ALEKSANDER'S POV A month passed, and we returned home.Keeping my promise to Rhea, I relinquished the reins over to Nikolai to close the loose ends with the Genovese crime family.My aunt and uncle understood and approved of my wish to keep my hands clean for my wife's sake. Nikolai didn't bat an eye when he proclaimed the Genovese would accept a deal and leave our family alone if we did the same.Antonio recovered from his injuries from the car accident. After two weeks in bed, he returned with renewed vigor. The incidents of that day wounded his honor, and he stated he needed to make up for it. As much as I argued, he needed to take time away. He continued showing up in uniform.Rhea had a checkup with her doctor. That was an appointment I wouldn't miss for the world. I held her hand through the follow-up tests, using her as my lifeline through the stress. I'm sure I was the same for her.The thumping sound of a heartbeat lifted a weight off my chest. Rhea cried from the sweet tast
The technician broke the silence first. "Your chart says that you're estimated to be about eighteen weeks along. Is that correct?""Yes," Rhea swiftly answered. Her smile widened. "The size of a bell pepper this week.""That's right," the technician chortled. She glanced between the three Makalovs in the dimly lit room. One hand clicked a button on the ultrasound keyboard and the monitor flickered on. With the probe hovering over Rhea's navel, she asked, "Are you interested in knowing the gender?"Rhea's throat bobbed. Her fingers twitched in mine. Simultaneously, we locked gazes. It was an important question, and one we hadn't discussed nearly enough."I'm going to love them, regardless." Her bottom lip trembled as she studied my face. "As long as they're healthy.""Do you want it to be a surprise?" I whispered in my wife's ears alone. Leaning closer, I nuzzled into the side of her face. "Whatever you want, baby. Just say the word."Despite her nerves, Rhea giggled. She turned her he
EPILOGUE RHEA'S POV Three wonderful years came and went. Each one became a new chapter in my life that I'd never forget. I couldn't when I had otherworldly love pouring through me every day. More than I ever thought I'd experience in my life.Trudging through the grief of losing so much family ate a hole in my heart. Aleksander came along and slowly threaded the chasm together, healing me with each delicate touch and sensual kiss. An unlikely love formed from that illicit contract, and through turmoil and pain, we forged our story.Glowing, floating on top of the world, I swept into the kitchen. A delightful buzz from champagne left a rosy flush across my cheeks. I poured myself a glass of water, listening to precious laughter drifting from upstairs as I did."Rhea!" Annika's excited coo made me whirl around from the sink. I came face to face with her, waving her red nails, gesturing for a hug. I stepped into her arms. Annika shimmied against me. "How did the event go?""It was grea
JUST A ONE NIGHT STANDALEKSANDER'S POVThe air was bitterly cold tonight, and my mood was sour enough to match. A gust of wind ruffled my hair and I groaned with irritation as I swiped my hand through it before reaching into my front pocket and pulled out my cigarette. "No, Aleksander, we don't have time for that. We're already late! We've missed half the damn show", Before l could light the cigarette, my business partner, Nikolai shoved at my shoulder and kept walking towards the theater.God, I just wanted a cigarette. I cursed inwardly before l followed him."If we miss this stupid ballet, then we might miss the chance of snagging the support of the mayor and we need him for the expansion", Nikolai stopped talking when i reached his side and his arm shot out to grab my elbow. "You do want to see the expansion succeed, don't you?", He asked."What a stupid question. Of course, I do," I snapped, shrugging his arm off. "Don't touch me. If you weren't my uncle, I would have hit you fo
The already low lights went down further and before I knew it, we were introduced to the Mayor's wife and sitting with him in his private seats for the rest of the show.This is when I let my uncle take full control and whisper his plan to the mayor as the performance started up. My head was throbbing and the music was grating against some nerve I never knew I had. I couldn't stop shifting around in my seat as the show lit up.I had to admit that this view was fantastic. We were so close to the stage but I wasn't impressed. I didn't give a single shit about ballet.However just as l was still staring, something immediately changed when she took the stage.The moment she did arrive, every person in the theater held their breath. The air left the building and ice danced across my skin. The lights flashed and she moved with impossible fluidity and grace to the trill of the music. I didn't care about ballet but I knew enough to know that this was the lead of the show. This woman was the s
Our entourage entered the event for the party. We were met with low lights and thumping music echoing off the walls. The bar in the back was screaming for my attention."You owe me a drink," I stated loudly, interrupting my uncle's conversation. He widened his eyes and looked between me and the mayor."You're absolutely right!, I sure do. Excuse me for a moment. I will go grab us all a round of drinks with my nephew and I will be right back", As soon as he turned his back , his eyes scowled at me."You know better than to interrupt me", His jovial tone turned sour."Yeah, of course. Of course," I waved him off and we parted the crowd on our way to the line of the bar and wall of liquor bottles reflecting the low blue lights surrounding us . Without looking at him , I whispered, "Tell me about the ballerinas"Nikolai rolled his eyes, but when we got to the bar, he waved over a bartender. Getting closer, he exhaled and spoke without meeting my eye . "New York is an expensive place to l
| RHEA'S POV |"You can't afford not to do this , Rhea, lam sorry", His words felt like a dagger going through my back. "We all have contracts to fullfil, and this is too much money to turn down", He went on. I angled away from the dancer choreographer, Luke and crossed my hands to hold myself as if that would stop the ice freezing the blood in my veins. Even if I didn't want to hear his words. He was right."We have you set up in the skyview suite at the New York palace. It's fifteen minutes away and you have just about one hour to meet this guy on time", My eyes snapped up to Luke who was standing in the studio doorway. He drummed his fingers on the frame of the door as if he was waiting for me to say anything else. I simply nodded my head. It was enough of a sign for Luke to turn and leave.After the grueling performance tonight , I was so exhausted. The moment the curtains closed,the show left my mind and all I could think about was thinking into my bed. The other dancers had trie
"Rhea." His voice was husky and deep, the hint of an accent i couldn't place in the understones. Dark eyes scanned my frame and the way they lingered made me swallow a shudder."Welcome," I lifted the cocktail trying to start a conversation. "Would you like something to drink....? I trained off again, hoping he would offer his name . They didn't always give one. That was fine. He didn't respond faster but he kept walking, stalking forwards like a predator. He was cornering me and I felt like a rabbit. The urge to flee raced up my spine but I couldn't do anything"I would love a drink", He stopped in front of me and after a pause that felt too long, he finally reached out and circled his fingers over mine to accept the drink. His fingers were warm and he exhaled when his hand was over mine. The smile on my lips weakened, but thankfully remained in place.He was so much taller than I was, towering over me so much that it left me in shadows as his frame blocked the low light overhead. Th