I smiled at her. “I like it.”
As we walked over to the family table, Kira exchanged my hand for Maksim’s. “Come on. We need to stand with the others.” At what must’ve been my questioning look, Kira said,“Don’t feel left out, Sarah. This part is usually done by the parents, but we’re filling in for our mother. I’d rather piss on my father’s memory than celebrate him.”
I barked out a laugh at her bluntness. “It’s okay.” I nudged Maksim. “Go on.”
Nodding, he bent down and bestowed a kiss on my lips. It wasn’t erotically charged as earlier, but it warmed me all the same. At the same time, my heart shuddered with anxiety.
Maksim and Kira went over to where Dima, Aleks, and Lev stood. Dima had a loaf of homemade bread in one hand and a canister of salt in the other. Before him on the table there appeared to be an embroidered cloth.
After finishing the song, the band leader came down from the stage to hand Kellan the microphone. I’d only met him for a moment, but he had such an aura of goodness about him. He was also ridiculously handsome, but that was something I would keep to myself.
“Thank you all so much for coming tonight. Mila and I are very touched by your support of our union as well as the union of our families.”
Applause rang out through the room. At most receptions, that wouldn’t have had a double meaning. But I knew what Kellan was really saying. Their marriage meant the merging of the Kavanaugh Clan and Korolov Bratva.
“For Mila’s family, I know Mila’s and my union hasn’t been without its trials and tribulations. But you have my word that the future for her will be nothing but sunlight.”
As a chorus of aws rang out, Kellan turned to Mila. “Even though it’s a little early, I’d still like to give you a Celtic wedding vow.”
“I’ll take it,” Mila laughed.
Kellan smiled out at the crowd. “Normally I would say this in Irish, but since my bride-to-be is Russian, I will say it inher tongue.” Turning back to Mila, he said, “Y— krov' ot moyey krovi i plot' ot moyey ploti. YA otdayu tebe svoye telo, chtoby my stali yedinym tselym. YA otdayu tebe svoy dukh do kontsa nashikh dney.”
I kept my eyes on Maksim as Kellan recited the vow. His clenched jaw told me he was fighting his emotions. Since he kept his head bowed, I couldn’t see his eyes, but I would’ve bet there were tears in his eyes. The same could be said for the rest of Mila’s brothers. They all looked like they were fighting a losing battle to keep hold of their emotions.
“What about the rest of us feckers who don’t speak Russian!” a voice shouted from the crowd.
Laughter echoed as Kellan shook his head with a grin. “Yes, my brother, Dare, does bring up a good point. For everyone else: You are Blood of my Blood and Bone of my Bone. I give you my body, that we two might be one. I give you my spirit til our life shall be done."
Wild applause and whistling broke out. Even though she wasn’t my sister, I couldn’t help the tears from streaming down my cheeks as I clapped.
As Kellan and Mila kissed, the microphone was handed to Dima. “While the bread and salt tradition is usually reserved for the wedding reception, we’re like Kellan in breaking the rules. Since our mother can’t be here today, my siblings and I are here to wish the happy couple health and prosperity.”
Hoisting the bread up, Dima said, “We’re supposed to give this to the household aka Kellan, but knowing my sister like I do, I’m going to cut it in half to save myself physical harm.”
As I laughed, Maksim nodded in agreement. Once the bread was cut and the halves dispersed, Dima raised a glass. “Now let’s toast the happy union to come. To Kellan and Mila.”
I’d grabbed a crystal flute moments earlier from a passing waiter. Raising my glass, I echoed the others around me. “To Kellan and Mila.”
As I sipped the bubbly alcohol, I couldn’t help wondering if I was seeing into my own future. Would there be a time when Dima toasted Maksim and me? Considering my independent status, would he also cut the bread in half, or would he honor the fact Maksim was apahkanand truly ruled the household?
While shouts of “Gorko!” “Gorko!” filled the air, I downed the remainder of the champagne. Regardless of Kellan and Mila kissing, it didn’t get sweeter.
Instead, it remained bitter with Maksim’s revelation hanging over my head.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: SARAH
After the toast finished, Mila and Kellan made their way through their families hugging and kissing them. When they finished, they went to the dance floor. Tracking Maksim, I watched him pull out his phone. With a grimace, he brought it to his ear.
My heart twisted at the panicked look on his face. Something had happened.
Something bad.
After ending the call, he started talking furiously with his brothers. Their expressions turned to fury. Lev said somethingbefore hurrying away from the group. I didn’t want to tear my gaze away from Maksim to see where he was going. I didn’t have to worry long because he returned with one of Kellan’s brothers.
At the desperate and defeated look on Maksim’s face, I started making my way through the crowd to get to him. As if he sensed me, he pulled away from the others and started moving towards me.
When we finally met, I stared expectantly at him. “What’s happened?”
