She smiled. A true, honest, full-faced smile, and I was smitten.

“I wanted to hate you,” I said.

“And now you love me?”

“Yes. You always told me that you were second best, but I promise you, Aurora, you’ll always be my first.” I took possession of her mouth, holding her tight to me. The building in flames faded behind us.

I was never going to let this woman go. She never stood a chance.

I loved her. There was no denying that, and I never intended to hold back. Aurora would have all of me, the parts I didn’t let anyone else see.

“Slavik,” Aurora said.

“Yeah.”

“I love you.”

I smiled. “Call me Vik.”

Epilogue

Aurora

Five years later

We’d left the penthouse apartment after my first pregnancy, and Vik found us a country home. It was a modest seven-bedroom set back in the countryside with a nice expanse of garden. He made sure to have a pool as well as a gym installed on the grounds. There was always plenty of guards.

Ever since Cara’s betrayal, Ivan stopped allowing anyone to get close to him. He didn’t accept visitors, and he’d even kept Vik at arm’s length. We wouldn’t let him break off his friendship. Even though he terrified me, I always extended dinner invitations as well as special invites for him to come. He kept most of them.

Christmas was the only time I saw the real man, not the boss, the man in charge. Our kids loved him.

Our firstborn we’d named Slavik Ivan Ivanov. When we told Ivan his name, he’d burst out laughing, but we’d seen the joy in his face.

Our little girl came a year later. It would seem Slavik was addicted to getting me pregnant. We named our daughter Hope. Last year, I’d given birth to another son, and true to my husband’s nature, he’d named him Ivan Slavik Ivanov. Yeah, I wasn’t exactly sure about that one, but he wouldn’t budge. Strong names for his boys.

Glancing out the garden, I saw the barbeque was already going and Ivan controlled the grill.

We had Andrei and Adelaide coming, and they were on their way, as well as a few other Brigadiers.

Slavik came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my thickening waist.

“How are my two girls?” he asked, kissing my neck.

“I’m pregnant again. My ankles feel huge, but the doctor has told me I’m healthy.” I leaned back against him.

“You love having my children,” Slavik said.

“If we have another boy, you’ve got to promise me you’ll find another name.” I looked out at the garden. We had two Slaviks and two Ivans in our presence. I chuckled to myself. Baby Ivan was too young to recognize his name.

Our son Slavik kept on going to adult Ivan to see what he wanted.

“Never going to happen. We’re going to have girls from now on, you will see.”

I sighed. Leaning against him. “And what makes you think that?”