Page 112 of Hunter

Seven months have passed since that day in the office, seven months full of changes, battles, happiness, and bloodshed. Andrei has blossomed into the man I knew he could be when he took my place as Pakhan. It was a rocky start—we got pushback from some people, but that was quickly handled. They either followed him or died. Some chose death, and I had no problem being the angel of their demise. I stare at myself in the mirror as I finish adjusting my tie. These past few months have been interesting, to say the least. Luca found an informant to give him information about the syndicate when trying to find leads through his father’s things turned out to be a bust. We also have Danny feeding us information on every move the syndicate makes. It wasn’t my idea to set that bastard free—it was Sophia’s. She gave him an ultimatum: either work for us or live a life full of pain. She was serious when she told him we wouldtorture him to the brink of death, let his body heal, and do it all over again.

I’m glad he chose to help, because it allowed me to focus my attention where it was needed most: Sophia. Around the fifth month of her pregnancy, she developed high blood pressure—preeclampsia. I thought I would miss calling the shots, but I don’t. It’s freeing to have that weight off my shoulders.

“It’s time,” Andrei says from outside the door.

“I’ll be right out,” I reply, checking myself one last time in the mirror. I take a deep breath, feeling the calm settle over me as I walk out of the room and into the backyard.

The scene before me is nothing short of breathtaking. Over three hundred guests sit in white chairs with blue bows neatly arranged on either side of the white walkway. Blue hydrangea petals cover the path, creating a soft carpet for my steps. I take my place at the altar next to Andrei, who stands tall, his eyes focused on the ceremony. I nod to the priest, and then I turn my gaze to the end of the aisle, where she will soon appear.

A deep breath fills my chest as my heart races in anticipation. A huge grin spreads across my face as I wait, watching the doors open. The world around me falls away for a moment, my entire focus on the woman about to walk down the aisle.

My reason for everything—the reason I’m leaving it all behind. Forever.

She steps into view, and time seems to stand still.

The end.

MAXIM

As the church door opens, theinstrumental melody of “I Get to Love You” by Ruella begins to play all around us.. The moment she steps into view, everything stops. My heart stumbles, and I swear, I forget how to breathe. She’s walking towards me, her eyes locked on mine.

Any tension I have leaves my body along with the breath I held whenour eyes connect. My chest expands, my heart rate spiking as I take her in as she glides down the aisle, her presence commanding yet ethereal, as though she’d stepped out of a dream. The gown she chose seems spun from clouds, layers of soft fabric cascading in a delicate symphony of motion with every step she takes. Subtle tones of blush pink and faint floral patterns bloom across the voluminous skirt, like whispers of springtime woven into the fabric. The off-the-shoulder neckline frames her collarbones and shoulders with quiet elegance while sheer ruffled sleeves drape gently, adding a touch of whimsy to the otherwise regal silhouette.

The gown moves with her, catching the light filtering through the space—a dance of shadow and pastel hues that gives her an otherworldly glow. Each step sends the layers of the dress fanning out around her, as though the air itself conspires tocarry her forward. It is a dress not just made but meant for this moment.

She looks breathtaking. Beautiful. Perfect, and mine. All mine.

She stops in front of me, her mom on her left and her sister on her right. Each of them gaveher a kiss on the cheek. At first, it was Andrei who was going to walk her, but a few weeks after Jenny told us everything, she called a family meeting. Sophia said there was a lot of laughing and so much crying and screaming, but they’re doing a lot better. It will take some time for all those old wounds to heal, but at least they’re healing, not just being covered to fester.

I extend my hand to her, and she grabs it as I help her walk up the few steps to the altar.

“Hi,” she mouths, a smile on her beautiful face.

“We are gathered here today to witness the union between Sophia Perez and Maxim Volvok. They have prepared their own vows.” The priest turns to me. “Maxim.”

I take both her hands in mine. The world fades around us, and for the first time, I’m not the ruthless man everyone fears. I’m just a man in love, watching the only person who has ever mattered promise herself to me. And God help me, I’ve never wanted anything more.

“Sophia, the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were more than just a challenge. You were the one thing I couldn’t control, the one thing that made me feel something I didn’t think I was capable of feeling. You’ve seen me at my worst—cold, calculating, ruthless—and yet, you chose me. And for that, I’m forever indebted to you. I vow to protect you with everything I have, to guard you against every enemy, every betrayal, every darkness I’ve known. I will keep you safe no matter the cost, because in this world, you are my only vulnerability. I promisenever to let you go, to stand beside you through everystorm. When the world tries to tear us apart, I’ll remind you that no matter how hard the fight, I’ll always come back to you. You are my heart, my empire, my everything. I vow to keep you close, but, most importantly, I vow to love you in my own way—with the fire of a man who has built a life from blood and shadows but who would burn it all down just to keep you safe. This is my promise to you, now and forever.”

Tears gently cascaded down her cheeks, each one a silent testament to the overwhelming flood of love and happiness she feels in this moment. Her eyes shimmer, reflecting a quiet joy that seems almost too big to hold, and her lips tremble with a soft smile.

The priest turns to Sophia.“Sophia. Your turn.” She takes a moment to compose herself before speaking.

“From the very first moment I met you, I knew my life was about to change. I didn’t expect it to happen this way, to fall so deeply, so completely, but with every breath, every heartbeat, I found a home in you. I stand here today not as the person I was before you, but as someone stronger, someone more whole, because of you. I vow to love you with the same intensity you’ve shown me. I promise to support you when the world is heavy on your shoulders and to laugh with you when it feels like life is light. I will be your partner, your confidant, your greatest ally, through every storm and every sunrise. I will honor you in ways words can’t express. I promise to listen when you need to speak, to hold you when you need comfort, and to fight beside you when we face challenges. I will never take for granted the gift of your love, for it is the most precious thing I have ever known. I vow to cherish you, to grow with you, and to never stop discovering new ways to fall deeper in love with you every single day. With you, I am home, and I will spend the rest of my life making sure you always know that you are my heart, my soul, and my forever.”

I stand there, completely still, as her vows fill the air around us. The words she speaks—they’re like a tidal wave crashing into me, each one more powerful than the last. I don’t even know how to breathe, how to process the depth of what she just gave me. Her love. Her promise. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted but never thought I deserved.

I feel a tightness in my chest, as ifmy heart might burst from the weight of it all. I’ve always been the one who took, the one who held back. But now, I stand here with her—so full of love, so full of gratitude—and I don’t know if I can even find the words to tell her how much this means to me.

“With that, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

I reach out, my hands trembling, and gently cup her face. I can barely hold back the rush of emotion in my chest. Her eyes—so vulnerable, so open—search mine, and I feel the rawness between us like a cord I can’t break.

“God, I don’t even know how to deserve you,” I say, my voice thick, cracking under the weight of everything I’m feeling. “But I promise, I’ll spend every single day of my life trying.”

She smiles, a shaky breath escaping her, and for a moment, we’re just there—connected by this understanding, this overwhelming love neither of us could have ever imagined.

I pull her into my arms, burying my face in her hair, and I feel it—the weight of our vows, the promise we’ve just made to one another. There’s nothing more to say; no more words are needed. Just love. Just us. Forever.

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