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This time is no different. Pleasure bubbles up inside me, eclipsing my excitement and washing through me with such sweet relief that I can think of nothing else for several seconds.
Our bodies are connected.
Our souls are one.
I giggle when he pulls out of me, so lost in the wonderful afterglow that I almost don’t notice him clear his throat to get my attention.
I turn around, gasping when I realize what’s happening.
He’s holding a little red velvet box in his hand, and in the center of the box is the biggest diamond ring I’ve ever seen. The glittering stone in the center is surrounded by gorgeous green emeralds, shining in the light like they’re dancing for me.
“Valerie,” Pasha says, his voice deep and steady. “Will you marry me?”
I hold my hand to my mouth, trying to keep from crying as I nod my head. “Yes! Yes, a million times over!”
He smiles, and I’ve never seen a more beautiful face in my life. As he stands up, I rush into his arms, laughing like crazy as he holds me. I can feel his heart beating so fast that it matches mine. I hug him tighter, swaying with him as our bodies are unified again.
I can’t believe we’re really doing this. We’re going to get married!
Everything I ever dreamed of has come true, and in such a short time. Life truly is a miracle, and I was crazy not to see that before. Pasha showed me happiness again, and I can never thank him enough for that.
I hope a lifetime of love will suffice.
EPILOGUE
Pasha
It’s been a year since Anatoly died, but I no longer think of him as my brother. It’s not the same as when Valerie lost her sister. She loved Julia so much that she named our daughter after her.
That kind of love is what brings a family together. Anatoly only managed to push ours apart.
But I’m thankful to have known him. He gave me a new perspective on life, an appreciation for the people who give without expecting things back, people who are pure of heart.
People like Valerie, and people like our little baby Julia.
She’s so cute in her little pink onesie. She crawls around the yard all day while Valerie reads her books under the shade of the cypress tree. When Julia is tired, all I have to do is scoop her up in my arms and she falls asleep instantly.
She hardly ever cries. She’s strong, just like her mother, but she also loves deeply. I can see it when I look into her eyes. She trusts me in the same way that Valerie does, with total surrender, and it’s made me into a better man.
I’m truly blessed to be a father and a husband.
I play with the gold band on my finger as I look out into the yard, watching Valerie as she becomes immersed in another one of her books. I wonder what adventure she’s on today.
Beside her, Julia is playing in the grass, plucking it out and tossing it in front of her. I’ve never been so happy to watch someone attempt to destroy my lawn. She gets so much joy from the simplest things.
But perhaps I’m not all that different, because I get the most amount of joy when I watch her. Just simply observing her discover the world is enough to fill my heart to the brim with happiness.
I like to imagine that my dad is proud of me, wherever he ended up. He always stressed the importance of family even though it was so difficult to keep his together. It’s why all the rules in the Bratva were written, and it’s only now that I understand why.
That little green leather rulebook turned my life from a nightmare into a dream come true. I always thought that having a baby was about creating an heir to carry on the family legacy, but I was wrong.
It’s not about the legacy, it’s about living life the right way and unlocking the ultimate fortune, something far more precious than gold.
New life, new love, and a family that fills me with joy every single day.
Thatis the truest reward for all my hard work.
Thatis my happily ever after.
