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“Jones-Ulianov.” She giggles as I swat her ass.
“There’ll be more of that later,” I warn as she slides her arm around my waist and tucks herself against my side. Where she belongs.
At the reception, tables draped in white linen are arranged around a polished wooden dance floor, soft lights casting a glow over the scene. The smell of food fills the air, mingling with the scent of pine from the surrounding forest.
Scarlett’s face glows at the sight of it.
Perfect.
Laughter and conversation drift through the cool night as we make our way to the head table. Luka and Ivan flank us both, the grins on their hardened faces genuine despite the constant fucking with me about me being tied down now.
As we make toasts, there’s more teasing from the two idiots.
I don’t care.
I can’t think of anything I want more than being tied to this woman.
“To the beauty who tamed this beast,” says Luka, raising his glass to Scarlett.
“To my not so tame beast,” she says in return, lifting a glass of sparkling water. The vodka is flowing, the conversation grows more animated, and through it all, I can’t believe this is me. This is my life now.
“I bet ole Red would never have imagined a day like this,” Art says, his eyes growing moist as emotions and vodka begin to combine.
“Red?” asks Luka.
“Scarlett’s dad,” says Cody, who ditched his signature sweats and hoodie for an almost decent suit.
“Scarlett’s father was named Red?” says Luka.
“Sure.” Art is nodding.
“Red and Scarlett Jones?” Luka says. He’s beginning to smirk.
“Ulianov,” I correct him.
He grins at me. “So what you gonna call your kid, boss? Pinkie?”
Carl is laughing, and Cody is snorting, and I’m not offended at all. These idiots can’t stifle my mood right now. Not as I watch Scarlett as she chats with Jess, her hands cradling her belly protectively.
“Can you believe there’s no more Volkov?” I hear Ivan tell Luka. I wonder if he’s feeling the same sense of relief that I’ve been feeling today.
“Good news for you,” says Luka. With the fucker gone, there’s been a vacuum in the organization, and rumor has it that Ivan will be filling the role.
That suits me just fine. An ally at the top of the ranks. It means that there’ll be no pressure for me to go back.
Not that I’d ever go back. Not when there’s so much to look forward to.
The night continues, and the sense of resolution and completeness seems to touch everyone present. And then it’s time for our first dance as a married couple…our first dance ever, now that I think about it. And as the music plays and the stars begin to sparkle above the snow-capped mountains, I pull Scarlett close, our bodies swaying gently to the rhythm.
“Look at us,” I tell her softly against her neck. “Husband and wife.”
Scarlett looks up at me, her eyes shining in the moonlight. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she whispers, her lips curving into a smile that holds the promise of a lifetime.
And as we dance, surrounded by love and family, I know that whatever challenges the world may throw at us, we’ll face them together.
Life is going to be good.
Epilogue
