Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Snake
It’s only been a few short hours since our talk, but somehow I feel lighter. Lighter inside and out. For once, everything feels calm. Nothing is clawing at me. Nothing hurts the way it usually does.
I told Liam about the conversation I had with Ivan. About everything we said and everything we didn’t. It felt like we finally closed a chapter that, truthfully, will never fully close. Not when we’re tied together through our children and through that toxic fucking love we’ve never been able to kill no matter how hard we try.
I stretch out across the grass, spreading my arms wide, letting the blades tickle between my fingers. Months ago, Illia Sr. had an entire soccer field built for us. It was his idea after watching all of us play together for the first time in Spain. He said he loved seeing us in those unscripted moments, when no one was pretending to be anything else. According to him, that’s when we’re our truest selves.
The old man might actually be right.
The sky above me is impossibly blue, streaked with soft white clouds drifting lazily overhead. It’s a perfect fucking day.
Too perfect.
I miss my girls.
“Mom! Do you want me to play for your team?” Constantine yells across the field.
Before I can answer, Jax shouts back, “Sit down and watch her. It’s a fucking treat.”
“Motherfucker, if you’re grabbing your dick again, I will rip it off and shove it in your mouth,” I snap, sitting upright. “How old are you?”
His hand jerks away immediately, though not fast enough to fool anyone. Elizabeth laughs at her other half. The guys are all sprawled out in the grass stretching like professional athletes instead of who they really are. Liam catches my eye and winks at me.
Damn. He might actually survive this family after all.
Black SUVs suddenly come screeching to a halt along the stone driveway north of the field.
“Late birthday present, dushichka!” Ivan yells.
Illia Sr. lets out a disapproving grunt, and immediately Ivan snaps like a live wire. My friends start pouring out of the SUVs while the rest of us stay frozen, watching the exchange between Ivan and his father unfold.
They switch to rapid Bulgarian.
Constantine only understands enough to follow slow conversations. Nobody on earth could keep up with Ivan when he’s pissed off and speaking fast.
“Blow me, you old fuck,” Ivan barks. “I’m never going to stop calling her that. Go ahead, shoot me for the fucking third time. Maybe you won’t miss this time. Go ahead. Kill me in front of my children.”
The entire field goes silent.
Illia Sr. drops heavily onto the bench beside my father, looking genuinely stunned for once. He says nothing.
Jax grabs at Ivan’s arm, trying to pull him back, but Ivan only steps closer. Yulia hollers at him to calm down, but everyone here knows the truth.
I’m the only person who can pull him back once he gets like this.
“Elle!” Illia Jr. yells at me, snapping me out of my trance.
“Snake!” I shout across the field in English.
Ivan turns toward me instantly, grinning ear to ear. Those damn dimples I love and hate make their tragic appearance.
“Save some energy for the game,” I yell. “Because I’m going to kick your ass.”
His grin only widens.
Then I soften my voice. “You’re scaring the kids.”
That finally reaches him.
Both Cat and Kat are clutching onto Mason, wide-eyed. Ivan’s entire body changes the second he notices them. He drops to one knee just as Katia and Catori break free and sprints toward him, wrapping their tiny arms around his neck and kissing all over his face.
And just like that, time starts moving normally again.
Gemma, Tish, Erika, Mia, and Yesenia rush toward me next. The second they throw their arms around me, something inside my chest loosens. Their hug feels healing. Exactly what I needed without realizing how badly I needed it.
“When the mafia prince sends a private jet last minute, you fucking go,” Gemma laughs.
I burst out laughing with her.
I wish Tiana were here too, but I know she and Stanislav are somewhere in Brazil on vacation, probably drinking expensive liquor and pretending not to be absolutely smitten with each other.
My eyes drift back toward Ivan.
He’s standing with Katia in his arms now while Cat leans against his leg. Even from across the field, I can read the tension still sitting in his shoulders.
I mouth a silent thank you.
He gives me one small nod.
Alek drops down beside Mason while Katia and Catori run back over to them. The girls climb onto the bench together, swinging their little legs back and forth while arguing over snacks.
“I brought your cleats,” Gemma says with a laugh. “I bribed Nancy into letting me dig through your closet.”
“That woman can be bought with chocolate,” I snort.
“Exactly.”
We all collapse into the grass together, pulling on shin guards and cleats while the men continue talking shit nearby. Suddenly, I feel this overwhelming urge to leave every ounce of pain I’ve been carrying on this field today.
Every heartbreak.
Every betrayal.
Every ugly memory.
I want to grind the Pavlov men into the fucking dirt.
Liam starts wandering toward our side, clearly intending to play with me after mentioning it at least six times before we came outside.
“Oh no, boyfriend,” Sal calls out immediately. “You’re playing with us. They’re going to murder us, and we need you more than the women do.”
Liam looks at me helplessly before shrugging and heading back toward the guys.
More people start filling the stands surrounding the field. Family members, staff, even some of the guards drift over to watch. The heat from the afternoon sun presses harder against our skin, warming the grass beneath us.
I stand up, bouncing lightly on my toes a few times while stretching out my legs.
“Helena, Gabby. I need two more.” I motion for my sister and cousin to join me. And they do without protesting for the first time in years
Mia glances up at me mid-stretch and grins because she already knows exactly what’s coming.
And just like that, I launch into my famous state final game speech loud enough for the entire field to hear. The Devil speech.
The men burst out laughing.
They won’t be laughing for long.
I look over my shoulder at Liam, he holds his hands to his chest dramaticaly.