Page 85 of Dark Seduction

I clink my beer against his. "Unstoppable indeed. With all of us together, there's nothing we can't handle."

The future, for once, is looking as bright and promising as the afternoon sun glinting off the pool's tranquil waters.

As we're lounging by the pool, Dalia's phone pings with a notification. My immediate reaction is to check if it's something about the twins.

“That the baby monitor app?” I ask.

Dalia gives me a playful look. "It’s just Claude," she says, glancing at her phone. "He emailed to say he sold another one of my jewelry pieces. He’s got the cash ready whenever we want to pick it up."

"Good to hear he’s keeping his word," I reply. I’m satisfied to know that Claude's staying on the straight and narrow under our arrangement.

Elena, who's been listening in while sipping her drink, joins the conversation. "Dal, you should really think about getting back into making jewelry. Claude’s going to run out of your stock soon enough."

Maura, half-watching Michael and Sasha play near the edge of the pool, speaks up. "Yeah, your pieces are flying off the shelves. It’d be great to see what you come up with next."

Dalia nods. "You’re right. I think it’s about time I got back to the studio. Maybe kick off a new collection."

I lean back, taking in the relaxed atmosphere, the sounds of family and friends enjoying the evening's barbecue filling the air. Turning to Dalia, I smile and squeeze her hand gently.

"You know, there's no rush for you to decide what you want to do next," I say. "And you're definitely not obliged to come back as my PA. Then again, I'd be crazy to think you'd stay inside all day.”

She laughs, that familiar sparkle in her eye. "You know me too well," she says. "But I might as well enjoy the maternity leave while I can."

We sit there, comfortable and content, watching everyone enjoy the food, the drinks, and each other's company. It's moments like these that remind me of what's truly important.

Suddenly, both our phones chime. It’s the baby monitor app, letting us know that Emma and Laurel are awake. We look at each other, the parental instinct kicking in immediately.

"Guess it's time to see what our little angels need," I say as I stand up, ready to head inside. “Let’s go, Mom.”

Dalia nods, her face lighting up at the mention of our daughters. "Let’s do it, Dad.”

Together, we head back into the house, love all around us.

Epilogue II

Dalia

Two years later…

Sitting in my office at Ivanov Holdings, I’m caught up in a FaceTime call with Emma and Laurel, who are now two years old and ridiculously adorable.

Emma, with her dark curly hair bouncing as she giggles, is the spitting image of me. Laurel, on the other hand, has Lev's sharp, gray eyes and his strong-willed personality. Their toddler babble fills the room, and it’s honestly the best part of my day.

"Alright, my loves, Mama will see you tonight," I tell them, blowing kisses to the screen which they try to catch with their little hands—a game that never gets old. Marissa, our nanny who’s been with us since the girls were six months old, signs off and tells me not to rush home. She knows I have dinner plans with Lev.

Ending the call, I can't help but feel a rush of warmth for my little family. I gather my things, already looking forward to the evening.

I stride into Lev's office, but the room is empty, his desk untouched since this morning. A little pang of disappointment hits me—where could he be?

Just then, Vanya passes by the doorway. I wave him over, my brow furrowing with concern. "Hey, Vanya, have you seen Lev today?"

Vanya pauses, his expression thoughtful as he pulls out his phone. "Actually, no," he says, scrolling through his messages. "And now that you mention it, he specifically requested not to be disturbed all day. Said he had some important business to take care of."

A knot forms in my stomach. In our world, important business can mean anything, and it’s not always good. As the wife of a Bratva kingpin, I've learned to brace myself for all possibilities. Worry is a constant companion I wish I could shake off.

Vanya, noticing my sudden quiet, switches topics. "Oh, and Dalia, don't forget the meeting next week about the office building purchase in LA."

I snap back to the present, nodding. "Thanks, Vanya. I’m all over it," I assure him, though my mind is still partly on Lev.