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“I tried some programming. It’s just … You’ll see.”
He inserts the drive. Mila is at the door, watching sneaky-style while the program loads. The screen shows an image of a sketch that Lia did, a lady holding a baby. Then, the words I programmed start flashing on the screen.
Mia is pregnant!
“What!?” Mikhail jumps to his feet. “What!?”
He turns, and Mila is there, those happy tears in her eyes. “It’s true,” she says.
“Yes!”
Mikhail rushes over to her, lifting her like she weighs nothing, then waves at me. “Get over here, bro!”
Laughing, I run over to join them.
EPILOGUE
ANIA
Four Months Later
“Swish!” Drake says, a big grin on his face. Mila claps her hands as her brother’s shot goes through the hoop. Mikhail’s got a big smile on his face, too, exchanging a look with his wife and sharing a moment. I don’t think they realize how in love they look, and the same goes for Dimitri and Lia.
The compound feels like a different place with so much warmth, so many smiles, so many jokes, so muchenergy. It makes me feel so hopeful for the future, even if there will always be that little voice whispering I’m missing something.
Notsomeone. I don’t need love, but sometimes, watching them, I find myself thinking. I don’t dwell on it. I focus on my work and my craft.
Mikhail smiles at me, collecting the ball and sending it my way. “Show us what you got, sis.”
When he sayssis, I know any past rift between us has melted away. Both of my brothers have changed since their wives came into their lives. They’re still fierce and strong, but there are new aspects to them now, fresh perspectives that bring out their loving sides even more than usual.
After hanging with them for a few more minutes, I excuse myself to prepare for my solo practice. I’m in ballet school now, but I still like to get my own sessions in for extra improvement. On my way to get changed, I hear singing from the kitchen. I poke my head in, smiling when I see Lia sitting at the window, painting the backyard. She’s become obsessed with finding new angles, new shades, and different lighting at different times of day.
She looks up, glowing with her pregnancy, just like Mila is. I’m not jealous. I can’t let my mind go there. Relationships seem too messy. At least, they did until my big brothers made them seem way too easy.
“Hey, sis,” Lia says.
That’s two times I’ve been calledsisin ten minutes. It feels pretty great, not going to lie.
“Painting’s looking great,” I tell her.
She beams at me.
Finally, I get changed and head down to the studio. Switching on the light, I pause, looking at the note on the mirror. Somebody’s stuck a big piece of paper on there with the words,Ania, don’t panic. I’m going to take you now, but I promise it’s for your own good.
Maybe I fell down the stairs, and I’m hallucinating. This can’t be real, but then I hear footsteps behind me.
I find anenormousman standing just beyond the doorway, shaded in half-darkness. His features are hidden in shadow. “Don’t panic,” he says in a deep voice.
“How did you get in here?”
“I’m not going to hurt you.” When I open my mouth to scream, his voice gets even deeper. “Don’t do that. It would be a terrible idea for you, your brothers, for everybody.”
I try to calm myself down. My body, which usually does what I tell it to, or at leastmostlydoes, suddenly won’t react. My legs, so used to hard practice, are useless. I just stand there, staring, as the man takes another step forward.
He’s not wearing a mask, and he’s …
I can’t think about it. Not now. It’s too messed up.
