Kidnapped by the Bratva (Sharov Bratva #5)

Extended Epilogue - Sophia

The Scottish Highlands are even more breathtaking than I imagined. The rolling hills stretch out before us, endless and wild, with deep valleys cutting through the land like something out of a dream. The cool breeze carries the scent of pine and fresh earth, the sky a perfect blend of soft blues and grays. We’ve been walking for about an hour, just the two of us, and for once, the world feels peaceful.

It’s exactly what I needed.

The wind tousles my hair as we stop at the top of a small hill, and I look out over the vast landscape, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. The green of the hills contrasts with the rugged, rocky outcrops, and in the distance, a thin stream cuts through the valley, glittering in the fading light. There’s no one around for miles—just nature and us.

Maxim stands beside me, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, his eyes scanning the horizon. Even here, in the middle of nowhere, he’s alert, always watching, always assessing. But there’s a softness to him today, a kind of ease I don’t always get to see.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I ask, my voice barely more than a whisper.

He glances down at me, his lips curling into a rare, genuine smile. “It is.”

I wrap my arms around my growing belly, feeling the soft flutter of life inside me. I’m three months pregnant now, and though it’s still early, I can already feel the connection deepening. I close my eyes for a moment, letting the breeze kiss my face. This place feels like a dream, like a world where nothing bad can happen.

“Do you think…,” I start, hesitating for a moment before continuing, “that when we’re old, we could live somewhere like this?”

“How old?”

“Don’t know. Eighty, maybe.”

Maxim raises an eyebrow, amused by the question. “Eighty, huh? You’re already planning that far ahead?”

I chuckle, nudging him lightly with my elbow. “Why not? I mean, just look at it. Imagine waking up to this every day. No chaos, no violence, just peace.”

He glances around, taking in the view again, then looks back at me with a playful glint in his eye. “By the time you’re eighty, I’ll be what… ninety-five? Think I’ll still be able to make the walk up this hill?”

I laugh, the sound mingling with the breeze. “You’ll still be tough. You’ll probably run up the hill while I’m catching my breath.”

He smirks. “I’ll drag you up if I have to.”

We share a quiet moment, just looking at each other, and I feel a warmth bloom in my chest. Being with him like this, away from everything, feels so different. It’s like we’re allowed to just… be. No expectations. No pressure.

“I’m serious, though,” I say after a moment, my voice softer. “I want this. A place like this. When we’re done with all the madness.”

Maxim’s gaze softens, and he reaches out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I’ll build you a house right here if that’s what you want,” he says, his voice rough but filled with sincerity. “When we’re done with everything, we can come back.”

I smile, touched by the offer. “Really?”

He shrugs, though there’s a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Why not? Could be a nice place to grow old together.”

I rest my hand on my belly, imagining our future—our child running through fields, the two of us sitting on a porch, watching the sun set over the hills. It’s a picture that feels so far removed from the life we live now, but I can almost believe it’s possible.

“Thank you,” I whisper, leaning into him.

“For what?”

“For everything.”

Maxim wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him. He’s not a man of many words, but I feel his response in the way he holds me, in the quiet strength of his presence. For a moment, we just stand there, looking out at the view, letting the peace of the place wash over us.

“Do you think the baby will like it here?” I ask, half joking but also wondering if this place could be a refuge for our child one day.

He chuckles softly. “Depends. If they’re anything like me, they’ll be bored after five minutes.”

I laugh. “Well, if they’re like me, they’ll love it.”

Maxim looks down at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that rare way they do when he’s really amused. “Guess we’ll have to wait and see which one of us they take after.”

I rest my head against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my cheek. “I just hope they take after the good parts of us.”

His hand moves to my stomach, resting gently over where our baby is growing. “They will.”

For a while, we stand in silence, the wind gently tugging at our clothes, the world around us quiet and still. It feels like a promise—this moment, this place. A promise of peace after everything we’ve been through, after everything we’ll still face.

“When the time comes,” I say quietly, “I’ll hold you to that promise. The house, the peaceful life… all of it.”

As we continue our walk through the Highlands, the crisp air fills my lungs and clears my mind. The beauty of this place is overwhelming, and I feel a sense of calm I haven’t felt in a long time. Even in the peace of the moment, my thoughts drift to everything happening back home. There’s so much going on—so much still left unresolved.

I glance over at Maxim as he walks beside me, his expression relaxed but his eyes always alert. He’s in a rare good mood, maybe because he can sense how much I’m enjoying this place. Or maybe it’s because, for once, things seem to be going well. At least for now.

“The foundation’s doing well,” I say, breaking the silence. “The team sent me an update before we left. The sustainability initiative we started is already gaining traction.”

Maxim nods, his gaze flicking toward me. “That’s good. You’ve put a lot of work into it.”

I smile softly. The Sophia Sharov Foundation had become something of a lifeline for me. It gave me purpose outside of the Mafia, outside of the chaos that seemed to dominate every other part of our lives. Knowing that I was making a difference—however small—in the world, kept me grounded.

“It’s more than just me,” I say. “There’s a great team behind it. They’ve been pushing for more environmental conservation projects. We’re partnering with more organizations. It’s growing faster than I ever expected.”

“You should be proud,” he says, his voice gruff but sincere. “You’ve built something good.”

I feel a swell of pride at his words, but my thoughts soon shift to other things. “The alliance… it’s working, isn’t it? I mean, Kristen’s doing well with the businesses.”

Maxim nods, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. “Kristen’s smart. He’s kept your father’s businesses running smoothly. The alliance with the Americans has strengthened both sides. We have more resources now. More influence.”

I nod, grateful that Kristen has been able to handle the responsibilities that came with taking over my father’s empire. It’s strange to think that everything my father built is now in Kristen’s hands, but I trust him. He’s always been like family to me.

“The Italians have been quiet lately,” I murmur, thinking of how everything went down with Don Fernando.

Maxim glances at me, his expression hardening slightly. “For now.”

I can’t help but wonder about Chiara, Don Fernando’s daughter. She was ruthless, almost too much for me to handle. “Do you think we need to worry about her? Chiara, I mean.”

Maxim’s jaw tightens, and I can see the flicker of calculation in his eyes. “Fernando’s children are back in Italy now. They’re staying low for the time being. Don’t think they’ve forgotten. Revenge is a disease—it spreads, festers. They’ll come back for us when they’re ready.”

I shiver slightly, despite the warmth of the sun. I know Maxim’s right. Revenge doesn’t die easily. “So what do we do?”

“We prepare,” he says simply. “We don’t let our guard down. We stay ahead of them.”

His words are practical, but I can feel the weight of them settling in my chest. Even out here, in the middle of the Highlands, surrounded by peace and beauty, the shadow of our lives lingers. The Mafia is never far behind, no matter how far we try to run.

“What about Chiara?” I ask quietly. “Do you think she’ll try to come for us?”

Maxim’s gaze darkens, his jaw clenching slightly. “Chiara’s dangerous, but she’s also smart. She’ll know that coming after us now would be suicide. If she ever does… I’ll deal with her.”

There’s a finality in his tone that makes me believe him. I trust Maxim, even when the world around us feels uncertain.

We walk in silence for a while longer, the landscape stretching out before us, endless and untamed. Despite everything we’ve been through—despite the dangers that still loom on the horizon—there’s a sense of hope here. Maybe it’s the fresh air, the isolation, or maybe it’s the fact that, for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m truly building something for myself. For us.

“We’ll be okay,” I say softly, more to reassure myself than anything.

Maxim stops walking and turns to face me, his eyes locking on mine. “We will,” he says firmly, as if daring anything to contradict him.

I nod, feeling a surge of confidence at his words. As long as we’re together, we can face whatever comes next. Whether it’s the Italians, the future of the foundation, or raising our child—we’ll handle it.

We start walking again, and I find myself smiling. Things aren’t perfect, but they’re better than they’ve been in a long time. For once, I feel like we’re on solid ground.

“I’ll make sure we stay ahead of the Italians,” Maxim adds after a long silence. “But don’t let it worry you. Focus on the foundation. On the baby. I’ll handle the rest.”

I nod, letting his words sink in. “I just hope Chiara doesn’t come back anytime soon. I don’t want to deal with her.”

“She won’t,” Maxim says, his tone final. “If she does, she’ll regret it.”

I don’t doubt that. If anyone can protect us, it’s him.

Maxim’s voice is low, rough with intent. “Forget about it,” he murmurs, turning toward me with that dangerous glint in his eyes. “Right now, I want to focus on you.”

Before I can react, he’s already closing the distance between us, backing me up against the rough bark of the tree behind me. My heart races, and I glance around, my cheeks heating with embarrassment.

“Someone could see us,” I whisper, my voice barely audible as I look past him, scanning the quiet landscape. The Highlands may be remote, but the idea of being caught makes me nervous.

Maxim smirks, leaning in until his lips are just inches from my ear. “Then you’d better be quiet,” he says, his voice dark and teasing. “If you don’t want to be noticed.”

Before I can respond, his lips crash against mine, all rough hunger and need. His hands grip my waist, possessive as they pull me closer. I gasp against his mouth, the intensity of his kiss igniting something deep inside me. His hands move lower, fingers brushing the hem of my sundress, and without a word, he lifts it slowly, his touch firm and deliberate.

“Maxim…,” I whisper, trying to regain some composure, but he silences me with another kiss, his tongue exploring mine as his hands move beneath my dress, his fingers grazing the bare skin of my thighs.

“Shh,” he breathes against my lips, his mouth curving into a wicked grin. His touch grows more urgent, sliding higher up my thighs until I’m trembling beneath his hands. I bite my lip, trying to hold back the sounds that threaten to escape.

Maxim’s lips trail down my neck, leaving a scorching path as he presses me harder against the tree. My head tilts back, eyes fluttering shut, and the world around us fades. All I can feel is him—his rough, commanding touch, his lips on my skin, the way he’s completely taken control.

He grips my hips tightly, lifting me slightly, and I wrap my legs around his waist instinctively. The bark digs into my back, but it’s nothing compared to the heat between us. His lips return to mine, capturing them in another bruising kiss as his hands roam beneath my dress, claiming me in a way that only he can.

“Maxim…,” I whisper again, more breathless this time, my pulse pounding in my ears. The thrill of being out here, exposed, adds an edge to everything, heightening the intensity of his every touch.

He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his expression dark with desire. “Stay quiet,” he orders softly, his thumb grazing my lower lip, “if you don’t want anyone to know what I’m doing to you.”

My breath catches as his words send a shiver through me. The pressure of his body against mine, the way he’s pinned me to the tree, makes it impossible to think about anything else. I can only nod, unable to speak, as his hands grip me harder, lifting me higher against him. He ruts against me, slow but deliberate, and I have to bite down hard on my lip to stifle a moan.

It’s quick, heated, the passion between us surging like wildfire as his lips devour mine again, the urgency in his movements growing with every second. The world could fall apart around us, and I wouldn’t notice. Not with the way Maxim consumes me, claiming me completely in this moment.

As we reach the height of our frenzy, I cling to him, my fingers digging into his shoulders, my body trembling with the effort to stay quiet. He growls low in his throat, his hands gripping me tighter as we move together, the air around us thick with tension and desire.

Finally, when the moment passes and our breaths come in ragged gasps, he pulls back slightly, resting his forehead against mine. His fingers slide out from under my dress, and he lets the fabric fall back into place. My heart pounds in my chest, the world slowly coming back into focus as I catch my breath.

Maxim’s lips brush mine one last time, softer now. “See? No one noticed.”

I nod, still dazed, my legs shaky as I lower them from his waist. He steps back, smoothing my dress down as if nothing had happened, while I struggle to find my footing, both physically and mentally.

“Let’s go,” he says with a satisfied smirk, grabbing my hand and leading me away from the tree, as if he hadn’t just claimed me under the open sky.

I follow, my body still buzzing with the aftershocks of our stolen moment, my thoughts a jumbled mess of desire, embarrassment, and the thrill of being completely his.

*****

THE END