Shattered Crown: A Dark Mafia Age Gap Romance (Kozlov Empire Book 4)

The world filters back to me in fragments: the low hum of medical equipment, the sterile scent of antiseptic, a stiff mattress beneath me. My eyelids open reluctantly, and an unfamiliar room swims into focus, bathed in the soft glow of fluorescent lights.

I’m in a hospital, that much is clear, but how I got here is a blur.

I turn my head slightly, wincing at the stiffness in my neck.

I find Maxim beside my bed. His head is bowed, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together. He looks like a man carrying the weight of the world.

‘Maxim,’ I try to speak, but the word comes out as a barely audible rasp.

His head snaps up, his deep blue eyes meeting mine. There’s a storm there—relief, pain, and love all swirling together. He looks like he’s been through hell and back, his dark hair messy, his face tired and drawn, his usual polished exterior cracked and tarnished.

“Lastochka,” he whispers, reaching for my hand. “You’re awake. How do you feel?”

“Like shit,” I croak, trying to sit up straighter.

He gently presses a hand against my shoulder, urging me to ease back onto the pillows. “Easy. You’ve been through a lot.” Maxim stands and reaches for a glass of water on the bedside table. Carefully, he supports my head, lifting the glass to my lips.

I drink slowly, the cool liquid soothing my dry throat. “How long have I been out?”

“Thirty nine hours, four minutes, seven seconds.”

Despite my throbbing head, a small smile grows on my lips. “Not that you’ve been counting.”

He sets the glass down, his gaze never wavering from my face. “Do you remember anything?”

Disjointed images flash through my mind, but everything is a jumbled dark mess. ‘Nadya… The cabin,’ I say, my voice still weak. ‘I remember fighting … and falling into the water.” I shake my head, ignoring the throbbing in my temples. “You saved me, didn’t you?”

Maxim reaches out to cup my cheek. The lingering terror in his expression tells me exactly how he felt about that moment. ‘When we got there, you were in the river. I thought I had lost you.’ His grip tightens on my hand. ‘But you fought, lastochka. You fought so hard.”

There’s something else dancing at the edges of my consciousness.

“The baby!” I shoot straight up but tubes restrain me, sending a jolt of pain through my body.

“It’s okay,” he says gently, his face softening. ‘Everything appears to be fine with the pregnancy. You’re both safe now.’

Relief floods through me, easing the tight knot of worry that had formed in my throat. I let out a shaky breath, tears welling in my eyes. “I want this baby, Maxim. I didn’t plan for it, but I want to keep it. I’m sorry if this isn’t what you want, but⁠—”

‘Stop,’ he interrupts, holding my face tenderly in his hands, his gaze intense. ‘You don’t have to be sorry. This baby is a part of us. I thought I was too broken to do this again, but you’ve turned my world upside down, in the best possible way. I want this family with you.” The words leave his lips with newfound softness, his thumb softly caressing my cheek. “I love you, Kira. More than I ever thought possible.”

Tears blur my vision. I’m not sure if it’s the pain medication or the ordeal I’ve been through, but I’m dumbfounded, never dreaming I’d hear those words from Maxim.

‘I love you too,’ I whisper. ‘I was terrified you wouldn’t want this … or us.’

Maxim gently wipes away my tears. ‘I’m fucking crazy about you. A life with you is more than I could dream of.”

A flicker of happiness ignites in my heart, basking in the promise of our future together.

“I’d never run away from you.” My hand glides down his face, coming to rest on his strong jawline. He briefly closes his eyes, savoring the contact, before opening them to meet my gaze. “I wasn’t sure if this is what you’d want, but I was always going to be honest with you.”

“I know. And I’m sorry I didn’t realize it earlier.” He pauses, his gaze tenderly sweeping over my face. “Nadya killed your aunt, didn’t she?”

I nod, a pang of sorrow bubbling deep within. “My father did the torture and killing. But she was the one who lured her to the warehouse under the guise of helping her. She promised Masha your protection, but of course, it was all lies.”

‘I’m so sorry for not seeing what she was earlier.” His voice is calm, but his shoulders are tight. “She will pay. I promise you that.’ A quiet fury radiates from him.

My stomach turns as reality sinks in. “Where is Nadya now?”

His jaw clenches, and when his eyes meet mine, the raw intensity in them makes my breath hitch. “Still alive. I will deal with her in time.” Maxim changes the subject, his voice softer now. “Are you tired?”

“A little,” I admit, feeling the weight of exhaustion tugging at my eyelids.

He smiles, a glimpse of tenderness. “Your whole family is here. They’ve taken over the waiting room. Luckily, we’re in a hospital I built.”

I tilt my head in question.

“You want to know what I do with the money I make from wine?” He gestures all around us.

A small, tired smile grows on my lips. “Of course. You steal from the rich and give to everyone else. A modern-day Robin Hood.”

He shrugs, a sparkle in his eyes. “I call it ‘wealth redistribution’.”

I gesture towards the door with my head. “Tell them to come in. I’ll kick them out when I need to sleep.”

“I haven’t told them about the pregnancy. It’s still early, and I wanted it to be your choice when to share the news.”

I nod gratefully. He plants a gentle kiss on my forehead before stepping out of the room.

Closing my eyes, I drop my hands into my lap, drinking in this perfect moment. So many emotions shift beneath the surface.

The reality of nearly losing everything hits hard. We’ve been through hell and back, but somehow, it made everything clear. I need Maxim as much as I need my next breath. And I have him. For real this time. Nothing can change that.

Moments later, my husband returns with everyone. And I mean everyone.

Alyona is the first through the door. She rushes to my side, gently throwing her arms around me. “Oh my God, Kira, I’ve never been so afraid.”

I doubt that’s true, given the life we lead, but I can’t deny this has been a terrible ordeal.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

She shakes her head. “All I care about is that you’re okay.”

I can’t stop the tears—once they start, they flow like the river Nile. Alyona is quick to join in.

My sisters-in-law, Georgia and Bianca, are the next to embrace me. As if crying is contagious, they start tearing up too.

“How do you feel? Are you okay?” Georgia asks, her dark eyebrows drawn together.

“I am,” I announce. “Although, I wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for Maxim.”

Andrei approaches next, his embrace firm, but irritation flickers over his features when his eyes land on Maxim. ‘He might’ve saved you, but he’s the reason you were in danger in the first place.”

Daniil drops a kiss on my head while Leo grabs hold of my hand. I don’t miss the way my brothers’ glances flit towards Maxim, accusation hanging in the air. It’s clear that despite everything, they blame him for not seeing what Nadya was earlier.

Maxim watches quietly as my family envelops me in their love and concern. It’s subtle, but I see the shadow of self-reproach that darkens his gaze.

“Enough of the blame game,” I blurt out. “Nadya was a master manipulator. She hid who she really was, but⁠—”

Maxim shakes his head before I can finish. ‘You don’t need to defend me. They’re right. I should have seen through Nadya a long time ago. It was my responsibility to keep you safe, and I failed.” His admission silences the room, and all eyes turn to him. ‘I’ve always prided myself on my judgment, on being able to read people. But with Nadya … I was blind. That nearly cost me the most important thing in my life.’ His eyes fill with pain. “Kira, the thought of losing you is unbearable. I vow to you, now and always, I’ll never make that same mistake again. I’ll guard you with every breath in my body.’

“I know,” I rasp, reaching for his hand and intertwining our fingers.

He leans forward, gently pressing a kiss on my lips, igniting the spark of electricity that dances between us.

The room is still, the tension palpable.

Alyona speaks, breaking the quiet. ‘We all make mistakes. What matters is that Kira is still here.”

Maxim acknowledges Aly with a slight nod, but I can see how much the words mean coming from his daughter. Taking a deep breath, his gaze sweeps the room. ‘Kira’s not only my wife—she’s my partner, my equal. In her, I’ve found my reason to be better, to do better, and I promise you that her safety and happiness will be my priority.”

Andrei meets my husband’s gaze, an inkling of acknowledgement passing between them. ‘We’ll hold you to that, Maxim.”

There might be a long road ahead to build trust between our families, but maybe they’re starting to see the qualities in Maxim that I fell in love with. His strength, his loyalty, his fierce love and devotion.

My eyes begin to close. Exhausted but happy, I drift off, faintly aware of everyone filing out of the room.

Except for one person.

There’s a gentle kiss on my forehead, a warm hand in mine. “Sleep well, lastochka.”