. Completely. I watched in amusement while he remained motionless for nearly ten seconds. When she settled again without waking up, he finally relaxed.

“You are ridiculous.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I am just being careful so her sleep doesn’t get disturbed. If she wakes up, you will be the one putting her to bed this time.”

“Mean. When she grows up, I will tell her how terrified you were of her waking up in the middle of a nap.”