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Oh, that.

I just told her I loved her for the first time. Properly. There was that time in the hospital last month, but that was offered as a what if. There’s no if in this.

I text her back.

Nikolai: I’m not going to take it back, diminish it. I love you. I’ve loved for weeks. I can’t stop loving you. But I know you might need to take things at your own pace. I know you’re scared. That’s okay. I’ll wait for you.

She bites her lip, staring at the glass.

I reach down to the button that makes it transparent. A gasp goes through the room. I can see it as they turn to me, everyone waiting as if I’m going to make an announcement. But there isn’t one. I just want my woman to see me.

She takes out her phone and types. My phone vibrates.

Serena: I was scared at first. But you’ve shown me who you truly are. I love you so much. I’m done fighting it.

I turn and rush for the door, a big smile on my face. I can’t ever remember feeling this light. Like I’m floating. She’s seen the worst parts of me and accepted me, anyway. I rush across the dance floor and pull her into my arms, kissing her passionately.

People start to applaud even though they don’t know what’s going on. They just know there’s some happiness, and that’s enough for them. That’s what this club is becoming. A place to celebrate. A place for goodness. And it’s all down to Serena.

“I love you so much,” I say intensely, pulling her against me.

“I…” She kisses me. “Love.” Another kiss. “You.”

We sink into the moment, my hands spreading over her back. She leans away in my embrace, erupting in gorgeous laughter as she looks around and realizes everyone is clapping.

“I didn’t mean to put on a show,” she says gleefully.

“Hey? Let’s ride it. PR, right?”

She laughs and takes my hand, then turns to the crowd and thrusts it up in the air. I chuckle and go with the flow. She winks at me, then bows, and I follow suit. We bow twice more, then she leads me across the dance floor toward my office.

My body stirs. My heart soars.

When I came here, I thought this club was my second chance. But I was wrong.

It was her.

EPILOGUE

SERENA

Three Months Later

Istand at Nikolai’s side as a series of men approach him, bowing their heads slightly and shaking his hand. I do my best to look like a mafia princess. That’s what Nikolai sometimes jokingly calls me now, but this is the first time I’ve felt like I had to perform.

But I will. For him. He was nervous about coming to his big brother’s wedding. Even now that he’s built two successful clubs and, together, we’re running the information network like a well-oiled machine. Even if he’s defeated the biggest threat to the Miami Bratva and he’s even braved the horror of a child’s play pit.

I put on my best smile as the last of the men pays his respects, then leaves. I lean up and whisper in Nikolai’s ear. “I guess that settles whether or not Maksim has forgiven you.”

“Not necessarily,” he replies. “A fallen prince is still a prince. They have to pay their respects.”

“Who do you think looks more out of place?” I ask, nudging Nikolai and gesturing over to the Sokolov brothers.

They’ve commandeered one of the four bars for themselves, Igor sitting at the end and sinking beer after beer. Dmitry casually leans against it. Yaro is cracking nuts aggressively and tossing the shells toward the trash, sometimes hitting and sometimes missing.

I hug close to Nikolai, doing my best to support him. We support each other; that’s just how we do things.

The venue is majestic, a giant hotel with colonial vibes, the Bratva renting the whole grounds. We’re in the garden, fairy lights everywhere, a special dance floor filled with people and their guests.