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They treated her and Ivan to a standing ovation.
Feeling her knees buckling, she clung harder to Ivan. He swept her up in his arms at once, as if he’d been itching for an excuse to do so, drowned her in a kiss that sent the whole world spinning.
She clung around his neck and kissed him back as deeply to the background music of raucous cheers and hoots. She vaguely discerned the unfamiliar voices among those of her family and friends. Those of his brothers and their wives.
Curiosity and impatience to see those men who’d shared so much with Ivan, who were a major reason he’d survived, had become the incomparable force of nature he was now, overwhelmed her. It would have taken nothing less to make her cut their kiss short.
Looking avidly at the crowd as Ivan resumed descending the stairs with her still high up in his arms, she almost gasped. The collective of his brothers, now on their feet, was staggering. It was as if she was looking at different versions of Ivan.
She was thrilled to see Dr. Balducci—Tonio as Ivan called him and insisted she did, too. Now his terrible misunderstanding with Liliana had been resolved, and she was now his wife, he looked on top of the world. The others she recognized at once from Ivan’s descriptions of them. Each was totally unique. Yet they all looked as if they’d been made from the same higher-being material. As they had. They’d all been chosen by The Organization for being prodigies, then they’d been forged in the inferno of ordeals into the best and most powerful versions of themselves.
And those men had in turn picked women who were clearly their perfect match. Each woman stood beside her man, as magnificent as he was in her own way. She only hoped she looked anywhere near as worthy and fitting standing next to Ivan.
Everyone let the newcomers approach Ivan and her first. Ivan put her down on her feet so she could meet them. Not knowing how to welcome those formidable beings who towered over everyone, she started with Antonio Balducci, extending her hand, lips splitting in delight at seeing him again. And he set the rules for this encounter. Her former surgeon and savior pulled her into an affectionate hug, telling her that he’d be her brother-in-law now. His new bride, Liliana, followed suit, expressing her delight that she’d have yet another sister.
The rest of the introductions were as enthusiastic and warmhearted, with her being hugged and kissed and doted on by all, even his brothers’ children. There was quite the array of them. Raiden and Scarlett had six alone, adopted and biological. The others had two or three and a couple were working on the next one. Even the newest wife, Liliana, was clearly pregnant. And when Anastasia expressed how incredible it was her and Ivan’s baby would be born to find so many brothers and sisters, she was exposed to another round of deluging delight and indulgence.
After they judged Ivan’s brothers and their families had gotten enough exclusive time with her and Ivan, the rest converged on them. Or really mostly on Ivan. His sisters and brother and their spouses and children more or less carried him off like they’d been doing the past few days whenever they could, unable to get enough of him. And that when they had no idea who he really was to them.
No one but both their parents knew, or would know of last night’s revelations, at least until they all agreed on how to break out the news that Ivan was family in more ways that they thought.
After what she could only describe as the best Christmas lunch in the history of the planet, everyone decided it was time to open presents.
And there were so many presents. Everyone had bought presents for everyone else. His brothers and their wives had done their homework to such a meticulous level, no doubt with Ivan’s insider’s help, they’d gotten every single one of her extended family a unique, incredibly suitable, not to mention lavish gift.
Then came her own present. Something she couldn’t have even imagined.
The brotherhood were offering her The Alex Shepherd Research Division, a whole new arm of Black Castle Enterprises that she’d build and helm to Alex’s specs and in his memory.
It took hours for her, and for her family, to really wrap their mind around the enormity of this gift.
At one point when she’d barely recovered her wits, she realized one strange thing. Apart from her own gift from the brotherhood—which she was certain had been orchestrated by Ivan—he was the only one who’d gotten no one anything.
Which didn’t make sense whatsoever with him being such an extravagant giver.
Which meant one thing. He was keeping his own gifts to everyone for last.
As she wondered what they would be, and when he’d present them, he stood up and invited everyone to dress warmly and follow him into the garden overlooking the ocean.
As everyone rushed after him, it only took stepping outside for everyone to freeze to the spot and gape at the sight before them.
The garden, now covered in snow, had been turned into a Christmas wonderland.
Ivan rushed down the stairs with her dazed beside him, encouraging everyone to follow suit. As soon as everyone descended into the garden, two musical bands, each made of two-dozen musicians and as many singers started playing Christmas carols and songs. The whole place had been turned into an
amusement park complete with carousels and rides for both children and adults. And interspersing everything, dozens of gigantic Christmas trees towered, magically decorated and lit. Beneath each tree, there were huge heaps of gift boxes in the most exquisite wrappings she’d ever seen.
She had no idea when he’d had all his done. Just last night none of that was there. Hell, it wasn’t there two hours ago when she’d last caught a glimpse of the garden.
Everyone, even his brothers, seemed to be transported into the fairytale ambiance Ivan had so meticulously created. Shrieks of delight echoed from the children, and laughter from the adults.
Dazed at yet another staggering display of his resources and thoughtfulness, she looked up at him as everyone rushed here and there to sample his wonderland’s enchantments.
“Tell me most of these boxes are part of the decorations.”
He bent and covered her now-cold lips in his warm ones, singeing her blood and making her forget a world outside him existed as always.
Letting her lips go with one last clinging kiss, he withdrew, teased, “You know I’ll do anything you want. You want me to lie, I will.”
