“Yeah, you ready to hear it?”
She nods once. “I’ve been ready for ages.”
I clear my throat. “You were taken by the leader of the Russian Bratva, also known as the mob. He took you because your biological father crossed his father in some way, and don’t ask me how because I don’t know. I didn’t go digging for that information because my main priority was getting you. We found you because the woman across the street from the tattoo shop, the one who lives above the café, had security cameras pointed toward the alley. It was because of her we were able to see the wolf tattoo on the man who took you, leading us to find out it was someone who worked for the Volkolv family. Katya was on her way back from Istanbul and took us to the Volkolv estate.” I’m summarizing the series of events for her, but the part I’m about to say is the part where I’m unsure how she’ll react. “Katya’s cousin was the man who took you, her mother was half-siblings with his father, and now Katya has claimed the role as leader of the Russian Bratva. Your father was an arms dealer, who was actually Katya’s husband.”
Dema sits up a bit straighter and stares at me with widened eyes. “Do you mean Sergei?”
“How do you know his name?”
She shrugs. “I’ve only heard about him from some of the men who work for you, briefly hearing about the way he was . . . feared yet respected.”
Her words are nicer than most would use. Sergei Kolosov was a foul beast. “Katya told me that you were conceived when they were married, that they had a night with your mother and well, here we are now. As you’ve told me your father provided for you financially while your mother took care of you, but I found out the day we rescued you that you have two half-sisters. Natasha is older, and Larisa I believe is a few years younger than you.”
“I have sisters?” Dema’s eyes widen more and she puts a hand over her mouth in complete disbelief.
“Yes, two of them.”
“I can’t believe this . . . this is all so much to take in . . .”
With that, I’m using this opportunity however I can, so I kneel down on both of my knees and pull the red box out from my jeans and open it, praying to God she doesn’t say no. “I hope you’ve come to realize we’re anything but a charade, Dema. Sure, we were forced together to save your life . . . but you’ve given me purpose, and I want to spend the rest of my life by your side. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Dema’s hands shake in front of her mouth and she nods profusely, so I slide the diamond ring Katya picked out with smaller opal stones around it over her finger and before I can take another breath her lips are on mine.
While we haven’t had an easy run as a couple, we’ve made every damn moment count and I know we’ll continue to do so until the end of our days.
This woman is everything I’ve ever wanted, and I can only hope I’m the same for her.
Epilogue
Dema
It’s been two weeks since Kronid sat down to explain all that he knew of my family. To say my world was rocked back some is a drastic understatement. It explains why Katya was in my hospital room because she was married to my biological father before he died. Though I’d have thought she wouldn’t have liked me since I was the product of another woman he’d slept with.
I mean Trista’s parents are divorced and her mother despises my friend’s little brother, who was born when her ex-husband remarried a really nice woman.
Then again, I don’t know much of how families are supposed to be. Maybe it depends on the people in the family. According to Kronid, who admitted to killing a man my sister was married to, I shouldn’t expect to get to know her. I couldn’t be mad at him for doing something to a man I didn’t know. I didn’t even know Natasha and as it stands now, I don’t know if I’ll ever want to know her. One day, maybe. Who knows? Then there’s Larisa and I don’t know much about her, but Kronid’s spoken to me about his own strained relationship with his younger half-sister, even explaining how his father conditioned him to be his own miniature soldier of sorts, making it seem like the world was against his father, and not like his father was the bad man. At the end of the day his father was bad, he might’ve even been as horrid as my biological father.
For the past couple of days, I hadn’t been feeling the greatest and I was lucky enough to already have a follow up appointment set for this morning. I promised Kronid I’d mention not feeling well to the doctor and see what they say. Hopefully it’s not the flu or anything else serious.
We were in the process of planning a wedding after he proposed to me. I thought it was beautiful how Kronid informed me nothing about the two of us could be a façade. Then when he pulled out a gorgeous ring and asked me to marry him, I felt like I was living a real-life fairy tale. We may have started out in a strange way, but the two of us have longed for each other to know what the heart wants.
I told Kronid I didn’t want a massive wedding. I simply wanted a small, intimate affair where the two of us stood in front of our friends and family where we said our vows to one another. Kronid agreed, more than happy to keep it small.
“How are you feeling today, Dema?” the doctor asks after stepping into the room. I didn’t even hear her knock on the door. But if it were anyone else, my guard, who now goes with me everywhere when I’m not with Kronid, wouldn’t have let them pass.
Since I left the hospital, Kronid’s kept his word and when I brought it up that he didn’t need to do this, I thought he was going to yell at me. Instead, Kronid simply stated, ‘You might not think you do, but I’m not about to take a chance with your life again.’
I couldn’t argue with him, not when his words were so meaningful. If he needed this to be able to focus on what he has to do then I’ll endure the brunt of it. Besides, I get to go back to work hopefully tomorrow, as long as the doctor clears me today.
I miss tattooing and haven’t been able to since before Maxim nearly ripped my body apart. I still have nightmares, but I’m thankful more than anything to have Kronid with me every night to hold me through them.
“Honestly the pain is gone. I’m still somewhat tender but I can at least walk now without agony and I can move my arms without wincing,” I inform her.
“That’s very good, Dema. I don’t see why you can’t go back to work as long as you promise not to overdo it, but you need to start on light shifts,” the doctor states.
“I promise,” I murmur with an enthusiastic nod.
“Good, now is there anything else you would like to discuss before I send you off?”
“Actually, there is. See the last few days, I’ve been feeling under the weather and I wanted to make sure I didn’t have the flu or anything. You know with taking care of my grandparents, I’d hate to be the cause of them falling ill.”
“Understandable. Now when did you have your last period?”
My mind falters at the question. I honestly don’t remember. With the pain my body’s been suffering for the past several months it slipped my mind.
“Um, I’m not sure.”