“Both of us?”
He seemed unconcerned about how he played chess with everyone else’s lives. “Yes. I guess your honeymoon is in Canada.”
“When are we leaving?”
He checked his watch. “You’ll need to be at the airport in about three hours. Maksim will get you sorted out when you arrive in Vancouver.”
We were interrupted by screams and yelling from the other side of the room. I watched four masked men waltz into the room, pretending to leer at the crowds and act threatening. One of their masks slipped, and I immediately identified the men as being part of Sergei’s crew.
“I see they’re here to kidnap your bride.” Grisha grinned. “I hope you can pay.”
This was the infamous wedding game where the bride often got kidnapped and the groom was required to pay a ransom, usually something silly or playful. At most weddings, it was a lighthearted game among friends.
Except these men weren’t anyone’s friends. They were Sergei’s men, and there was no way in hell I was letting him be alone with her for a second. Not while she was married to me.
I located Mila making her way across the empty dance floor toward me. The four men reached her before I could, and they were making a dramatic show of grabbing her.
I moved toward the guy who had his hands on her arms and stood directly in front of him.
“Where are you going with my wife?” I asked casually.
“You have to pay a ransom, or we’re leaving with her,” he cackled for the benefit of the crowd.
I unholstered my weapon and before he could even react, I had the barrel of my Glock pressed to his forehead. “I’m not playing this game.”
He dropped his hold on her and, holding his arms up in the air, took a tentative step back, but he yelled to the crowd, “This groom thinks we won’t steal her.”
“Piss off,” I snarled.
The entire room listened with bated breath. A second passed, and then he bolted, along with the others.
The only sound in the room was Grisha’s belly laugh behind us.
“Are you okay?” I looked down at Mila’s scared expression.
“What was that?” she whispered.
“Just some stupid game.”
Behind us, Grisha yelled at the crowd. “Let’s get this party going. Come on, I want to see some dancing!”
As if on cue, the music started up and people obediently walked onto the dance floor.
“Drink, eat,” Grisha commanded in a booming voice. “I want to see everyone doing shots.”
I looked down at Mila’s tired face. She was pale, and there were faint smudges of fatigue beneath her eyes.
I spoke with some regret, knowing what this would cost her. “We need to leave right now.”
She looked bewildered. “But we haven’t cut the cake yet.”
“There’s an emergency in Vancouver. We have a flight to catch.”
“We’re leaving tonight? For Canada?”
“Yes.”
To my surprise, a faint smile appeared. “Okay.”
