Page 61 of Deadly Vows

Sandy appeared beside me, handing me a flute filled with sparkling water. “Look at all this, sis. It’s like something out of a fairy tale.”

I took the glass, my fingers trembling slightly, and looked over the scene. It felt like a dream I never thought I’d be living. Aleksandr’s world was full of danger, but here, in this moment, surrounded by beauty and love, I felt nothing but happiness.

Aleksandr came up behind me, slipping his arm around my waist and pulling me close. He kissed my forehead before whispering, “Are you happy, my love?”

I tilted my head back to meet his eyes, my heart swelling. “More than I ever thought possible.”

We spent the rest of the afternoon eating, laughing, and celebrating the life we were starting together. I watched as Sasha and Maxim danced with the other children by the pool.

As I stood in Aleksandr’s arms, looking out at the family we had become, I knew one thing - this was only the beginning. Our future was bright, and we would face it together no matter what lay ahead.

Chapter 35

Aleksandr

Two days had passed since the wedding, and I was still adjusting to the feel of the ring on my finger. It felt like the beginning of a life I hadn’t thought I’d ever be capable of having. A family bound not by blood or duty but by love. Talia was mine now, truly mine in every way, and Sasha and Maxim were as much a part of me as my name or past. But there was more to this future than just us. The baby growing inside of Talia was another symbol of everything I wanted for us - a new start.

I’d been thinking about the nursery for weeks. I’ve been imagining the space, picturing how it would look. I wanted it to be perfect, not just for Talia but for our child. It had to be warm,safe, and full of light - the kind of room that could erase the darkness of the past for both of us.

As I stood outside the room that would become the nursery across the hall from our bedroom, I took a deep breath. I wasn’t used to the domestic role of planning and decorating, but for Talia and our child, I would do anything.

Sasha and Maxim were just as excited as I was. When I told them the plan, their eyes lit up, and they couldn’t stop asking questions about what we would do and how we would decorate. Moments like this reminded me how much had changed.

Sandy had agreed to take Talia shopping, something I was grateful for. She knew how to distract Talia and keep her away long enough for us to turn this room into something special. I trusted Sandy with that, and she understood what we were building here better than anyone else.

“Are we painting today?” Maxim asked, his voice filled with authority. Sasha stood beside him, holding a paintbrush as if ready for battle. “You have to paint up and down with even strokes. I saw it on a YouTube video.”

I smiled at the eager look on his face. “Yes, today we paint.”

The nursery had been a blank slate until now, its walls soft off-white. But I had spent hours thinking about what colors would work best and what would make the space feel like a sanctuary for our baby. Ultimately, I had settled on a soft gray-blue, the color of a sky just after dawn, with accents of pale gold that would give the room a gentle warmth.

I stood up, looking over the supplies laid out on the floor - cans of paint, brushes, rollers, and stencils for the intricate designs I wanted to add. The furniture was already on its way- a crib, a rocking chair, and shelves that would be filled with toys and books. I could picture Talia’s reaction and how her face would light up when she saw it all come together.

“Are we going to paint clouds on the ceiling?” Sasha asked as she glanced around the room.

I nodded, impressed with her memory. “Yes. We will make it look like the baby is sleeping under the sky. What do you think?”

“I think I want clouds on my ceiling, too,” she grinned.

Sandy poked her head into the room, glancing at her watch. “Talia’s ready to go. I told her we would look at some baby furniture and clothes. She won’t suspect a thing.”

“Good,” I said, walking over to her. “Thank you, Sandy. I’ll owe you for this.”

She waved a hand dismissively. “You don’t owe me anything. We’re family. This is going to be amazing.”

With that, she left, and I could hear Talia’s laughter from the front hall, fading as she and Sandy left for their shopping trip. The moment the door clicked shut, I turned to Sasha and Maxim, who were already eyeing the paint cans.

“Let’s get started.”

Hours passed in a whirlwind of chatter and work. The soft gray-blue paint went on easily, transforming the room from something sterile into something that felt full of possibility. The kids had been more help than I’d expected. Sasha was focused, carefully painting the lower walls, while Maxim took charge of the clouds we added to the ceiling.

Each cloud was unique, some large and fluffy, others wispy and faint, blending seamlessly into the sky’s soft blue. We added a touch of pale gold to the edges, giving them a warmth that made the entire room feel bathed in sunlight, even with the curtains drawn.

As we worked, I could feel something shifting inside me. This wasn’t just a project. It was a promise. A promise that this child would grow up surrounded by love, in a home where they would be safe, where the chaos and violence of the past wouldn’t touch them. I would protect them, just like I had protected Talia, Sasha, and Maxim.

The furniture arrived in the afternoon. The crib was white, with delicate carved details along the edges. We set it on the wall across from the window. The rocking chair was deep, rich mahogany, and I could already imagine Talia sitting there, holding the baby, and gently rocking them to sleep.

Sasha placed the stuffed animals, a collection of soft, cuddly creatures that Talia had already started gathering. Maxim was determined to arrange the books on the small shelves. I couldn’t help but smile at how serious he was about it, carefully organizing them by size.

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