Satin Princess(119)

Yulian understands immediately. “You’re exiling me.”

“If you step foot on American soil again, I will kill you, brother,” I say. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes.”

I move forward and clasp his shoulders with both hands. He looks up, clearly startled at the gesture.

“I love you, too, Yulian,” I say. “That is the only reason you’re still breathing. But if you disobey my orders one more time, not even the walls of White Swan will protect you.”

He doesn’t say anything. He just looks at me one last time before my men drag him away.

The room clears out. I’m left standing there between Lev and Jessa. Lev looks pale and Jessa looks like she’s holding back sobs.

“Anton, what about Chris?”

“We have him,” I say. “He’s drugged and weak, but he’s alive. I’ve got a team of doctors tending to him as we speak.”

“So he’ll be okay?”

“He’s expected to make a full recovery.”

“Oh God,” she breathes, leaning forward for a moment. When she straightens back up, her eyes find me again. Her relief gives way to sadness. “I’m sorry, Anton.”

“Don’t be sorry. At the beginning of this, I said I had two people who comprised my inner circle. I still do.” I draw her hand up to my lips and kiss it gently. “Now… let’s get out of this cursed fucking house.”





EPILOGUE: JESSA





It was Jessa’s idea to give birth in our bedroom. She thought of it as an auspicious start to our baby’s life. I didn’t really care where she pushed the little one out, just so long as both of them were safe and healthy.

Dr. Mathers appears at the threshold of the bedroom. She gives the nurse some instructions and ducks back into the lavish suite.

“Hey,” Lev says as he approaches me where I’m standing in the hallway. “Is it time yet?”

“Almost.”

“Did she kick you out already?”

“I just needed to check on some shit before I knock off for the next few weeks.”

“You’re really taking time off?” Lev asks in amazement. “I said I wouldn’t believe it ‘til I see it, but damn, I’m seeing it.”

I laugh. It’s easier and easier to do that these days. “Things are stable at the moment. Old alliances have been established and the Ivanov Bratva is officially under my control. I think I deserve a little time off to spend with my family.”

My family. The words still taste strange on my tongue. Bittersweet, really.

I still feel a pang every time I think about my brother. He’s five and a half months into his sentence. I got monthly updates on him from the prison’s warden. Apparently, he’s established himself within the prison. No one is messing with him anymore.

They’d certainly tried in the first few months, but I told the warden not to intervene. Yulian would have to fight his own battles from now on.

“Besides,” I add, “I have you handling shit for me.”

Lev looks less than enthusiastic. “You can make me your right hand, but that still doesn’t make me the don. Our allies will want to see you.”

“And for the important shit, I will be there,” I assure him. “But I need to take this time. For myself and for Jessa. You are more than capable.”

Lev nods. “I get that.” He gives me a pat on the shoulder. “You’ll let me know when the baby’s here? I bought you a bunch of cigars for the occasion.”

I chuckle. “I will. I better get back in there.”

“You should also know, I’ve got five grand on it being a boy,” Lev informs me.

I roll my eyes. “I guessed there were bets being placed when one of the men asked to see our sonogram.”

“Care to toss some money in the pot?” Lev asks, wagging his brows.

I wave him away. “Maybe with the next one.”

Lev snorts. “This one isn’t out yet and you’re already thinking about the next one?”

“There’s a lot of rooms in this house, Lev. Might as well make use of them.”

Lev chuckles. “Oh, by the way, the friend is here. The one with the sour face.”

“I’ll tell Jessa.”

“I’m not sharing my cigars with him,” Lev adds.

“You won’t hear the end of it from Jessa,” I warn him.

“She is oddly protective of the bastard.”

“Leave Chris alone,” I say. “It can be your gift to Jessa.”

“She’ll call me cheap.”

“If the shoe fits,” I laugh.

“If you weren’t becoming a first-time father today, I’d tell you to fuck off.”

“Your restraint is admirable.”

He flips me off and mouths “Fuck off” anyway, and we both start laughing. Then Lev heads back downstairs and I go into our suite.

Despite the sweat clinging to her brow and the obvious discomfort she’s in, Jessa’s face brightens when she sees me.

“Anton,” she whimpers.

I move to her side and grab the damp towel on the table next to her to dab it across her forehead.