Page 117 of Bratva Shadow's Light
Sage elbows her way through. "I'm maid of honor, obviously."
"Excuse me?" Moira protests, hands on hips. "What am I, chopped liver?"
"Co-maids of honor," Fee laughs. "Mom is by definition mother of the bride."
The women descend into wedding planning chaos, whisking Fee away to the sitting room. Lorenzo beckons us men toward the study.
"This calls for the good whiskey," he announces, pulling out a bottle of thirty-year Macallan.
Maks claps my shoulder as we follow. "Congratulations, brother."
Dimitri accepts a glass from Lorenzo. "Congratulations, Anton. You've chosen well." He swirls the whiskey, then turns to Maks, his son, with mischief in his eyes. "Maybe Anton will have a baby before you do, Maksim."
Maks shoots his father an exasperated look. "We just got married not even a year ago, Dad."
"I'm not getting any younger," Dimitri sighs dramatically. "I want more grandchildren while I can still chase them."
"At sixty, you look like you're in your forties." Maks rolls his eyes, but his tone is light. "Just give it a rest."
Connor raises his glass. "To Anton and Fee. May your marriage bring you strength and joy."
We toast, glasses clinking in the warm glow of the study, but my attention drifts to the doorway where I can see Fee across the hall, laughing with the women, with the baby still in her arms.
The emerald on her finger catches the light as she gestures, explaining something that has Sage and Moira leaning in and captivated.
Fee looks up, sensing my gaze. Her smile shifts, softens into something meant only for me. I lift my glass slightly in her direction, and she responds by bouncing Aiden gently, a silent promise of what's to come.
Two years ago, I was drowning in grief, convinced my life ended with Katya's. Now I stand here, surrounded by family—my family—watching the woman who saved me holding a child, knowing one day she'll hold our own.
"You've got that look," Lorenzo says quietly, appearing at my side.
I turn, raising an eyebrow. "What look?"
"The one I had when I watched Moira with our son for the first time." His eyes drift to his wife and son. "That moment you realize everything you've built, every life you've taken, every deal you've made, it was all leading to this."
I nod, understanding completely. The weight of my past seems lighter now, knowing it brought me here, to Fee.
"It changes you," Lorenzo continues. "Having a child. Makes the world more dangerous because you have more to lose, but makes you more dangerous too, because you'll burn everything to the ground to keep them safe."
"I look forward to it," I admit.
Patrick joins us, surprisingly sober for a family gathering. "When's the wedding?"
"Whenever Fee decides," I answer.
"Smart man," Connor answers.
Life gives second chances to men who don't deserve them. But I'll spend every day ensuring Fee never regrets giving me hers.
The End
