“Like fuck I will. The bastard just threatened me that he’ll become my son-in-law and give me grandchildren.”
She laughs. My wife’s head tips back, bearing her pale throat as my ears fill with the delighted sound of her laughter.
“How is any of this funny?” I try to sound stern, but I love the sound of her laughter too much to actually be mad.
“Looks like he learned how to mess with you, too. Good for him. I really like that kid.”
“Which makes me like him even less.”
“Oh, stop it, Adrian. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to Anni, and if you weren’t so judgmental, you’d know it, too.”
I grunt but say nothing.
Lia skims her fingers over the dip in my brows, her voice dropping. “I hate it when you’re all upset. How can I make you feel better, husband?”
A groan spills out of me when she rubs her stomach against my growing erection.
“Repeat that.”
“Husband,” she says again and I tighten my grip on her hip, feeling her shudder.
“Upstairs. Now.”
“But the kids are here.”
“They can wait.”
When she hesitates, I carry her in my arms bridal style. Lia yelps even as her arms encircle my neck.
Her fingers stroke the short hairs on my nape. “Did I mention lately that I love you?”
“No.”
“I think I did this morning.”
“I must’ve forgotten.”
She grins as she whispers, “I love you, Mr. Volkov.”
“And I love you, Mrs. Volkov.”
I might have partially lost my daughter, but I’ll always have my wife.
The woman who accepted me as her villain and fell in love with me in spite of it.
EPILOGUE - ANNIKA
I hide between the cars in the parking lot, breathing heavily.
If I’d known this is what we’d be returning to, I would’ve voted for skipping classes and staying the whole week with my parents.
But no, Creighton had an important thing to do.
Like today’s match.
Against my brother.
I wince at the reminder of their threatening stares when they jumped into the ring, looking no different than walls of muscle ready to pound each other into oblivion.
And since this happens to be the most awaited final of the current championship, both REU and TKU students are swarming the place, cheering and shouting and thirsting for blood.
Both Jeremy’s and Creighton’s blood.
Yikes.
I stare at my watch and groan when I find it’s been only ten minutes since I kind of escaped from the club.
So no, I wasn’t going to watch them go at each other’s throats. I begged them both to stop this or for one of them to forfeit, but neither of them is a quitter.
Besides, Jeremy said he can’t trust anyone to protect his sister if he can’t beat him. Something that got Creighton even more riled up for the fight.
Men and their testosterone will be the death of me.
So here I am, all alone in hiding, waiting for the ordeal to be done with.
Glyndon was keeping me company because she doesn’t like manifestations of violence either. Despite our objections about attending, we were all dragged by Ava anyway—she’s all for fights and is probably cheering for Creighton at the top of her lungs as we speak.
It took her some time and a few shopping trips for her to actually forgive me for shooting Creighton, and only because she knows how much we mean to each other.
Glyndon was the nicest of the bunch and talked to me soon after I got back to college. And since she’s a sweetheart, she opted to escape with me and was busy showing me her latest paintings. But alas, Killian interrupted us a few minutes ago and kidnapped her to God knows where.
“I still don’t forgive you for making her cry,” is what he told me as he swooped her away.
That psycho is incorrigible. Aside from Creighton, he’s the most territorial.
Actually, Creighton is in a league of his own. Not only is he possessive of me to the point where he’s constantly glaring at Tiger whenever he lies on my chest, but he’s also so consistent about it that no guy comes close to me in fear of his wrath.
Even Harry, who’s gay and has a crush on Creighton and is the leader of his fan club, isn’t safe from his lashes of jealousy.
I lean against my car and opt to roam social media. I pause at the picture I see on Creighton’s account.
He actually used the one Remi and I created for him a long time ago, but he changed the password and everything because Remi was planning to post ‘weird shit’ on his page.