Katerina made her way back to me as the cake came out and slices were cut.
Father thanked us all for celebrating with him, and he promised this birthday was the best one yet since he’d had his bad days of doubting he’d live to even have another one.
The “party” died down, and I welcomed my father to sit closer to us.
“You know, this is what Thomas wanted,” he told us, smiling at Katerina. “I think he could tell from way back then that you two were meant to be.”
I laughed once and shook my head. “Then why leave that marriage arrangement so open-ended? It had only said that she’d have to marry one of us brothers.”
Father dismissed me with a wave. “We knew. We knew that you two would be the ideal fit, and we had hope that would hold true. Besides, that arrangement was more like a joke, a pastime when the times were good. I don’t think either of us would’ve remembered it. I sure didn’t, and that’s not just because of all I’ve suffered that way.” He shook his head. “And times were always good back then. Thomas and I were serious about always staying friends, to being as much of an alliance as we could be without complicating details. Anton was never a fan of that concept, clearly, but just seeing you two together now, with a child on the way, I feel like we are doing the memory of Thomas justice.”
Katerina leaned over to kiss his cheek. “I like to think so too.”
“I suppose Anton wasn’t a fan of Thomas aligning the Kozlov name with the Ivanovs,” Saul said, “because he was already plotting to align with the Romanos.”
I thought so too.
“It’s obvious they counted on reaping rewards of some kind,” Maxim said. “All the Kozlov properties have been shifted into Romano ownership. They’ve expanded their turf by taking on all the assets Anton had.”
“Good riddance to it all,” Katerina quipped dryly.
“But they won’t have long to enjoy it,” Saul predicted as he sat back. Propping his ankle on the opposite knee and draping his arms along the top of the couch he sat on, he looked far too debonair and chill, too laidback, to sound ruthless and like a threat.
But I saw the determination in his eyes. I believed that he’d meant it when he said he’d oversee the mission to bring down the Romanos and have an end to all serious enemies who could threaten us.
We could count on him.
We had to.
Because we were too busy starting all of our own legacies.
Katerina was counting on me to help her welcome our child into the world.
And I was counting on her to always let me love her and show her every way she made my life worth living.
37
KATERINA
Months later…
“She is precious,” I told Sloane as I hugged and rocked her newborn. “Absolutely precious.” With my baby bump sticking out further, I found it kind of funny that it served almost like a prop to help me hold and rock my first niece.
Isabella Ivanov would be a Mafia princess, the first of her generation, and I couldn’t wait to watch her grow.
“That labor wasnot,” Sloane admitted tiredly. Giving me a knowing look, then Lucy, she huffed. “Whatever you do, donotwait so long for an epidural to the point that you miss the window and can’t have one.”
“Noted,” Lucy said with a laugh, watching Isabella yawn as I held her. Lucy leaned around me, peering over my shoulder at this new princess, and in unison, we gave anawwat the newborn yawn.
We’d become closer than ever since I’d moved into the building. As new wives to the family and also with all three of us being pregnant at the same time, it was impossible for us to stay apart and hold grudges. It had taken a few long talks, and lots of apologies and explanations, but I was safe to call Lucy my bestfriend. Sloane was too. We were three forces to handle, and I felt blessed every day that I had them in my life.
“Congratulations, again, Sloane,” Joann said as she came through the room, bearing a new cup of ice water for her. She didn’t have a job. Maxim had to constantly remind her that she was just a permanent guest at the house. But it was in her nature to nurture and help us. We would be lost without her, and as these babies came into our lives, I knew she’d step in as an honorary godmother and be such a huge help when we’d need it.
“But let me take her,” she said, smiling at the baby. “I haven’t had my chance to hold her yet today. And you don’t want to be late for your appointment,” she told me with a knowing wink.
“Shit.” Nik checked the time. “We will be late.”
“No, we won’t,” I argued. “It’s not like we have far to go.”
