Page 133 of Sinful Scars

Zara holds up a hand. “Hang on, we can’t toast without knowing his name! You have decided on a name, right?”

“Well…” I look anxiously at Lev, whose face has paled as all eyes turn on him.

Lucia glances between the two of us. “What is it? Oh god, you’ve not named him something weird, have you?”

Dimitri laughs. “What, like Danil?”

Danil gives him the finger. “Fuck you.”

Lev’s shoulders shake with silent laughter, and my lips pull up into a smile.

“We have a first name.” I reach for Lev’s hand. “It’s just the last name we’re unsure about.”

“I don’t follow…” Nina chimes in.

“Well…Lev and I…We wanted to know if you would all consider our son a Koslov.”

Lev keeps his eyes down, and a faint blush stains his cheeks as the room falls silent.

I glance at Alexei for confirmation, seeing as he is the head of the family, but his full attention is on Lev.

“You are our brother.” Alexei crosses the room, clasping Lev on the shoulder. “Which makes both you and your son Koslov.”

Lev gets to his feet and embraces Alexei I think for the first time ever. It’s an incredible moment towitness.

After so many years of thinking he was a monster, of isolating himself from everyone he’s ever cared about just to protect them, to finally see Lev surrounded by family and people who genuinely care about him has the tears pouring down my cheeks.

Nina bursts into tears herself before jumping to her feet and throwing her arms around her brother. To finally be free of the Ivanov name and to have found their true family at last is a huge moment for both of them.

For so long, Lev has beat himself up because of what Igor made him believe. And I will spend the rest of my life making sure he knows just how loved he truly is.

Danil smirks. “So, can we know the name of our new nephew or what?”

Lev looks at me. “Do you want to tell them?”

“Everyone.” I look down at the sleeping baby in my arms. “I’d like you to meet our son, Marco Andre Koslov.”

“To Marco!” everyone cries in unison.

Lev bends down to kiss me softly as all of our family clinks their glasses together to toast the birth of our son.

“I love you,” he whispers against my lips.

“I love you too.”

“Are you happy?”

“The happiest.”

He kisses me again before bending down and kissing the soft tuft of dark hair on Marco’s head.

Alexei raises his glass once again. “I also think we should toast to Lev, seeing as he is the newest member of the Koslov Bratva.”

Lev’s head snaps in Alexei’s direction, his eyes wide, as Alexei’s words register.

My throat thickens with emotion as huge smiles break out across every face in the room.

Alexei holds his glass in the air. “Everyone, raise your glasses to Lev Koslov.”

“To Lev Koslov.”

Alexei tips his glass to Lev alone. “Welcome to the family, brother.”