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“Alright, my little Volkov princesses,” I say, smiling at them. “Today is your special day, and all the other little girls will notice just how royal you both are.”
“Really?” Gina asks, her eyes wide and shimmering with anticipation.
“Absolutely,” I assure her, kneeling down to their level. “You two are the most important people here today, and everyone’s here to celebrate you.”
Franny claps her hands together, clearly delighted by the idea. “We’re gonna have so much fun!” she exclaims, bouncing on her toes.
“Of course you will,” I say, ruffling her hair affectionately. The thrill of the party and the happiness radiating from the twins make it easy to forget the dark shadows that lurk just outside our circle. Today, we focus on the light and love that binds our family together.
“Promise you’ll dance with us later, Uncle Cassius?” Gina asks, her voice full of hope.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I promise, the warmth of their laughter spreading through me like wildfire. We’re determined to give these precious girls a day they’ll never forget.
“Come on, let’s go greet our guests,” I suggest, taking each of their small hands in mine. As we step into the bustling room, filled with friends and family, I know that no matter what challenges the future holds, we’ll face them head-on—together.
45
ANNALISE
Icollapse onto Nikhil’s bed, the soft sheets providing a welcome comfort after an evening of wrangling my daughters to sleep. The sound of their soft breathing in the next room brings a wave of relief and exhaustion that washes over me.
“Finally,” I breathe out as the door creaks open, revealing Nikhil’s tall silhouette against the dim hallway light. His blue eyes find mine, filled with concern and warmth.
“Hey there,” he murmurs, crossing the room to sit beside me. His hand finds my stomach, resting gently on the small bump beneath my shirt. “How are you feeling?”
“Exhausted,” I admit, smiling tiredly. “But relieved.” My mind races with thoughts of my daughters, the bratva, and our unconventional relationship. But in this moment, as Nikhil’s warmth envelops me, my fears dissipate, if only for a little while.
“Our girls can be quite stubborn,” he teases, a wicked grin spreading across his face. The laughter that bubbles up within me is both unexpected and cathartic, washing away some of the tension coiled in my chest.
“Tell me about it,” I chuckle, pressing myself closer to him. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his strong chest. We sit in silence, the darkness of the room punctuated only by our quiet breaths.
“Sometimes, I don’t know how we ended up like this,” I confess, my fingers tracing circles on his forearm. “It’s so…different.”
“Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs when we least expect them,” Nikhil replies, his voice low and soothing. I tilt my head up to meet his gaze, finding solace in the ocean depths of his eyes.
“Are you scared?” I ask, searching for any hint of fear or regret in his expression. Nikhil’s eyes flicker, but he remains steadfast.
“Terrified,” he admits, causing a pang of worry to tighten around my heart. “But that’s what makes this worth it. We’re in uncharted territory, and it’s exhilarating.”
“Exhilarating?” I echo, incredulous. He chuckles, the sound rumbling through his chest and into my ear.
“Absolutely,” he confirms, pressing his lips against my forehead. “We’re forging our own path, Lily. And as long as we do it together, everything will be alright.”
His words bring both comfort and courage, fueling the fire inside me to face the unknown. And as I lie there with Nikhil, the darkness and uncertainty of our future seem less intimidating, wrapped in the warmth of his embrace.
The dim light from the hallway casts a warm glow, illuminating Nikhil’s strong features and the tender concern in his eyes. I can’t help but smile as I glance down at his hand resting on my stomach, protectively cradling my unborn child.
“Considering the circumstances, I’m feeling pretty amazing,” I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. “This little one is making me stronger every day.”
Nikhil grins, the corners of his eyes crinkling with affection. “I’m glad to hear that. You deserve all the happiness in the world, Annalise.”
He runs his thumb over my stomach, sending shivers down my spine. His touch is electric, and despite the exhaustion weighing down on me, I feel alive.
“Speaking of happiness, I’ve prepared something for you,” he says, his voice low and enticing. I cock an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.
“Really? What is it?”
“Come with me.” He extends his hand, and I take it without hesitation, allowing him to guide me through the darkened room and toward the master bathroom.
