and gives Violet a soft smile. “It was very nice to meet you, and I’ll be sure to let your sister know you’re alive and well.”
Violet opens her mouth to say something, but the words never come. I grab a napkin from the table and wrap it around my hand, watching as Xander drops money on the table and walks out.
Silence settles over the table, and I take a drink of my whiskey, letting it burn down my throat. Fuck, that was easier than I thought it’d be.
“Are we safe?” Violet looks up at me, those blue eyes of hers making me weak with need the same way they did the day I rescued her, taking her into my arms.
I smile, feeling like a hero. I might not have been able to save Mira, but I understand now that’s not my fault. I can’t control everything… but Violet, I could control her outcome, and saving her is the best thing I’ve ever done.
“Yes, Kitten, we’re safe.” I lean over and kiss her, a groan from Roman filling my ears.
“Are you guys going to fuck, too?” he mumbles, as I pull away.
I grin over at him. “Of course, we’ve been doing that a while. How the hell do you think you became an uncle?”
Roman looks at me, shocked, completely shocked. “You’re having a fucking baby?”
Violet and I both nod at the same time. Roman, of course, throws his hands in the air, shoving away from the table. He leaves the restaurant without a backward glance, and I understand why he feels the way he does. We just reconnected and now I’m making a family of my own. He doesn’t want me to forget about him, but he has no fucking clue the plans I have for him.
“Is he going to be okay?” Violet asks, her hand finding its way into mine.
“Of course, Kitten. He’ll come around.” I finish my whiskey and put some money down on the table. Violet gets up, pushing from the table, and I take the moment to wrap an arm around her middle and pull her into my chest.
A tiny gasp slips past her pink parted lips. “We’ve come such a long way, Kitten. Making you mine and putting a baby inside you is the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. Thank you for saving me.”
The smile she gives me is breathtaking, and my heart starts to pound deep inside my chest.
“Thank you for guarding me, watching over me, and keeping your promise.”
“You were mine the moment I laid eyes on you.”
“Yes, and you were mine.” She pushes up onto her tiptoes and kisses me, and I know she’s right. We belonged to each other that night, our hearts tethered to one another's.
Epilogue
Violet
Nervous anxiety coats my insides, and I wipe my hands down the front of my jeans to rid them of the sweat forming against them. I’ve talked to Ella almost every day now, and I’ve even seen her when we video chatted, but none of those things compare to seeing someone in the flesh. In a few moments, she will walk through that door, and I will be able to see her right in front of me. I’ll be able to throw my arms around her and hug her until my muscles give out.
“You okay, Kitten?” Ivan takes my hand under the table and squeezes it lightly. We are in some fancy restaurant. Xander rented out a whole room, and we have been patiently waiting for ten minutes for them to get here. Although it feels more like ten hours to me.
When I see the hostess come around the corner, my heart skips a beat. Right behind her is Xander, who appears with my sister on his arm. As soon as she sees me, she breaks from Xander’s hold and basically pushes the hostess out of the way to get to me. I jump up and meet Ella halfway.
We crash into each other, and I wrap my arms around her, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. To many it might not be much, but to me, after assuming she was dead, it means the world to see her in the flesh, to feel her arms wrap around me.
We hold each other for a long time, not caring how crazy the hostess thinks we are. Neither Ivan nor Xander interrupts our little bubble of joy, most likely because they’re afraid of what would happen to them if they tried.
When we finally break