Page 141 of Mountain Daddy

Mrs. Chen sits beside the mayor's wife, both of them eyeing the tattooed men in suits with expressions ranging from fascination to horror.

On the other side, Maksim stands as best man, flanked by three men I've never seen before. All built like brick walls. All watching the church entrance with the hypervigilance of men who expect trouble at any moment.

It should be terrifying. Should make me want to run.

Instead, I start walking.

Down the aisle.

Toward Nikolai.

Toward our future.

His eyes never leave mine. Not when I reach him. Not when we exchange vows. Not when he slides a simple gold band onto my finger next to the engagement ring he got me. A solid fucking diamond, if I ever saw one.

“I promise,” he says, voice low and sure, “to love you and protect you and our children until my last breath.”

And I know he will.

The reception is held at the town park. Fairy lights strung across the street. Music floating through the grounds.

It's chaos. Beautiful chaos.

Chleo races between tables with the mayor's grandson, high on cake and adventure.

The florist keeps crossing herself whenever she passes a table of Bratva men, their jackets carefully arranged to hide their weapons.

Rosa has cornered Maksim by the punch bowl, his stoic expression softening every time she laughs.

And Nikolai—my husband—stands by my side the whole time.

I slip my hand into his. “Happy?”

He pulls me against his side, presses a kiss to my temple. “More than I knew was possible.”

That's when Maksim approaches, something urgent in his expression.

“Lilly,” Maksim gestures for Nikolai and me to join him in a quiet corner.

“I told him to wait for the honeymoon to kill someone,” I deadpan.

Maksim grins. Hands me a folded sheet of paper.

“He’s clear.”

I blink. “What?”

“The charges. The warrants. All of it. Gone. Dmitri came through.”

The air rushes out of me.

Nikolai turns to me, face alight with something I've never seen before. Relief. Pure and complete.

“It's done,” he says, breaking into a smile. “Boris came through. The FBI has officially closed my case.”

“You're free,” I whisper, the implications hitting me all at once. “Completely free.”

He pulls me closer, hand sliding protectively over my stomach. “We all are.”

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