I try to remember anything about the vow renewals but can’t.
“We’ll be there… Which brother is it?” I try to keep my voice light, but wince anyways, knowing the slap on the back of my head is coming.
“Roman and Cecilia’s vow renewal. They didn’t have a wedding, remember?” She sighsas she scolds me.
I honestly didn’t remember. I can’t be bothered with the details of my brothers’ love lives. I have more important things to worry about.
Before I can respond, Roman and Cecilia are on their feet.
“It’s time for us to go,” Roman says, ushering his wife out the door.
“Let me say goodbye!” She stops him. “He has me on a strict prenatal routine.” Even as she rolls her eyes, she lets out a sweet giggle and lets him pull her in for a hug.
Matthias and Margot stand and start saying their goodbyes.
I make my way to my wife and help her to her feet. I gently pry to karambit knife out of her hand and place it on the table.
“Let’s go home,” I tell her.
She stands and gives my dad a hug. I feel a pang of emotion in my chest. I’ve never seen her hug Viktor. It’s nice to see her receiving parental love.
After Dad releases her, he pulls me in for a hug. Before I let go, he whispers in my ears.
“She’s a good woman. You treat her well.” I nod. It’s the kind of fatherly threat Viktor should’ve given me. I hate that it didn’t come from her father. “You chose a good queen for the Syndicate. She’ll be a great asset.”
He pulls back, and I try to shake off my astonishment. He can’t mean for me to include her in Syndicate affairs. She’s Bratva. She’s a woman. There’s no place for her in the Syndicate.
The rest of the evening is spent mulling over his words. Katerina is fierce for sure, but I’d break so much tradition bringing her in.
Chapter 36
Katerina
The guards seated on either side of me ignore the glares I’m shooting at them. But then it dawns on me who’s actually to blame, and I redirect my fury to my infuriating husband standing by his brothers at the altar. He meets my gaze and smirks. Of course he finds this situation humorous, he’s the one that orchestrated it.
Instead of sitting next to Margot and his parents at Roman and Cecilia’s vow renewal, Dominic has me seated a row behind them flanked by Syndicate guards. And all because I had a few choice words for him this morning.
I tried to holster a gun and knife under my dress, but Dominic scoffed. When he insisted I leave them behind, I may have threatened to sneak them in and use them on him during the wedding. Not my finest moment. He dramatically declared me a threat that needed constant supervision. So that’s how I ended up here.
The ceremony passes in a blur. The emotional vows made me uncomfortable. Promises of forever love and lotsof babies had my skin crawling. But there was also a pit in my stomach. Would I still find it so troubling if Dominic wanted it with me?
I love my life here. I like the rhythm we’ve gotten into, but there’s still so much in our way. We fight constantly, even if it’s lighthearted, and that can’t be good for a relationship. He doesn’t trust me. I’m the enemy’s daughter, so I get it. But I doubt I could ever earn that trust. I don’t even know if I could trust him. Despite proving to me countless times that he’s nothing like Viktor, how can I be sure? Moves like today, not letting me bring weapons, are point enough.
Roman and Cecilia look at each other so adoringly, and I realize how different this is from my wedding. Mine was cold and formal, nothing like this. I wonder if we had it now, now that Dominic and I know each other, how different it would be. Our vows would have small jabs at each other, and we’d be smirking the whole time. He’d probably bring up in his toast the time I stabbed him. I’d bring up the time he vomited after a run.
My eyes wander to my husband’s, and I find his already on me with a faraway look. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I wonder how close it is to what’s in my head. I keep my attention on him until the ceremony ends, and the happy couple retreats down the aisle.
Margot turns to me as people pour out of their seats and looks worriedly at the guards flanking me.
“What’s with the security?” She lowers her voice. “Is there a threat here?”
I almost laugh at the absurdity of her statement, but then I realize the fear in her eyes and the tremble in her voice are real. She’s actually worried. It’s so unlike her normal gregarious demeanor, that it stuns me.
“No, not at all. This is just Dominic messing with me for pushing his buttons earlier. There’s nothing to worry about.” I gently hold her hand, trying to assure her.
She relaxes then laughs.
“What’d you do to him? I know the rest of the family thinks you’re all innocent, but I know a fighter when I see one. You drive him crazy, don’t you?” Her eyes shine with pride as she says it. I nod slowly, not wanting to get myself in trouble. “I did the same with Matty when he first took me. I think it’s what made him fall in love with me. Men like them need someone to keep them in line!”
