It made the most sense.It had to be done.
I join in the clapping and cheering as they come past our pew, throwing an arm around Nina’s shoulder and hauling her up for appearance’s sake.
Ava throws handfuls of rose petals towards the couple with the intensity of a baseball pitcher.
“Why are you so pleased? You threw a fit when you found out about their engagement,” Nina hisses in my ear.
That was before. Things change.
“That was when it was outside of my control. Now it’s just another part of the puzzle.”
I wave at them as they pass. I’m surprised to see a genuine smile on Valentin’s face — he was adamant that he didn’t want to go through with this, but as he leads Karolina out the doors, I would swear that I see adoration in his eyes. Maybe my cousin’s a better actor than I thought.
Valentin and Karolina are a powerful couple. They’ll be useful allies to have when I take over.
And I made them, so I can just as easily bring them crumbling down.
After the ceremony, we head back to the Estate for the reception. Throngs of people fill the ballroom.
This place has seen so many weddings this year, it’s ridiculous.
The tap of a cane lets me know Vanya wants to speak to me.
She nods her head. When I try to bring Nina with me, she shakesher head.
“Alone.”
Nina huffs but takes off to join Karolina, where she’s posing for photos at the other side of the ballroom. Ava balances on her hip, waving at Vanya and I as we leave. I blow a kiss to her.
Nina doesn’t look back, but I admire the low back of her yellow gown, anyway. If there’s anyone who deserves to look like a princess every night of the week, it’s my wife.
“Ah, I know that look, darling. I hope you’re glad about my announcement now,” Vanya places a hand on my shoulder and steers me out of the ballroom.
“It would have happened eventually, even without your scheming.”
She raises her eyebrows and purses her lips. “It didn’t seem that way to me. You’re a complete man now, Artyom.”
It remains old-fashioned bullshit, but Babushka does have a point. With Nina by my side, I feel invincible.
Vanya sits down in her armchair with a groan. “My feet are killing me more and more these days. And that left knee is about to fail on me.”
She picks up the silver-framed picture of Vassily she keeps on her desk and strokes the faded image. He’s seated in a high-backed armchair, cigar in hand, whiskey in the other, which is precisely how I remember my grandfather.
She sets it down with a sigh.
“Your uncle, Tyoma. That was not your best work.”
“No one knows what happened to him.” I lean back against thedesk and fold my hands behind my head. “The CCTV footage is mysteriously missing, and his guards don’t remember a thing.”
“Everyone knows what happened.”
“Even if they do, they can’t prove it.”
“It’s not about proof,” Vanya says softly. “It’s about respect. Family. Trust.” Her tone turns stern. “How can they trust you to lead, when you murder your uncle? And when you do it right under our noses, in this place that I promised would be a safe haven for our family.”
“They wouldn’t respect me if I didn’t kill Denis.”
“They would respect the restraint. Order. Tradition. Family comes first,” Vanya says, cracking her cane against the desk leg for effect. “You always forget this.”
