Page 67 of Marko

Fuck!

Miki narrowed his eyes and his voice betrayed his barely contained fury, “Romi, grab some of our guys and take our women home. Marko, Ash. You two are coming to the police station with me.”

As we kissed our women goodbye, it was hard not to notice the significant change in the atmosphere. We’d gone from high to low in the blink of an eye.

With grim resolve, we stepped into the night, our mission clear: uncover the truth and free Luca.

EPILOGUE

MARKO

SEVERAL MONTHS LATER

“Hurry up!” Melissa cried, tugging impatiently on my hand as she practically dragged me toward the hospital wing.

“Slow down, sweetheart. They’re not going anywhere,” I laughed, amused by her eagerness to see the newest members of the Rominov family. The twins had finally arrived, and Ash had texted everyone that it was time for a visit.

By the time we arrived, the rest of the family was already there, and we had to wait our turn as the nurse allowed only a few visitors at a time. While we waited, I watched Melissa giggle and chat animatedly with the other women. Despite the shadow of Luca’s arrest and the recent turbulent years, this moment felt like a small beam of light in an otherwise dark period.

Sonia and Romi emerged from the room, signalling it was our turn.

“Yay!” Melissa practically jumped with giddiness, grabbing my hand and hurrying us inside.

Gracie sat up in bed, looking radiant, while Ash beamed with pride, each of them holding a baby.

“Oh my god, you’ve each got a mini me!” Melissa exclaimed with an excited giggle.

“Sonia said the same thing!” Ash laughed.

I had to agree; they were beautiful babies—a daughter with her mother’s colouring and a son with his dad’s. So sweet.

“Can I hold one?” Melissa asked.

“Of course,” Ash replied, gently handing over his son.

“Oh my god, he is so adorable,” Melissa cooed, staring down at the tiny bundle in her arms.

“What about you, Marko? Want to hold your niece?” Gracie asked.

“Absolutely!” I beamed, taking my niece into my arms. She seemed so small and vulnerable, and I felt a strong sense of protection wash over me.

Looking at Melissa holding my nephew, I vowed that these children would always be loved and protected. After Melissa had oohed and aahed over our nephew, we swapped so she could do the same with our niece.

“Oh, look at you; you are a beauty,” Melissa cooed to the baby, and my heart clenched. She looked so natural holding a baby, and I felt a pang of longing. One day, I hoped to see her holding our child. But not yet; we had a few adventures to embark on first.

My nephew started to cry, and I passed him back to his mum. Watching him settle into her embrace, I naturally thought about how to ensure their safety when both babies began to cry.

“Time to feed them,” Gracie said. After kissing the babies’ foreheads, we said our goodbyes and left the new family to it.

Contentment filled me as Melissa and I walked back to the car, hand in hand, listening to her chat about the babies. I wished we could always feel this happy. Unfortunately, with both the MP’s trial and Luca’s still pending, that seemed unlikely. However, both were due soon, and with the mounting evidence against the MP, it was improbable he’d escape a lengthy prison sentence. Claire was working tirelessly to free Luca. If anyone could do it, she could. That woman was a force to be reckoned with!

A few months from now, I prayed our problems would be resolved, the MP eliminated, and Luca freed. Then, maybe, the dream of a life filled with family and happiness would become a reality.

In the meantime, I could enjoy moments like these. With that thought, I pulled Melissa to me and kissed her hard before heading out of the hospital.

As we drove away, I glanced at my gorgeous fiancée. “You looked even more beautiful than usual with a baby in your arms, sweetheart,” I told her.

“I know we don’t want to make one ourselves quite yet, but these things take practice, anyway. What do you say? Fancy some practice?” I whispered in her ear, sending shivers of pleasure through her body and igniting my own desire.

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