Shelby Manor – Early Morning
The soft, pale light of dawn slipped through the thick velvet curtains of Shelby Manor, casting a muted, almost ethereal glow across the polished floors. The house, usually so full of tension and intrigue, felt quieter today. There was a stillness in the air—a calm before the storm of the day to come.
The house was full of bustling servants preparing for the ceremony, but in James Shelby's room, he stood alone in front of a mirror, adjusting his tie with steady hands. The reflection staring back at him was one he hardly recognized anymore. He had lived through hell—dark nights filled with bloodshed, power struggles, and a thirst for vengeance. But today, as he adjusted his collar, he felt something entirely different—nervousness, yes, but also something he hadn't truly felt before: hope.
Hope for a new chapter. A new life.
Tatiana, the woman he loved, had just given him the one thing he never thought he would have: a reason to step away from the chaos.
She was pregnant.
The revelation had come to him in a moment of quiet, like a bombshell that exploded inside him, leaving him breathless. He hadn't expected it. He hadn't planned for it. But now, as he stood on the cusp of his future, James knew that everything was about to change.
They had made a decision together—Tatiana would be his wife, and they would raise this child as a family.
The darkness that had followed him his whole life—his past, his enemies, his unfinished business—felt less important now. What mattered more was what came next.
A knock on the door broke his thoughts. It was Tommy, his older brother, standing there with his usual nonchalance.
"You look like you're about to bury someone, not marry them," Tommy said with a grin, leaning casually against the doorframe.
James didn't return the smile. Instead, he simply said, "You never expected this, did you?"
Tommy's smile faded just a fraction as his eyes locked with his brother's. "No. I didn't. But that's life, isn't it? It never goes according to plan."
James turned back to the mirror, checking his tie one last time. His voice was low. "I'm not sure I've ever had a plan, Tommy."
"Well," Tommy said, stepping closer, "maybe this is the one thing worth planning for."
James finally looked up, meeting his brother's gaze. Tommy's eyes were hard, but there was something else there now—an acknowledgment of the man James had become. Not just the soldier, or the avenger, but something else. A father. A husband.
Tommy gave a quiet nod, almost as if to say he understood.
"Let's make sure you don't look like a criminal at your own wedding," Tommy added, his smirk returning as he pulled James's jacket collar down slightly.
James chuckled, the first real laugh he'd had in days. "I suppose you'd know what that looks like, wouldn't you?"
Tommy rolled his eyes, but there was warmth in his expression. "Just make sure she's happy, James. That's all I care about."
The Church – Midday
The grand doors of the church opened, and the soft murmur of the guests hushed immediately as Tatiana Petrovnawalked down the aisle. The room seemed to stand still, the elegance of her gown and the quiet power in her stride commanding the attention of everyone present. Her eyes, which had always held a quiet strength, now seemed to glow with something deeper—a mix of love and determination.
James's heart thudded in his chest. His emotions, usually locked away behind a wall of steel, were now crashing into him. Tatiana wasn't just carrying his child—she was giving him a second chance at life. The weight of that responsibility was immense, but so was the love that anchored him to her.
As she reached the altar, the world outside faded, and all that remained was her. They exchanged no words, only a shared look, one that spoke volumes about the journey they had both been through to get here.
The officiant spoke, but James barely heard the words. His gaze never left Tatiana's. This wasn't just a union of two people. This was a promise. A promise that, no matter the past, no matter the dangers they would face in the future, they would walk forward together.
The Reception – Later That Night
The reception was a wild affair, as expected with the Shelbys at the helm. The ballroom at Shelby Manor was filled with the crème de la crème of both the criminal underworld and high society. A mix of smoke, laughter, clinking glasses, and the low hum of conversation filled the air.
James and Tatiana stood at the center of it all, but their attention was focused solely on each other. The world could burn, and they wouldn't have noticed. Everything had changed, and they both knew that the next chapter in their lives wasn't about survival or revenge—it was about protecting the life they were creating together.
James leaned in toward her as they took a quiet moment away from the crowd.
"I never thought I'd be here," he confessed, his voice a mixture of awe and vulnerability.
"Never thought I'd find something worth fighting for beyond myself."
Tatiana smiled softly, her eyes soft but intense. "You've always had something to fight for, James. It just took you a while to see it."
He didn't respond at first. Instead, he just looked at her, taking in the way she held herself. There was a new tenderness in his gaze, one that wasn't there when they first met. When he had first come into this life, he was driven by vengeance, by power, by the need to survive. But now, he had something far greater—a family, a child, and a love that felt like it could withstand any storm.
A Quiet Moment – After the Celebration
As the party wound down and the guests filtered out, James and Tatiana found themselves alone in one of the quiet corners of the manor. The fire in the hearth crackled softly, casting a warm glow over the room.
Tatiana rested her head on James's shoulder, her fingers tracing small circles on his chest.
"James," she murmured, her voice filled with a quiet confidence. "You've been through so much. But now, we have something new to focus on. A family."
James nodded, the weight of her words settling heavily on him. "A family," he repeated, the reality of it sinking in. "A future."
For the first time in years, he wasn't thinking about the past or the enemies that loomed in the distance. He was thinking about the life ahead of him—the life he would build with Tatiana and their child. There was no more running from who he was.
"I'll fight for you," James promised, his voice low and fierce. "For us. Always."
Tatiana lifted her head to look him in the eyes, her expression serious. "And I'll fight with you, James. Every step of the way."
James's lips found hers in a kiss that spoke of everything they had been through, everything they had endured to reach this moment. It was a kiss of promises, of vows yet to be spoken, and of a future that neither of them had ever dreamed they would have.
The Shelbys had survived countless storms, but now, for the first time in a long while, they had something to protect—something that was theirs to keep.
Together, they would face the future, whatever it held.