The music begins, a soft melody played by a string quartet Katya hired for the occasion. Dmitri and I step onto the flower-lined path, and I see Tony waiting at the end.
He’s wearing a charcoal suit that fits him perfectly, and his hair is neatly combed for once. But what stops my breath is his face. The moment he sees me, tears start rolling down his cheeks. He doesn’t try to hide them or wipe them away. He just stands there with his heart in his eyes, watching me walk toward him like I’m the most precious thing he’s ever seen.
By the time Dmitri places my hand in Tony’s, I’m crying too.
“Take care of her,” Dmitri tells Tony.
“With my life,” Tony replies.
The officiant begins the ceremony, but I barely hear the words. I’m too focused on Tony’s face, on the way he looks at me, on the warmth of his hands wrapped around mine. When it comes time for our vows, I take a shaky breath and speak from my heart.
“Tony, I spent years building walls around myself. Convincing myself that letting someone in would only lead to pain. That keeping my distance was the only way to stay safe. You didn’t just break through those walls. You showed me they were neverprotecting me in the first place. They were just keeping me lonely.”
A fresh tear slides down his cheek, and I reach up to brush it away.
“I promise to trust you with my heart, even when it’s scary. To choose vulnerability over safety, and love over fear. To build a life with you that’s worth every battle we fought to get here.” My voice cracks on the last words. “I love you, Tony. More than I ever thought I could love anyone.”
Tony takes a moment to compose himself before speaking. When he does, his voice is rough with emotion.
“Sasha, I walked into your life under false pretenses. I was supposed to be your enemy. I was supposed to destroy everything you loved.” He shakes his head and adds, “Instead, you destroyed everything I thought I knew about myself. You showed me that I was capable of being more than just a weapon. That I could be a partner. A protector. A man worth loving.”
He lifts our joined hands and presses a kiss to my knuckles.
“I promise to choose you every single day for the rest of my life. Not because it’s easy, but because you’re worth every sacrifice. Every risk. Every terrifying moment.” His eyes lock with mine. “You gave me a future I didn’t think I deserved. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret it.”
When the officiant pronounces us husband and wife, Tony kisses me like we’re the only two people in the world. The guests cheer and clap, but I barely register the sound. All I know is the feeling of his lips on mine and the absolute certainty that I made the right choice.
The reception is held inside the mansion, which has been transformed with flowers and candles and white linen. Food covers every surface, and vodka flows freely. Dmitri gives a toast that manages to be both threatening and heartfelt, while Alexei’s speech consists mostly of thinly veiled warnings about what will happen to Tony if he ever hurts me.
“Your brothers are terrifying,” Tony mutters as we take the floor for our first dance.
“They’re protective.” I slide my arms around his neck. “You’ll get used to it.”
“Will I?”
“Eventually.” I smile up at him. “Besides, you can handle yourself. I’ve seen you in action.”
Tony pulls me closer as we sway to the music. “This is the happiest I’ve ever been,” I tell him. “Right here, right now, in your arms. I didn’t know it was possible to feel like this.”
He rests his forehead against mine. “You’ve given me a life I didn’t think was possible. A family. A home. A reason to wake up every morning that isn’t just about survival.” He brushes a kiss across my lips. “I love you, Mrs. Volkov.”
“I love you too, Mr. Volkov.”
We dance until my feet ache, then make our rounds thanking guests and accepting congratulations. By the time we finally slip away, the party is still going strong, but neither of us can wait any longer.
Our apartment is quiet when we arrive, a welcome contrast to the celebration we left behind. Tony carries me over thethreshold like something out of an old movie, and I laugh as he kicks the door closed behind us.
“That’s very traditional of you,” I tease.
“I can be traditional.” He sets me down gently. “When it matters.”
The bedroom is lit with candles that someone must have set up while we were at the reception. Rose petals cover the bed. It’s romantic and perfect and exactly what I didn’t know I wanted.
Tony stands behind me and slowly unzips my dress. The fabric gathers at my feet, and I step out of it wearing nothing but white lace and my wedding ring.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers against my neck. “Every time I look at you, I can’t believe you’re real. That you’re mine.”
I turn in his arms and start working the buttons of his shirt. “I’ve been yours since the moment you covered my body with yours in that gallery. I just didn’t know it yet.”
