Page 86 of The Bratva's Nanny
Polina’s grandfather: Benjamin Quinn.
His breath fanned my ears when he leaned close. “You invited him?”
While Roman wasn’t overly friendly with him, he had come to tolerate him for my sake and Polly’s.
I smiled up at him and placed a kiss on the corner of his lips. “Yes, I did. Today’s our wedding day, Roman. Let go of the anger, pretend he's not here, and enjoy yourself.”
He grabbed my waist and pulled me closer. “The only time I enjoy myself is when I’m inside you, beautiful.”
Laughing, I swatted his chest playfully and nudged him to loosen up when Benjamin neared us. He greeted us curtly as he passed, smiling briefly at me, before going over to meet his granddaughter and Roman’s brother.
Eduard released her after Roman grudgingly gave a silent nod, and I kissed him as a thank you.
Not long after, I looked over at him, amazed to see he was bonding well with Polly. He pointed at the cake tray, said something, pulled a face, and got her cheeks red with fits of giggles.
It might or might not have been, but I sensed the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
And speaking of Polly, Roman had made it clear that future visits with her would only be allowed at his house, at least for the time being. I knew this was a compromise on his part, and I was grateful for it.
Night came, our dancing feet grew weary—well, my dancing feet, since Roman stood as stiff as a stick—and we said our goodbyes.
I leaned into his side, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me.
“Thank you for everything, my love,” I whispered once we spooned on his bed.
He kissed my hair, his voice soft and drawling. Weddings really wore him out, I supposed.
“Anything for you, Solnishko,” he mumbled sleepily. “Anything to make you happy.”
As I scooted closer into his embrace, I couldn’t help but reflect on my life now. It was a far cry from the lonely, isolated existence I had once known. Now, I had a loving partner, a beautiful stepdaughter, a fun but dangerous brother-in-law, Eduard, and a quirky grandfather-in-law like Benjamin.
People I never would have thought I’d be able to call family.
Somehow, I’d found a sense of belonging and purpose and knew that I was no longer the same woman I once was. I was stronger, wiser, and more resilient. And as I looked into Roman’s sleeping face, I knew I was home at last.
Fun fact?
I finally get to watch him sleep.
Epilogue – Roman
We arrived at our hotel room in one of the places she never would have imagined visiting: Santorini, Greece.
Maria gasped in delight as she took in the stunning view. I had surprised her with the location, and she had no idea where we were going until we stepped off the plane. She curled into my hand on the small of her back that guided her forward, and her eyes scanned the room, searching for a clue.
When she pulled the curtains aside, the breathtaking vista took her breath away. The crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea sparkled in the sunlight, and the whitewashed houses of the village cascaded down the hillside like a tumble of sugar cubes.
Maria’s delightful shriek was all the encouragement I needed. I smiled, pleased with myself for keeping the surprise under wraps.
“You like it?” I asked, even if I already knew the answer.
She turned to me, her eyes shining with excitement. “It’s incredible,” she breathed. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life.”
I chuckled, feeling proud for choosing the perfect spot to spend our honeymoon.
I wrapped my arms around her, pulled her closer, and led her to the window for more sightseeing.
And something else I had in mind.