Lev answers on the second ring. “I thought you were celebrating.”
“I was. Alisa is gone.”
A chair creaks wherever he is. “She left or she defected?”
“She turned her things over to Luka, who just brought them to me. Said she didn’t want to watch another collapse. Not exactly sure where she’s going, though I don’t particularly care at the moment.”
Lev exhales through his nose. “Well, can’t say this is a surprise…”
“I want Matvey on her trail as soon as he wakes up. Make sure she’s actually retiring and not selling us out to another organization because she’s still pissed at me.”
“Already assumed.” He is silent a moment, then adds, “Congratulations, by the way.”
It takes me a half-second to remember the ring. “Thank you.”
“Don’t let this take from your night. Matvey will turn over every rock between here and the equator. If she’s truly retiring, we’ll know. If she’s not,we’ll know.”
That does actually settle me somewhat. “Thank you, Lev. I appreciate it.”
“No need to thank me. Though, I won’t mind if you named your second-born after me.”
I roll my eyes. “Take that up with Ivy, not me.”
I hang up and go upstairs after that.
When I open our bedroom door, the first thing I notice is the room is dark except for two candles over on the windowsill. The second is the smell of her that’s layered with the faint sweetness of something she’s put on her wrists. The third is that she is sitting on the edge of the bed wearing almost nothing with her ring on her finger that looks like it has been there forever.
“What did he want?” she asks.
I lock the door, shaking my head. “Tomorrow’s problem.”
She crooks a finger at me. “Then come fix tonight’s.”
34
MAKSIM
The days that follow settle into a rhythm I never thought I’d have. Meetings with my inner circle in the mornings, afternoons with Leo, evenings with Ivy. Between all of it, Lettie bounces around the estate like she was born for this life, half-charming and half-exasperating everyone in equal measure.
It’s certainly been a wild, and unexpected, change of pace.
Most importantly, Ivy no longer flinches under the gaze of the people in this house. She’s claiming her place here with me, with Leo.
With all of us.
She spends hours talking with Katya, even if half their conversations are veiled insults and jabs softened by smiles. Roman has grown fond of her in that way only worn warriors can, with that unwavering and quietly respectful manner. Lev sees her in a way few others can, pulling her out of the shadows she sometimes still finds herself hiding in.
And Lettie? God help us, she has Matvey practically running in circles with every passing flirtation. Lev had teased him just yesterday about needing a cold shower after Lettie winked at him during breakfast and his face had turned three shades redder than I’ve ever seen.
She is a relentless woman, but I suspect she’s enjoying the chaos too much to give it up just yet. Lev, of course, watches the chaos with his usual detached amusement.
But beneath the noise, there is peace. I hear Leo’s laughter echoing down hallways that were silent for too long. I see Ivy curled up in the library, pretending to read while she actually watches our son build towers out of my grandfather’s old chess set.
My staff treat her with respect, my guards with deference, and for once in my cursed life, this place feels like home.
Despite Alisa’s absence still gnawing at the edges of my mind, for now, the Bratva holds.
In the evenings, Ivy and I talk about the wedding.