Page 80 of Defiant Devotion

I took the chances to escape. I’d taken the step to reclaim control in my life to avoid being presented as a forced virginal bride to Eric Benson.

I never could have anticipated that in doing so, I was starting my family and future.

Vik knocked on the door, entering to join Irina. “How’s it—oh!” He grinned, walking closer but not nearing the foot of my bed as the nurses finished with me. “He or she is here!”

“After what the doctor confirmed was the longest labor she’d ever witnessed in her career,” Ben said.

He winced playfully and smiled at me. “Congratulations. Should I tell Oleg that Henry’s got a boy or a girl to chase around at home now?”

Oleg was at home with Rurik and Kelly, waiting for the news.

“Vik, meet Jenny,” I said.

“No man is ever going to be good enough for you, little girl,” he said.

I rolled my eyes.

Ben laughed, shaking his head.

“I guess I owe Lev a hundred,” Vik joked, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“You bet on our kid?” Ben said.

“Ah, just guessing the gender.” Vik winked. “Since no one wants to find out the gender beforehand.”

“Nope.” I smiled wider. “I like wondering.”

“But it would make it easier to decorate,” Irina said. They hadn’t learned the gender ahead of time, either. Like Ben and me, they were moving into their new house. As far as I could tell, they hadn’t struggled with decorating their nursery. And I bet we’d all be accessorizing and decorating after the fact as we welcomed our babies home.

“I’m not finding out either,” Eva said on the phone. “But I’ll put a hundred on it being two girls.”

I laughed. “Two girls?”

“Yeah. Sisters. They’d always have each other like we did.”

A poignant stab of hurt made my heart ache.Like we did?We were separated for eleven years. And she’d gotten stuck on the fear and assumption that I’d willingly run away.

I dismissed the reminder, though. I couldn’t let my past trauma trap me in sadness or anger.

It was time to look forward, to embrace each new day as it came and anticipate all the things that the next day could bring too.

And I wouldn’t do it alone. I had my fiancé—the one I chose and would pick time and time again. I had my daughter. My uncle. My cousins and their spouses and a whole new generation of Baranovs on their way.

“Sisters,” I agreed with Eva, meeting her eyes on the screen. “Together forever.”

From this day on.

She sniffled, smiling back at me.

We would all be together, no matter the trials and threats. No matter the danger and enemies, that was who we were. TheBaranovs weren’t just an organization. We were family. We would uphold our legacy with love and determination to always support each other.

I looked around the room, appreciating that they were all here.

That Ben was here to show me how to let the love and trust in.

Meeting his eyes, I sighed and mouthed,I love you, knowing I was free to do so for the rest of my days.

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