We’d been debating whether we wanted to find out the gender, and we were both still too indecisive about that yet. But the time was soon approaching for when we could find out—if we wanted to.
Whether it was a girl or a boy, it wouldn’t matter to me. Just as long as he or she was healthy and happy, and Katerina and I would do all that we could to make that possible. Our baby would want for nothing.
“Some days, I wake up and I still can’t believe that this is real. That this is my life,” she admitted softly. “That I’m here, that I’ve got you, and that I’ll be a mother.”
“Why, because it sounds too good to be true?” I asked.
“Maybe. Or maybe it’s just because I never let myself believe that dreams ever came true like this. Like my life could be perfect.”
“Perfect?” I grunted then laughed. “You didn’t seem to think anything was perfect about your life or this world when you were trying to get that crib assembled yesterday.”
She laughed. “That thing was torture.”
I wouldn’t argue with her on that point. It had taken four soldiers to troubleshoot those instructions. “I’m glad I can help make your dreams come true.”
“You’ve surpassed all my dreams, Nik.” She kissed me, letting me see all the love she had for me burning in her blue eyes. They captivated me as always, enticing me to stare at herand marvel at the wonder that I had the girl ofmydreams, the woman who held the key to my heart.
“Are you sure you’re not hoping this baby’s a boy?” she asked.
“No.” I shook my head. “Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter.”
“But I know we’ll need at least one son to carry the name.”
I laughed, rolling with her until we lay side by side, facing each other. “A son to carry the family name? Bullshit. We’ve got three babies in the family on the way. Saul will find someone and start his family sooner or later. I know you said maybe three would be a good number, but I still think five would be a good fit for us.”
“Five!” She laughed. “Let’s start with the first one and see how it goes.”
Hell, whatever she wanted, that was what we’d do. I had a hunch I’d convince her to up the number of children she’d want.
“Even if we just have this one,” I said, framing her face and admiring her beauty as she smiled again, “he or she will be proof of our legacy, Katerina. Our child won’t just be another heir to marry off.”
She nodded, in total agreement. After her almost being forced into a marriage and then ending up my wife anyway, she had bitter opinions about offspring being shoved into relationships. It seemed like a miracle that my brothers and I had lucked out as much as we had so far.
Maxim and Sloane were in love.
Lucy had tamed Damon and rounded him out.
And I had nothing but love and dedication to offer Katerina.
Love matches weren’t always expected in our world, but we were making our own rules to hold on to, anyway.
No matter what, I knew that this baby Katerina carried for me would be born out of love, not betrayal. Our child would be brought into this world as a sign of survival, us surviving all the odds stacked against us. He or she would be a testament to howKaterina fought to save me and be with me because she truly loved me, and I loved her, not because she prioritized thwarting Anton and betrayed the family she was born into.
“I like the sound of that, our legacy,” Katerina agreed. “Our love.”
The next afternoon, when we joined my family to celebrate my father’s birthday, it seemed like that theme was on everyone’s minds. Love and legacy.
Father was feeling better and was experiencing more good days more often, but I could tell that Maxim was losing hope that he’d resume his position asPakhan. Honestly, stepping back was probably best for all of us. My older brother was filling big shoes, but he was taking on the responsibility well. He was adjusting, and he was well-suited to remain the boss of the Ivanov Syndicate.
Father was more relaxed without the title on him. He could take it easy and look forward to the next generation coming into the family.
As we all sat around and finished lunch, then waited for the cooks to bring out his cake, I watched as he and Lucy talked off to the side. Sloane and Katerina sat together, laughing and whispering, probably about something raunchy and inappropriate, knowing how Sloane could be sometimes. Saul and Maxim chatted with Damon. We were all here, one big, happy family, and I was glad that no conflicts could linger for long.
Lucy was well on her way to accepting Father after he’d nearly had her killed—accidentally.
Sloane was no longer alone and had two sisters-in-law for company after being the only woman for a while.
And Anastasia looked awfully pleased as she, too, surveyed the people in the room. She couldn’t nag us about findingwomen now. And she had no grounds to complain about no heirs to count on.
