The Final Hour (Volkov Bratva #3)(13)

Lauren hardly made a sound.

In no time at all, the first star was done, the skin around it an angry red. Setting the machine down, he gently cleaned it, rubbing ointment over it as he looked up at her face.

“How was that?”

“The first ten minutes wasn’t so bad, but I was plotting your death for the last twenty-five.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Not so bad though, no?”

She scoffed, wincing as she rotated her shoulder. “The hell if it isn’t—and you got these on your knees too? You’re insane.”

Though he would never admit it to her, when he’d gotten the stars on his knees, it hurt like hell, but with the bone there, it made it ten times worse.

“One more.”

She took a deep breath, nodding for him to continue. This one was over just as quickly and as he sat back to look at his work, he couldn’t contain the smile that bloomed on his face. It was like a visual reminder that she was his and anyone that thought to harm her would now face the wrath of the entire Bratva, not just Mishca himself.

Clicking off the machine, he set it down, gingerly cleaning off the excess ink before smearing ointment over it. He tried to hide it—though she saw right through that mask—but he was proud of having those stars on her.

For several moments he just stared at them, like it was the first time he had ever seen them. Finally, he looked up at her, smile still in place as he snapped off the gloves.

“Ready to see them?”

She nodded, accepting his hand as he helped her up and led her into the bathroom. He moved behind her, his hands at her hips as she gave her time to take a look at her reflection.

Lauren didn’t look immediately, preparing herself for what she would see.

It didn’t disappoint.

While her skin was angry and swollen, Mishca’s stars sat prettily below her collarbone, made even better since Mishca was standing behind her. He had done a great job, placing her stars in nearly the same place as where his were inked.

“I like them,” Lauren said. “Guess I’m stuck with you.”

He leaned down, tenderly kissing the spot below her ear. “You never had a choice.”





The stands were overflowing with people, but that didn’t matter to Lauren as she spent the majority of the ceremony searching the crowds for her family. Since she was towards the end of the alphabet, she had plenty of time to look.

She had almost given up hope when her row was called. As they made their way into the aisle, Lauren caught sight of a sign being raised into the air. Everyone was staring at the obnoxious screaming person as he waved it around, but Lauren could only laugh at his antics.

This, in its entirety, was one of the main reasons she loved Luka. He was so odd.

With him happily making a spectacle of himself, Lauren found everyone else surrounding him. He was even able to get a reluctant grin out of Ross who was shaking his head at his behavior.

Mishca was sitting in front of them all and when his eyes found hers, the biggest grin lit up his face. She waved up at him, just hearing the subtle sound of someone clearing their throat behind her.

Back on track, she followed the line of people in front of her to the stage, her entire body jittery with nerves as she waited for her name to be called. Years of work, just for these few minutes and the crisp, bundled paper in her hands…it was all worth it. And even though it was just one step towards her dream, it meant everything to her.

She instinctively reached for the necklace that hung around her neck, but with it hidden beneath her gown, she could only feel the slight indentation it made as she felt for it. As much as this was for her, it was also for him.

When her name was called, Lauren took a calming breath, lifting the bottom of her gown so she wouldn’t trip on her way up—there would be nothing more embarrassing than falling flat on her face in front of hundreds of people.

She tried to discreetly wipe the sweat from her hand before she shook the dean’s hand, then accepted her diploma from the woman standing next to him. Overall, she doubted she had been on the stage longer than a couple of minutes.

Lauren returned to her seat, clapping along with everyone else as the last of the names were called. Towards the end, all the graduating students pulled off their caps, flinging them up into the air as everyone cheered.

Lauren watched hers flutter up, turning end over end before it dropped down to the ground amongst a sea of others.

They had done it.



As Lauren made her way through the abundance of students and proud family members, she pulled out her phone, ready to call Mishca to find out where they were, but on the outskirts of the crowds, she saw Susan and Ross were waiting for her, their eyes alight and infectious smiles on their faces as she rushed forward to hug them.

They had arrived the day before, staying at the Waldorf hotel for a couple of nights. Mishca had offered to put them up, but Ross adamantly refused. Knowing Mishca though, he probably did it still, just because Lauren wanted him to.

She hugged Susan first, kissing both of her cheeks before doing the same to Ross, but he didn’t stop there, swinging her up and around.

“We got these for you,” he said proudly, handing her a small bag with a teddy bear hanging out, a tiny graduation cap on its head, as well as balloons.

“Thank you. I’m so glad you guys could make it.”