My brothers and cousins and I had been keeping tabs on developments with the nearby Garcia Cartel and the Konstantin family. Elena was distracted with the chance of following a specific lead that she wanted to follow about this network. She’dmet my father, who was unaware that she’d be his daughter-in-law and that he’d have a grandson on the way. A doctor appointment had taken time, too, with her being checked for any issues. A blood panel was done and she’d been given specific vitamins and supplements.
But as I finally stood at the end of the aisle, waiting for her to walk toward me so I could take her hand in marriage, I knew that this was how it was meant to be.
Hectic as the leader, but stronger in the knowledge that she was with me, fighting for us.
Life would pull me in many different ways, as I dreaded my father’s death as much as I looked forward to my wife and I welcoming our first child.
I hadn’t expected to become the Pakhan this soon.
As Elena showed up at the other end of the carpeted path over the patio stones, radiant and gorgeous with the simple white bridal gown that accentuated her sweet curves and showed off her rosy cheeks, I realized that I hadn’t been expecting to become a husband or father this soon, either.
But I am.
And I couldn’t wait.
Kissing her before we began vows seemed to relax her. She would be nervous to be under the spotlight like this, but she didn’t have to suffer through it.
“I love you,” I reminded her, whispering in her ear. I felt like an ass that I resisted the notion and hadn’t admitted it sooner. Too much time had been lost with her already.
“I love you too,” she replied.
“Once the ceremony is over, we can relax.”
She laughed nervously, glancing out at the crowd. “You sure about that? That looks like a lot of guests to mingle with.”
“I’ll handle it,” I promised.
We exchanged vows, simple ones that she’d picked out with the officiant ahead of time. And the second she slipped the wedding band on my finger, I felt like my meaning, my role, and my purpose were locking into place.
She wasmine, and I would never let her forget it.
I dipped her as I kissed her to the applause of the distinguished guests who bore witness to our union. But I didn’t pull back until I felt the smile of her lips rising against mine.
“We’re married.” She stared quietly, gazing up into my eyes with adoration and wonder.
“We are,” I replied, grinning at her joy.
Many guests wished to congratulate us as we carried through the rest of the day. Photographers had their time with us first. Then there was lunch, where I focused on her, not speaking with the guests who no doubt wanted a moment with me.
Then after lunch, more pictures and some conversations with those who’d traveled furthest.
Half of them congratulated me on the wedding, and more yet congratulated me on taking over as the interim Pakhan. News of my father’s ill health was still out there, but my wedding with Elena overshadowed it.
“Is this the first time that you’ve been out and in public as the boss?” Elena asked me later as we sat together for our dinner out on the patio. Fairy lights twinkled overhead, but none of the décor and details of decorations could outshine her.
“Partly,” I said before kissing her cheek.
“Listen,” Nikolai said as he came back to sit at the head table with us. “Just becauseyou’rein a hurry to settle down, you can’t be expecting the rest of us to follow in your lead.” He didn’t hide his salacious grin as he looked out at the few guests others had brought with them. Namely, the daughters of some of the leaders. “We’re not going to be starting families just because you are.”
Alexei grunted as he came to sit with us too. “There’s too much going on,” he complained in agreement.
“We could have waited,” Elena said, worry in her eyes as she glanced at me.
“Are you kidding me? I would’ve been too impatient to wait.” Over her shoulder, I shot my cousin a murderous look for making her think she’d done something wrong in wanting to marry this week.
He cleared his throat. “No, no. This has been a wonderful day.” He smiled, and it almost passed at not looking forced. “But there are a lot of things going on right now.”
She nodded. “I know.” She looked up as Viktor, Maksim, and Lev joined us. The six—no,seven—of us at the top of the Bratva. “I thought of something else I could look into. Sacha commented on an old form he’d found and?—”
