“We made you bracelets for good luck.”
“Aww…” I hugged them both, sliding them onto my wrist. “You boys are my lucky charms, helping me so much. Thank you.”
Once they ran off to get in place as ring boys, since our flower girls couldn’t walk yet, I smiled at the sweet gesture. I didn’t need luck. I just needed to get my butt down the aisle and marry the man of my dreams. The assassin I couldn’t arrest. The kidnapper I couldn’t escape. The lover who understood me and respected me.
Gabriella and Raisa both kissed my cheek as they got into line. Both of them were my bridesmaids since I couldn’t choose one over the other to be my maid of honor. Ivan and Alexsei were waiting at the altar as groomsmen.
It was all coming together. After so much of my life being an existence of solitude and independence, I had all these wonderfully brave people with good hearts beneath the exterior of their Mafia labels.
I headed to join Luka, who was waiting to walk me down the aisle. Something about my expression jarred him. “What’s wrong?”
I shook my head, not wanting to admit that anythingcouldbe wrong. Everything was perfect.
“Is this about the milk thing Gabriella was talking about last night?”
I laughed as we waited to go down the aisle. “No. And it’s kind of weird to talk about that withyou.”
“How so?”
“You’re this big, bad Mafia boss.”
He shrugged. “I’ve got a wife and a daughter now. I’m not going to freak at the mention of a feminine issue.”
“And in a few minutes, my father-in-law.”
Again, he shrugged. “I bet your father wouldn’t blink an eye at wanting to talk about what’s bothering his daughter.”
Dammit.
I sniffled, stemming the tears.
“Ah,fuck.” He shook his head. “That’s it.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Bullshit. You’re missing them.”
I exhaled slowly, wishing the pain would lessen. Time healed all, but this was my wedding. This was a milestone of my life I would’ve loved for them to witness. The day after I had Carina, I lied that hormones were getting the best of me when I cried randomly. It was the sadness that my parents didn’t get to see Carina that dragged me down for a few hours.
“I just wish they could be here to see me.”
“I bet they do, from above.”
“I wish they could be here to meet my daughter.”
He held my hand and sighed.
“I wish they could’ve met Emil. Even you.”
He laughed. “Oh, thanks.”
I smiled.
“I know it’s not the same, but I hope that with time, you can understand that you do have a family with us. Youarea Dubinin now, Sadie.”
“I know. And I am grateful that Emil kidnapped me and led me here, today, with him.”
The music began to change, and Luka and I started walking. “But I have to admit,” I said, enjoying this moment with him, “I’m amused at how you and I can get along like this. The former agent and the crime lord.”
