Damien shows me one where I have my arm hooked through his, and we’re staring at each other. “The first night before dinner.”
I put down the photos and look at a printout of Damien’s accomplishments. There’s also correspondence between Madame Keller and my father where she tells him we have an unusual bond, and Dad makes his interest clear he wants to bid on Damien for me.
“The greatest gift he gave me,” I murmur.
DAMIEN
Carson called after he successfully completed his contract. It feels as if we haven’t seen each other in months, yet it’s only been four weeks.
I stand by the piers as I watch a boat approach the island, and then a smile forms on my face when I see Carson. He brings the boat to a stop next to the dock and tosses me a rope. I tie it to a pole and then hold my hand out to him. He takes it with a wide grin, and as soon as he steps onto the dock, we embrace each other.
“You got married,” Carson chuckles as he pulls back to grab his bag.
“Your brother’s doing,” I mutter. We stare at each other, then I ask, “You’ve been well?”
He nods as I gesture for him to walk. “The contract was successful. I had no problems.”
“Good.” I glance at him. “What’s next? Will you join Alexei?”
To my surprise, Carson shakes his head. “Not yet. I like being a lone wolf.” His gaze roams over the island, then he asks, “How’s married life?”
“Good.” Carson gives me a questioning look, and it has me elaborating, “It’s very good.” My words draw a chuckle from him.
As we near the house, Winter comes out the back door, and then I admit, “There’s no getting her out of my system. I love her.”
“I’m happy for you, brother,” Carson says, his words genuine.
“You’re not pissed off that I won’t be joining you?” I ask, not wanting there to be any bad blood between us.
“No. I’ll be fine on my own. Besides,” he gestures at the grounds surrounding the house, “I like having a place I can escape to between contracts.”
“You’ll always be welcome,” I say just before we reach Winter.
When Carson hugs her, Winter’s eyes widen, and she stands frozen. He lets her go, then laughs, “You’re family now.”
Her lips curve up. “So you don’t want to kill me for stealing your custodian.”
Carson lets out another burst of laughter. “I lost him the moment he laid eyes on you. I didn’t kill you then, so there’s no reason to worry now.”
“Carson Koslov,” Cillian says from the backdoor. “While you’re here, I want to hire you to take out Damien for marrying Winter behind my back.”
Carson’s eyes snap to me, and it has me chuckling. “He’s joking.”
“Don’t make jokes like that,” Winter chastises Cillian as she pushes him back into the house.
“Seems you got a father-in-law anyway,” Carson mutters.
“At least once a day, he wants to kick my ass,” I chuckle. Meeting Carson’s gaze, I explain, “It’s our way of bonding.”
“Come. Show me your house,” Carson says, throwing an arm around my shoulder.
Walking inside, I introduce Carson to Dana before I take him to the living room. Carson sets his bag down while I pour us each a shot of Vodka.
“Na zdoróvʹje,” we toast before swallowing the shot down.
Carson glances around then his eyes meet mine again. “How’s the diamond business?”
We take a seat as I answer, “Good. We had a successful run, and the next one is on Thursday. I was hoping you’d come with.”
“Of course. I’d like to see what you do now,” he agrees.
“Are you sure you can only stay the week?” I ask.
“Yes, I want to visit Alexei before my next contract.”
I nod as Winter comes into the living room. She takes a seat next to me, then smiles at Carson. “Do you know who your next contract is?”
Carson shakes his head. “Not yet.”
We visit until it’s time for dinner, and then we move to the dining room.
When Dana places a feast on the table, Carson says, “God, it looks good. I’ve been living off junk.” Then he grins at me. “No wonder you’re picking up weight.”
My eyebrows dart up as Cillian chuckles, and then I mutter, “I’ll kick both your asses in the barn tomorrow.”
“Oh, it’s on,” Cillian says, a grin spreading over his face.
Winter takes her seat on my right, and I reach for her hand, giving it a squeeze before we help ourselves to the delicious food.
While eating, banter and laughter fill the air, and as I glance around the table, I take in my family with a smile curving my lips.
I never knew something like this existed, not until Winter. My gaze drifts to her, and I’m met with her warm smile.
To think, I get to wake up to her beautiful face every morning. I get to watch men submit to her while she bends the knee to only me.
“I love you,” I murmur softly, now understanding the true meaning of the emotion.
Epilogue
DAMIEN
Fifteen years later…
Crouching next to Inna, our seven-year-old little girl, I murmur, “Take a deep breath, then you slowly let it out before pulling the trigger.”
Inna nods then lines the barrel up with her sight. I watch as she inhales and exhales, and then her tiny finger pulls the trigger.
When the paintball splats over Cillian’s back and he lets out a curse, I grab hold of Inna and make a run for cover.
“Little shits,” Cillian shouts after us.
Inna’s laughter explodes through the forest, and it has me covering her mouth as I try not to laugh myself. “Shh, we need to be silent.”
“Silent my butt,” Nikolai, our eleven-year-old son, chuckles, and then a paintball hits my leg. “Mom, I got Dad,” he yells.
I don’t stop running and pointing my gun at Nikolai, I shoot him in the stomach, bright yellow splatting over his black shirt. “Dad!” he shouts, and then he runs after me just as Winter breaks through the trees.
Inna clings to me like a monkey, ducking her head against my neck as paintballs splat against my back. Dramatically, I drop to my knees, groaning, “Save yourself, Inna. Run.”
“Don’t be silly, Daddy,” she sasses me, and then she opens fire on her mother and brother. No one has the heart to shoot her, and I crawl behind my daughter for cover.
“Grown ass man hiding behind a kid,” Cillian mutters as he tries to get past Inna. Suddenly Cillian darts forward, and he grabs hold of Inna, throwing her over his shoulder, and it has her screeching, “That’s cheating, Grandpa.”
She aims the gun at his ass and pulls the trigger, and then I’m struggling to breathe as laughter explodes from me.
Cillian puts her down and drops to his knees while grabbing hold of his ass. Inna gives him a self-accomplished look. “I’m the Blood Princess. No one messes with me.”
Nikolai shoots me one more time, and then I dart up, and his shrill scream echoes through the forest as I chase after him. He got his mother’s speed.