THE SOLDIER

Maxim stands beside me, his gaze on Sasha soft.

“Thank you, brother. I still can’t believe you did this for me.”

“It’s a worthwhile investment,” Maxim says. “And you’re family.”

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In the bratva, we are supposed to break all ties to our former families and swear allegiance only to the brotherhood. That’s one of the reasons I was sent away for killing my father. I wasn’t supposed to be looking in on my mother any more.

Until Kayla cracked open my blackened heart, I didn’t allow myself to truly acknowledge or receive the benefits of brotherhood. Of men who would do anything for me–not just kill or die, but shape me, mold me, and launch me back into the world with an opportunity to make something more of myself.

I’m humbled by the support they’ve given me–all of them.

Ravil’s terms were easy. I still belong to him. When he needs something, I’ll do it. For the moment, he hasn’t made any requests, but when he does, I won’t balk. I won’t hesitate to serve the pahkan who deserves all my respect and honor.

“Let’s go open this bottle of Dom Perignon,” Sasha says, holding up the bottle clutched in her fist and waving two glasses with the other hand.

Maxim holds up the two he was tasked with carrying. “Right behind you,” he says.

“Wait, wait!” I call, jogging forward.

The women stare at me like I have two heads. I reach Kayla and scoop her up into a honeymoon carry. “Isn’t this how you do it?” I ask, carrying her through the doorway.

She giggles and kisses my neck. “Thank you, Master,” she purrs in my ear.

I try to will away the boner that breathy honorific gives me.

We take the elevator to the rooftop because all the units are currently rented, a condition we don’t want to mess with for the moment. Next month Kayla and I will be able to move into the penthouse suite and start remodeling it, but for now, the cash generated from rent will go into the building upgrades. Maxim and Sasha own the building outright and aren’t requiring me to pay a cent toward that expense. I’ll manage the property and upgrades and split the profits from it with them. If or when they choose to sell it, they’ll split the gains with me. Maxim and I did a gentleman’s handshake on the deal because we’re bratva brothers. Brothers don’t solve things in courts. If something goes wrong, the grievance will be dealt with in blood. To me, this means nothing will go wrong. We deal in honor, and both of us will honor our commitments.

I don’t put Kayla down, not until we’re out on the rooftop. “Welcome to our new home,” I say.

She lifts her lips for a kiss. “You did this,” she murmurs. “You make impossible things possible.”

My chest grows tight and my eyes burn for a moment. I know she’s talking about the part, too, which she’s forgiven me for. She’s been filming for the show and finding her place in a new and exciting world at the studio.

“You,” is all I can say. I can hardly take how beautiful she looks with those eyes shining up at me, the California sun sparkling over the pool behind her.

Maxim pops the cork on the champagne, drawing us from our intimate moment. He pours four glasses and hands them around.

“To Pavel and Kayla,” Sasha says. “Keep her happy, or you’re a dead man.”

I clink glasses with Kayla, drinking in the gift of her adoring gaze. “She’s my reason for living,” I murmur.

Kayla’s lips part and she draws in a shaky breath. “He is my happiness,” she murmurs back, neither of us breaking our locked gaze.

“Aw,” Sasha says, and I hear the sound of her kissing Maxim.

I loop my arm around Kayla and draw her up against me. “To Maxim and Sasha. Thank you for believing in me enough to make this new venture possible.”

“Yes, to Maxim and Sasha,” Kayla repeats warmly.

All four of us clink glasses together and then drain them.

“Group hug,” Sasha calls.

I roll my eyes, because I’m the last guy who would ever join a group hug, but Kayla propels me forward and we join arms in a circle, the ladies laughing and jostling us around.

“I love you guys,” Sasha says as we break apart.

I can’t say it back, because my throat closes, but Kayla squeezes my waist. “We love you, too. Thank you so much for everything.”

We walk to the edge of the rooftop as a group and watch the sun lower in the sky until the giant ball paints the sky in red, pink and orange.

I press against Kayla’s back and breath in her spring meadow scent, humbled by how much beauty is in my life.

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THANK you for reading The Soldier. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review-they make such a difference for indie authors. For a special bonus epilogue featuring the premiere of Kayla’s television series, be sure to join Renee’s mailing list. Stay tuned for Dima’s story next-I have all kinds of surprises in store for him and his twin.