Anger flashes in her eyes. “I don’t understand anything. I don’t understand why you married this freak. I don’t understand why you couldn’t be a part of our family.”
“I am a part of your family. But like I said, your mom and I are just friends.”
“I wasn’t talking about my mom,” she snaps, pulling away from me. “Why couldn’t you have waited a few more years?”
I frown. “Waited for what?”
She huffs. “For me.”
It dawns me one what Susanna is saying. Does she…likeme as more than a father figure?
No, that can’t be. But the way she’s looking at me with so much hurt right now…
“Susanna, you’re like a daughter to me and you always will be. Besides, you’re only sixteen.”
“And that whore is only twenty-one.”
“She’s an adult. She’s young, yes. But she’s still an adult. You are not. And even if you were, I’ll only ever see you as a daughter. Katya is my wife now. One day, you’ll get a husband of your own. When you’re older. Now, stop asking questions and trust me. Don’t meddle in this.”
“Why does she have blood on her dress?” The change in subject startles me.
“What?”
“You said she cut herself. So why is the restroom door locked? What is going on here?”
“I killed a man,” Katya says, surprising us all. Nina and Susanna stare at her like she’s certifiably insane.
“Katya,” I warn.
She keeps her eyes on Susanna. “I killed a man who tried to hurt me and Alek is trying to protect me. You can go inside that bathroom and see for yourself. See what I’m capable of.”
Susanna backs away from Katya. “Is this all true?”
“No,” I say. “I killed a man who was trying to hurt Katya. One of my men is dealing with the situation. I don’t want you girls involved in this. So just go back into the ballroom. Now. And don’t tell your mother about this. Don’t tell anyone. There could be serious consequences for it.”
“What kind?” Nina asks.
“Like if my men found out what happened, they would try to hurt me. Do you want to see me hurt?”
They both shake their heads no.
“Good. Now go back into the ballroom. I’ll announce that me and Katya are leaving. It’s our wedding night after all. Go.”
They finally hurry away back to the ballroom. I just have to hope that the two girls I see as my daughters will not come back to bite me in the ass.
“Why do you keep protecting me?” Katya asks, slipping my jacket back over her shoulders. “You told Sam that you killed Jack and now again with Nina and Susanna.”
“Because it won’t be as bad if anyone finds out I killed him. But if my men were to find out you did it…”
“What?”
“It just wouldn’t be good. Now, come along.” I grab her hand – it fits nicely in mine – and we head back to the ballroom. Once we’re inside, I leave Katya by the doors, hidden in shadows, and walk onto the stage where the band is.
“Hello, everyone,” I say into the microphone. “I appreciate everyone coming for my wedding but it’s time that me and mywife head off for our honeymoon. You all can stay here and continue to celebrate. Dance the night away. Eat. Have fun. Thank you.”
My men whoop and holler, knowing full well what happens on a wedding night but I know what’s not going to happen: me claiming Katya as my own. She’s too scared over what happened with Jack. I may want her but I want to take her when she’s begging me to. Not before.
Tonight is about getting her to safety.
