Whether she liked it or not, she was already entangled with me, and my enemies believed that I cared for her. They knew she was valuable to me and would do anything to get to her.
This marriage wasn’t to cage her; it was to protect her from those wolves. She might not understand it now, but she would later. I’d rather she hated me and lived than grant her the freedom she craved, only to end up in the nest of my enemies.
The single knock on my door snapped me out of my thoughts, and I glanced at the entrance. It was my lieutenant, resplendent in a black suit.
“Boss,” he called from the door. “The car’s ready for you.”
“Thank you, Ilya,” I replied. “I’ll be down in a minute.”
He nodded once and dematerialized, closing the door behind him.
I drew in a deep breath, fingers adjusting the bow tie around my neck. This was a big and important day in my life. And although I played it cool on the outside, I was somewhat nervous on the inside.
I’d fought wars and come face-to-face with death multiple times, never even flinching. Yet today, I felt a strange emotion swelling inside me that I could only assume was anxiety.
I wiped my sweaty palm over my tailored black pants as I struggled to steady my heartbeat. It began racing immediately after Ilya had left the room, a reminder that a part of me was still human.
A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips at the mere thought of seeing her in that white silk lace. My pulse quickened, and a weird sense of satisfaction washed over me. I let out a soft exhale, took one last look at my reflection in the mirror, then headed out.
The mansion had shifted into a grand stage within the past three days. Chandeliers were blazing, and fresh flowers choked the halls, their fragrance filling the entire space. Some of my best foot soldiers were stationed at strategic corners of the house, standing guard like warrior angels.
My security was tighter than before, leaving no space unguarded. Drones were hovering all over the mansion, keeping track of every movement.
The maids and other domestic staff were running around to make sure everything was in place. Olga’s voice could be heard from the kitchen, giving instructions and yelling at defaulters. The sweet aroma of several delicacies wafted through the air, teasing my senses as I headed toward the front door.
The house was busier than the streets of Chicago, all in preparation for the big day.
Once outside, I squinted my eyes at the brightness of the sunlight, my polished shoes scuffing against the floor. The backseat door of my favorite SUV was already open and awaiting my arrival. I descended the long steps at the entrance to the building, fingers fastening the button of my tux.
“Where is she?” I asked Ilya as he stood at the driver’s door of my SUV.
He nodded toward the vehicle parked behind mine amongst the convoy of exotic cars. The glass was tinted so I couldn’t see her for myself. However, I had no doubt that she was in there. Where else would she be on a day like this?
I could’ve set my eyes on her earlier, but I refused to do so. I hadn’t seen her since the night I announced our wedding three days ago. The plan was to see her in the church.
The moment I stepped into the backseat of my SUV and shut the door, the car’s engine roared to life.
Ilya strapped his seatbelt and stole a glance at me through the rearview mirror. “Congratulations, Boss.”
“Thank you.” I nodded.
He returned his gaze to the windshield and set the vehicle in motion. The entire convoy rolled out of the courtyard with practiced ease, tires spinning over the serpentine driveway.
***
Subtly, I tapped my feet against the floor as I stood at the altar, waiting for my bride. The small crowd—close friends and family relatives—occupied the pews in silence as soft piano keys played in the background.
I glanced at my watch, wondering what was taking so long, and with each passing second, my anxiety grew. I was certain she’d been in that car. I saw her walk out of the vehicle when we arrived at the church.
Perhaps her bridesmaids weren’t done with her yet. There’s that, and there’s also the possibility that she might’vegotten cold feet at the last second. Perhaps she panicked and might be considering doing something stupid.
The mere thought of it made my blood boil.
The priest, noticing my unease, leaned in and whispered, “She’s barely five minutes late. Relax.” A small grin played at the corners of his mouth.
Less than two seconds later, the front door opened, and a figure appeared at the entrance, bathed in the sun’s golden glow. All heads turned toward her, brows rising in astonishment and wonder.
She walked down the aisle like a pageant queen, the soft clicking of her heels rhyming with the keys of the piano. The white silk lace hugged her in all the right places, revealing her curves and contours.
