Forced Mafia Bride (Yezhov Bratva #2)

Epilogue – Nikolai

One Year Later

“No, I am not fucking singing.”

“You made a deal.”

“Over a year ago.”

Timur picked up a piece of cake and shoved it into his mouth, and Anatoly glared at him. I stood by the grill, watching them bicker. They’d been at it all day, something about a bet they made a year ago that I hadn’t paid much attention to at the time. Timur caught my eye, grinning like a kid with a secret, and I knew I was about to hear something absurd.

“Hey, Niko,” he called out, taking a sip of his beer. “Remember that bet Anatoly and I made at your son’s christening?”

I raised an eyebrow, flipping the burgers. “Vaguely. What about it?”

“Well,” Timur continued, his grin growing wider, “I lost. And now I have to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to your son in true Russian style.”

Anatoly barked out a laugh, shaking his head. “He said he’d nail it with the accent and all if he lost. So, now he has to do it.”

Timur shot him a playful glare, then shrugged, clearly not too upset about having to follow through. “I’ll give the little man a performance he’ll never forget.”

I smirked, shaking my head at the ridiculousness of it all. When Timur and I were younger, we always managed to turn every occasion into a spectacle, and while presently I wasn’t much for theatrics, today…today, I didn’t mind. Today was special.

The world I knew had always been black or white. Every other color was deemed irrelevant. Not today, though. Today, the world was bright and full of the best things I never thought I could have and enjoy.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden light across our backyard.

Balloons swayed in the breeze, and the smell of grilled meat filled the air. Family and friends gathered, laughing, talking, and celebrating our son’s first birthday. It was one of those rare moments where the world felt at peace, and for just a few hours, I could let the weight of everything else disappear.

I glanced across the yard to where Rosalyn was standing, surrounded by Nadia, Freya, and a few friends she’d met at an early mother’s antenatal care group she joined. She was glowing in that soft way she always did when she was pregnant. The early stages, but we already knew. The doctors confirmed it a few weeks ago—it was a girl. The thought of having a daughter stirred something deep inside me. Another child. Another life we’d bring into this world.

And I couldn’t help but feel…happy. Really happy. That kind of happiness that felt dangerous, like it might slip away if I looked at it too closely. But today, I let myself enjoy it.

I watched her for a moment longer, the curve of her stomach barely showing under her dress, her hand resting there protectively. She caught me staring and smiled, her eyes soft, full of warmth that I knew I didn’t deserve but would spend the rest of my life trying to live up to.

I walked over, wiping my hands on my apron. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, Niko. You don’t have to ask every five minutes.”

I placed a hand on her lower back, leaning in close enough to catch the faint scent of lavender on her skin. “You’re pregnant with our daughter. I think I have the right to be a little concerned.”

Her eyes sparkled with amusement, and she laid her hand over mine. “She’s fine, too. I promise.”

I nodded, feeling the same swell of pride and protectiveness I always did when I thought about our growing family—a boy and now a girl. Cian and Cielle—everything I never knew I wanted.

Timur’s voice suddenly cut through the hum of conversation, calling everyone to attention. “Alright, alright, everyone! Gather round for the big moment!”

Anatoly was laughing, clearly enjoying the show, as Timur cleared his throat dramatically and gave a small bow before launching into a boisterous, exaggerated version of the Russian-style “Happy Birthday” song.

He nailed everything else, but his theatrics were over the top. That didn’t stop the entire crowd from breaking into laughter.

Even I couldn’t help but grin. Watching a grown, hard-headed man such as himself stumble through a birthday song, his arms wide and his voice booming, was more entertaining than I expected. Rosalyn giggled beside me, shaking her head at the sight.

When Timur finished, the crowd erupted into applause, and our son clapped his hands excitedly, oblivious to the chaos but clearly enjoying the attention. I scooped him up, feeling his tiny arms wrap around my neck as he babbled something only he and his mother understood.

Rosalyn leaned into me, her head resting on my shoulder, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. The weight of the world, the deals, the risks, the life I lived—it all felt distant, almost irrelevant in the face of this—my family, my son, my unborn daughter.

I kissed the top of her head, holding her and our son close. “A girl,” I murmured, almost to myself, but I knew she heard me. “She’ll have your eyes.”

Rosalyn smiled against my chest. “And your temper, probably.”

I chuckled softly. “I’ll make sure she has everything she needs. Anything.”

“I know,” she whispered, her voice soft and full of that same faith in me that always caught me off guard.

After a short moment, she took Cian with her to greet Hannah, who’d only just arrived, while I glanced around the yard, taking it all in.

Egor and Freya were off near a bench under the tree by the pathway.

Alina, Alexei, and more of their friends were playing with a few toys on the grass, Freya watching them with that gentle smile she always had. It was good to see them happy, especially Egor. The years he’d lived before meeting his wife hadn’t been easy, but today, he was more relaxed, more at ease.

Hannah was standing with Rosalyn, the two of them lost in conversation, and Freya moved with the children to join them.

Egor waved me over, and we went back to meet the guys, settling ourselves near the patio, kicking back with beers, and watching the evening unfold. Anatoly was telling some ridiculous story about a Mexican who came looking for a job at one of our hotels, and we were all half-listening, half-lost in our own thoughts.

But then, his tone shifted, and he leaned forward, his grin widening in that mischievous way that always meant trouble.

“You know, I’ve been thinking. I’m going to shoot my shot with Hannah.”

Timur nearly choked on his beer, and Egor let out a bark of laughter.

“Hannah?” Egor said, raising an eyebrow. “Are you sure? I don’t trust the quiet ones. They turn out to be the fiercest. She’d probably eat you alive.”

Anatoly shrugged, not even remotely deterred. “I’ve been watching her, Boss. The fire’s there, and I like that.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “You like trouble, is what you mean.”

“Maybe.” Anatoly’s grin didn’t falter. “But come on, she’s been fucking single long enough. It’s true. I asked Aiden. It’s time for her to meet a real man.”

Timur snorted. “And you think you’re that man?”

Anatoly puffed out his chest dramatically and scratched his jaw with a tattooed finger. “Who else? Besides, if I don’t go for it, someone else will. And that is not fucking happening under my watch.”

Egor clapped his shoulder before he stood up. “We are cheering you on. But if she bites, no one will help you lick your wounds.”

“Please,” Anatoly shot back. “I’ve got this. You’ll see.”

We all laughed, the conversation light and easy, the kind that only happens when you’ve known each other long enough to joke about anything. Anatoly had a way of keeping things from getting too serious, and in moments like these, it was a welcome distraction.

But as the conversation drifted into other topics, something caught my eye. Off to the side, sitting near the far end of the garden, I noticed two people deep in conversation: Nadia and Aiden. They were sitting close, their heads angled toward each other, talking quietly. It had been over an hour now, and they hadn’t moved from that spot.

I frowned slightly.

Nadia wasn’t exactly the chatty type, except family was involved. And Aiden was…well, Aiden was one of the good ones, kind and soft-spoken. Somehow, that made him…safe, I guess. Still, seeing the two of them together was unexpected.

Timur noticed my gaze and followed it, his eyebrows rising when he spotted them. “Huh. That’s…new.”

I nodded slowly. “Yeah. Didn’t see that coming.”

“Think there’s something going on there?” Egor asked, leaning back in his chair with a smirk.

“I don’t know,” I replied, watching as Nadia laughed softly at something Aiden said. It was rare to see her like that—relaxed, almost at ease. She’d been through a lot, and her walls were high. But there was something different about how she was around Aiden, something…softer. “But whatever it is, I’m not worried. He’s one of the good ones.”

Timur grinned. “Probably too good. Didn’t he have a huge crush on your wife?”

I glared at him, and he stuck his hands up in the air. Whatever was happening between Nadia and Aiden wasn’t my business. Not unless it became one. For now, I was content to let them have their peace, whatever it looked like.

As the laughter and chatter continued around me, I glanced over at Rosalyn again. She caught my eye, and that familiar warmth flooded my chest. Our lives were chaotic—dangerous, even—but in moments like these, surrounded by family, it all felt…worth it.

Anatoly was still going on about his plan to charm Hannah, and I smiled to myself, the noise of the party fading into the background. Tomorrow, the world would come crashing back in, the responsibilities, the risks, the never-ending weight of the life I led. But today, I could let it slip away, just for a little while longer.

I blew her an air kiss and mouthed, “I love you.”

And she blew me one right back, smiling so wide, I could see her cheeks turn red. “I love you, too.”

*****

THE END

Hi there! I hope you liked reading “Forced Mafia Bride.”

The next part in this series is “Forced Pregnant Bride”