Page 82 of Sinful Union

I wait a while after she falls asleep before slipping out, carefully easing the door shut. In the hallway, I press a shaky hand over my mouth, fighting back the tears that threaten to fall.

Stay strong, Kat.Your family needs you.

I wander down the corridor. My old bedroom is just around the corner from my parents’ old suite. The entire second floor feels like a memory that doesn’t belong to me anymore.

Eventually, I find Pavel in what used to be my father’s office, rummaging for something amid dusty bookshelves. He glances up, relief washing over his face when he sees me.

“Hey,” he says gently. “Ana okay?”

I nod, hugging myself. “She’s asleep. Had to promise I wouldn’t go far.”

He sets aside a stack of old paperwork, stepping toward me. “I can’t blame her for being anxious. She’s been through hell.”

My throat thickens. “We all have. I’ll check on Vlad soon, make sure Camille got him settled. He looked ready to pass out in the car.”

Pavel slides an arm around my waist then raises my hand to his lips, kissing it, a tender gesture that makes me release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“We’ll make sure he’s okay. We’ll make sure everyone’s okay. Peace will be restored, and we won’t have to worry anymore.” Then, with a slight bend of his knee, he leans down and kisses my belly.

A swirl of fear, gratitude, and love takes over. I rest a hand on his shoulder, letting the warmth of his presence ground me.“You really believe we’ll have peace after this?”

He straightens, pushing a stray curl behind my ear. “We’re merging the Fetisov and Andreev Bratvas, forging a united front. Novikov sees our strength—he’s not going to risk an all-out war now that Piotr’s out of the way.Once Vlad recovers, we’ll confirm alliances. Yes, there will be bumps, but it’ll be better than constant betrayal.”

I allow a tiny smile. “You’re sure?”

His dark eyes soften. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you, Kat. You, Ana, and our baby. That’s my priority. That will always be my priority.”

I slip my arms around his neck, pressing my face to his collar. “I trust you,” I say. “I mean it.”

He draws back slightly, studying me, then he leans in and kisses me. My pulse flutters. “I love you.”

A smile curves his lips. “I love you, too.” He kisses me again. My thoughts drift to the future.

We’ll bury the old illusions about Piotr, bury the brutality he wrought. We’ll rebuild our home and salvage the happy memories there. Ana deserves that. She deserves a loving, joyful childhood without danger or fear clouding it.

Pavel’s hand drifts down, pressing against my belly in a protective gesture. “No more secrets,” he says.

Before he even says the words, I know what he’s referring to.

“With Ana, either.”

“We’ll tell her when she wakes up.”

His eyes shine with a quiet sort of joy on a day that’s held so much grief. He leans down, brushing his lips to my forehead.

“Let’s do it together.”

I take his hand.

Together.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Epilogue II

Pavel

Eight months later…

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