The weeks that followed were the happiest of Sara's life.
She woke every morning in Adrian's arms. They had breakfast together—real breakfast, with conversation and laughter and stolen kisses over coffee. Adrian went to work, but he always came home. Always.
They spent evenings in the library, reading side by side. They took walks in the gardens, hand in hand. They made love in the moonlight and fell asleep tangled together.
Tom thrived.
He no longer flinched when guards passed. He no longer jumped at sudden sounds. He did his homework in the library, played video games in his room, and slowly, slowly, began to trust the man his sister loved.
One afternoon, Sara found them together in the garden.
Tom was showing Adrian something on his phone—a game, maybe, or a video. Adrian was watching with that focused intensity he gave everything, asking questions, actually interested.
Tom laughed at something.
Adrian smiled.
Sara's heart nearly burst.
Marta appeared beside her.
"He's good with the boy," Marta observed quietly.
Sara nodded, not trusting her voice.
"I've never seen him like this." Marta's voice was thoughtful. "Happy. Peaceful. Almost normal."
"Is that bad?"
Marta shook her head slowly. "No, child. It's not bad. It's just... new. Be careful with it."
Sara looked at her. "What do you mean?"
Marta's eyes were unreadable. "I mean happiness is fragile in this world. And Dimitri is still out there."
The words were a cold splash of reality.
Sara turned back to watch Adrian and Tom. They were both laughing now, heads bent together over the phone.
"I know," she whispered. "But I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts."
Marta nodded and walked away.
Sara crossed the garden and joined her boys.
That night, Adrian took her to dinner.
Not in the mansion. Not surrounded by guards and servants. A real restaurant, with real food and real people and the simple joy of being together in public.
Sara wore a simple blue dress. Adrian wore a dark suit that made her heart flutter.
They sat at a corner table, away from prying eyes, and talked for hours.
About nothing. About everything.
About the future.
"Have you thought about what you want?" Adrian asked, his fingers intertwined with hers across the table. "After this is over. After Dimitri. What do you want?"
Sara considered the question.
"A normal life," she said finally. "I know that's not really possible with you. But... as normal as we can get. A house. A garden. Tom growing up safe and happy."
Adrian nodded slowly. "And me?"
Sara smiled. "You're part of the package, Mr. Volkov. Whether you like it or not."
His eyes warmed. "I like it."
"Good."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment.
Then Adrian spoke again, his voice quieter.
"I've been thinking about getting out."
Sara blinked. "Out?"
"Out of the life. The business. The violence." He met her eyes. "I have enough money. More than enough. I could sell, step back, let someone else run things."
Sara's heart pounded. "Would they let you? The other families?"
Adrian's jaw tightened. "It wouldn't be easy. But it's possible. If I had a reason."
"And do you? Have a reason?"
Adrian lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.
"I have three reasons. You. Tom. And the future we could have together."
Sara's eyes filled with tears.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too."
They drove home in contented silence, Sara's head resting on Adrian's shoulder.
For the first time in months, she felt something she had almost forgotten.
Hope.
Real, solid, tangible hope.
The mansion appeared in the distance, lights blazing welcome. Adrian's hand found hers in the darkness.
"Tonight was perfect," Sara murmured.
"It was."
"I wish every night could be like this."
Adrian squeezed her hand. "They will be. I promise."
The car pulled through the gates.
And stopped.
Sara sat up, confused. "Why are we stopping?"
Adrian's body had gone rigid. His eyes were fixed on something ahead.
Sara followed his gaze.
Her blood turned to ice.
On the mansion steps, tied to the grand pillars, were two figures.
Marta.
And Sara's father.
Their heads hung limp. Their bodies were covered in blood.
And above them, spray-painted in red, were words:
YOUR HAPPINESS WAS TEMPORARY.
MINE IS JUST BEGINNING.
—D
Sara screamed.
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