Jackson, Milton, and Brady are in the crowd too, and it’s a miracle they’re here today. I never thought I would see them again. Or that Jackson would want anything to do with me, but as I stare out at their faces and see the pride they have in me, I know I didn’t lose anything when I left the department, and married. I enriched my life and gainedeverything.

Finding Lucy, my orphan mate from Darcy’s Girls and Boys Home was the icing on the cake, and she looks better than ever working in not-for-profit. Ms. Jenkins eyes sparkle in thecrowd as she sits beside her. God bless her. She’s the one who helped me locate her in the first place.

My life has truly come full circle in the best possible way despite all the bumpy roller-coaster ride it’s been.

I’ve done it.I’ve changed things in the world for the better, bringing my own form of justice and peace. Those nasty memories of going hungry in the orphanage and not being able to sleep at night and the gross negligence and mistreatment from the nuns, all of it’s been transformed. I couldn’t go back to the police department, and after Arabelle, I didn’t want to. The job was too dangerous and my motivations to be a part of it in the first place weren’t of pure intent. But the Hope Orphanage is.

Ryurik was in full support of me when I mentioned the lofty dream, not long after Arabelle’s birth when we were snuggled in on the couch one night.“I want to save children from all around the world, giving them a safe haven. Right here in Chicago. I don’t want them to grow up like I did. It would be amazing if I could start my own orphanage.”

“There’s nothing stopping you from doing that. I have the connections and the money to help you do it. You would be the perfect person to lead it. Tell me when you’re ready and we can make that happen.”Stunned that he would consider it, I almost backed down from it, but Ryurik kept dropping hints about the venture, and providing me with information for real estate available around Chicago. Next came the volunteers I got involved, rebuilding and restructuring an old warehouse on the outskirts of a good neighborhood in Chicago.

When I saw the space, I was hooked, and right away, as I stood on the building’s foundation, I knew I’d found my purpose and what I wanted to work on for the rest of my life. That’s when the dream grew wings and the intensive discussions, and international flights to meet with government officials began.

Reams of paperwork had to be filed, and to this day I know Ryurik pulled strings on the back end to make this happen so fast. Doing something like this without his help would likely have taken more than five to ten years.

And as I step off the stage, I see my husband, Ryurik, holding Arabelle in his arms, lightly rocking her back and forth, melting my heart. He looks like the same Bratva man I met, only better with his tousled hair, sex appeal, and hot green eyes, but I know different—he’s changed and stepped into fatherhood in a major way.

He’s softer with me, kinder, and more compassionate. I’m under no false pretenses about his occupation, and I’ve come to accept it comes part and parcel with all that Ryurik is. I grin as I stretch out my arms looking at Arabelle’s chubby cheeks. Her cute smile lights me up on the inside.

Her hair is blonde, full of ringlets, but so was mine when I was a little older than her, then it changed and became increasingly darker as I got older. I wonder if Arabelle’s hair is going to do that as she becomes older. All I know is, I look forward to seeing all her changes along the way, guiding her with every step. Between Ryurik and me, she’s in good hands.

Arabelle giggles, clapping her tiny hands together and I gasp.

“Arabelle, are you clapping for me?” Ryurik grins, shaking his head, pride shining in his eyes.

“You were a natural up there.Well done.I’m so proud of you.” I kiss him lightly as Arabelle coos and I take her, putting her on my hip. She can walk, but I like to have her in my arms from time to time. She twirls her finger in my styled hair, grinning and scrunching up her cute boopable nose. I kiss it, my heart full to the brim.

“Thank you. I can’t believe this day has arrived. I’m so happy, Ryurik.” Elated, he gives my hand a squeeze as we head down the auditorium stairs as a family. Arabelle grows too heavy, so I gently put her down as she holds both our hands, and we reach the bottom of the stairs. She’s a fast learner and has been on her feet walking around unassisted from ten months old.

“I’m glad you saw it through,” Ryurik says as I see Arabelle look up at Ryurik with love in her eyes. Every time I see her with him, it does something to me, healing me in some way because I was robbed of the fatherly love I was supposed to receive.

“Me too.” Ryurik kept to his word, dismantling Paul’s business, disbanding the syndicate he was a part of. Some of those men work for Ryurik now. He’s branching out into casinos and gaining more business than ever. He’s gone sometimes a little more than I would like, but again, I’ve had to come to terms with all that he is, and I have.

Bratva is in his blood, and I can’t lie and say I wasn’t attracted to the darkness of him in the first place. Maybe it’s because of my father, who I don’t communicate with anymore, either way, Paul Butcher’s name is mud in Chicago. The last I heard was he’s had to start over in a new state. I don’t know where exactly, and don’t care. All I care about is the loving family I’ve now built.

After all the meeting and greeting with people for the event, I’m ready to retire home.

“Wow, what a day,” I tell Ryurik as we drive home.

“Wow is right. It’s going to be fantastic for you, and I’m happy you’ll be able to take Arabelle to work with you every day.”

“Yes, I can. Would you like to meet all the children, Arabelle?”

Arabelle laughs, but nods. “Yes.” I blow her a kiss, and soon we are home, sweet home. Putting her to bed, Ryurik and I sit in the kitchen rehashing all the highlights from the event.

“Do you think fifty rooms is enough to start with?” I ask, my mind thinking I might not have done enough.

Ryurik narrows his eyes at me, finishing up his water. “Can you stop stressing? It’s enough to start with. You have twenty-five children arriving in the next few weeks. It’s the perfect start. No need to rush. You can’t save the whole world, Emily,” he advises, his eyebrow shifting upwards with a sweet smile.

Electricity sparkles between us, as our eyes meet. “I hear you, and I wish.” Ryurik is a sexy man, and I have to pinch myself in reminder that I’m the one who’s married to him.

“Now can you get over here? You’re too far away for my liking. Get over here,” he commands, scooting his chair back and lightly grabbing my wrist and bringing me towards his lap.

I bring my face down to kiss him. There’s so much desire rushing through me. Ryurik’s eyes darken, his mouth growing more insistent as I whimper against his lips, wanting him badly. I’m only sitting on one side of his lap, but he quickly changes that, grabbing my ass and moving my leg over, so I’m straddled across him and facing him in the chair.

He gently unclips the hairpins keeping the front part of my hair in place, dropping my locks around my face. “That’s better,” he proclaims, cupping my ass and inhaling into my neck. “Damn you smell fucking good, and you look even better. I wanted to take you off the stage so many times,” Ryurik growls possessively, a light throb pulsing between my legs.

This man turns me on, and always has. Draping my arms around his neck, I reposition myself, the hard length of his cock present. Ryurik groans as I rotate my hips, pressing his eyes shut.