Katya sways and I think she's going to collapse back onto the sofa, but she rights herself. "Okay."
Without another word, she turns and walks away. She introduces herself to Maria, greeting her in broken Italian. Her effort is appreciated. Maria beams widely, then leads her from the room.
Once they're gone, I head over to the cabinet behind my desk and pour a glass of Scotch.
My hand trembles. I steady it but not before spilling some of the eighteen-year-old single malt. The air felt thinner with her in the room.
Closing my eyes, I breathe in for a count of four and then exhale slowly.
My thoughts are noisier than they've been for a while but I continue to take deep breaths and the tension in my body eases.
I sip my drink and go to look out of the window. A moment passes before Lukas enters the room, his footsteps unmistakable.
"Well?" he asks.
"We proceed as planned." I turn to face my oldest friend. "Remind me about the church. There's a door at the front and an exit to the side, yes?" Though I already know the answer, I need to hear it again.
"That's right. The chapel seats eighty but only Niamh and I will be there. Enzo will drive us there and back. Ourmen are already in place to ensure there are no unfortunate interruptions."
Attacking a wedding is frowned upon but not unheard of. My cousin Matteo's marriage ceremony became a bloodbath when he wed his bride in Florence last year. I wasn't there, of course, but I heard the reports.
"And the priest is Father Pietro?"
Lukas scrunches up his nose. "Sorry, Gabriele, he's in hospital. I managed to get Father Benedict."
My hand quivers as I lift my glass to my lips. I quickly get it under control.
"Do I know Father Benedict?” It’s not the man who troubles me, but the unexpected change.
"Yes. He was at school with Damiano. We thought he'd take the oath but he chose another set of vows."
It takes a minute before I realize who he's talking about. "Gianna Marelli's older brother?"
Lukas nods. "Is he acceptable?"
"He'll have to be."
"I've told him to keep it short and the paperwork is ready to sign. It should all go off without a hitch."
It would be nice if I could believe that.
"You forget to factor in our unknown quantity."
Lukas laughs. "Ah, yes, the bride. Do you think she'll cause trouble?"
"Not if she knows what's good for her."
As I drain my glass I think about the woman I'm about to bind to me. She came here trying to conceal her flaws, hoping to secure her future.
What will happen when she realizes I'm the one with a weakness that could bring our world crashing down? I hope I never find out.
THREE
Katya
If things had gonethe way my father intended, I would be driving toward Kazan Cathedral for my wedding. Many of our Bratva associates choose the more opulent St. Isaac's for their important ceremonies but my family has always favoured the older church. I suspect that's because of its visibility. An event staged at the grand historic church on the Nevsky Prospekt is guaranteed to gain a lot of attention.
Having bystanders craning their necks for a look as my father and I arrived with a fleet of armoured cars would appeal to him. He'd have forced me into some hideously overblown dress for the occasion and draped me in enough diamonds to outshine the sun. When I was young and naïve enough to believe in fairytales that would have been my dream. Now the thought of being paraded around like a prize pig turns my stomach.
