Dual Eclipse
4th installment in the Mikhailov Bratva series.
Start Date: February 18th 2024.
End Date: October 28th 2024.
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Victoria
I had nothing to do with these people-those with lifeless eyes, those that held their...
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We sat on a stone behind our mansion to watch the sunset behind the hills. My husband touched my shoulder before leaning forward to kiss my head. Sasha and I exchanged vows eight months ago. We had the winter wedding like he wanted in January, and the greens and reds to my liking.
We bought our house as a wedding gift, and it’s the cosiest place I’ve ever known. I loved every day and night that we spent together. Chains and invisible forces bound our tarnished souls and gave us no peace. Somehow, we’re one by the sword. There was no separating my husband and me. Sasha knew me inside out, and I knew every secret of his.
I loved that man to death because I never saw myself as a wife with a home and a man who loved me unconditionally after my life fell apart four years ago. “Do you think she is happy?” I stood and faced Sasha.
“We haven’t had rain since I found him, so yes, Vixen is happy.” He looked at me, but the smile wasn’t bright like those days.
“Are you alright, Baby?” He chuckled, kissing my cheeks.
“Of course,” That was a lie. It’s been one year since Sasha lost Vixen, and it pains me to see him battle himself over her death. He refuses to tell me how he truly feels, and I’d think I was the other woman if he didn’t make me his wife. How could I ever think such a thing?
“Sasha. I’m serious.”
He sighed. “Sometimes, I still blame myself for Vixen’s death. Vixen would have been alive if she never got in my car. She was full of life and was determined to reach her goal.” He blankly stared in the distance. The orange hues of the sun cast shadows on his shaven face. A lock of hair fell over his sunglasses, and he looked handsome.
Sasha’s tattoos peaked from the V in his neckline and rolled-up sleeves. My husband didn’t have a favourite colour, but brown looked best on him, and I’ve said it many times. He took every chance possible to wear the colour. Tonight we will have dinner at our house. It was Destina’s birthday, and she would be here from her flight from Australia.
She studied law at Monash University, and we rarely saw her. The last time she visited was for our wedding. She didn’t stay for the reception and flew back to Cyprus that night. I still believe she is traumatised from that day because nothing has convinced her to come to Russia. Sasha tried to understand her, but he just missed his sister. Destina was no longer the eighteen-year-old we knew. Today, she is one year wiser.
“It wasn’t your fault, Amore. We knew why she did it. I would have. Any mother would have. Please don’t be mad, but I found her diary in your study. Her husband took their child and made her think he died. She fought until her last breath to find her son.”
“You’re why she is smiling because you found him.” I shifted Rohan McLaughlin on my right side. He’d fallen asleep the only way he could—on this hill where the sunset was at its finest.
“Do you want me to hold him?”
“Please,” I carefully gave him the two-year-old we adopted four months ago. He hasn’t warmed up to us, but everything has its time. It’s not easy warming up to strangers after you’ve been placed in a home. We love our son daily, and he’d know nothing but family for the rest of his days. I was scared at first. I thought it was selfish that I got to raise another woman’s baby, but I knew Vixen would want this.
“I’ll try.” Sasha fixes Rohan’s hat on his head. “She would want nothing else but this. Vixen is happy. Our son will know his mother. It’s the most I could do for her.” I smiled, leaning my head on his shoulders. He kissed our heads before touching the tombstone of Vixen McLaughlin’s grave. “He will have her with him through this life.”
Sasha decided to bury Vixen on top of the hill. It was the best decision he made. It helped on most days when we couldn’t make Rohan sleep. It didn’t matter what time it was because our little boy felt at peace when we arrived at Vixen’s gravesite.
He was also great with Rohan; he was the best father. Rohan learned to walk because of Sasha. Sasha taught him how to swim, read a book, and play golf in our backyard. That was our perfect life. I couldn’t have children, and God gave me his blessing. He has blessed my life abundantly in every way possible, so who am I not to enjoy it? We have a cat that has her family now. Sasha has other houses we have visited, and Villa Voinov is my favourite. Miriam is charming and always makes the stay enjoyable.
He looks forward to turning the others into a business and relaxing on the assassinations, although I know he enjoys it. I can’t blame my husband. I know things have not been over since Harold went into hiding. The Marino Cartel went quiet, and it was always a matter of time.
Most of my concerns are opening up to Antonio and Alessandro Rossi since we protect our family and fight our battles. My position as an officer in Russia just tied the knot. Nothing can stop us, so they can hit how they like. We’d win. It has been months since I met my biological father and brother, but I’m trying. They arrived today, and I make the best of this visit for everyone. It’s time to move on. We have new ones in the family and need to set an example.
I called on Him years ago, and he answered my prayers. Let’s say I’ve always prayed since.
I clenched the moon around my neck. Meus est mundus, cum in eo est.
