Page 49 of The Bratva Enforcer and His Virgin Bride

Then we had arrived.

The estate looked less like a home and more like something belonging to old money and political dynasties. The gates alone were larger than most buildings I had lived near growing up.

The further we drove onto the property, the more uneasy I became.

Everything about the place was excessive.

The size.

The security.

The wealth.

It felt less like arriving at someone’s home and more like entering a private kingdom.

Inside, things somehow became worse.

Not because anyone was rude.

Because everyone was polite.

The staff already knew who I was. They knew which room had been prepared for me. They knew where my things belonged. They spoke to me like I was royalty. When one of them referred to me as Mrs. Rusnak, I felt the words land somewhere deep inside my chest.

No one meant any harm by it.

But hearing it made everything feel real.

Those two words followed me through the house for the rest of the evening.

Today is my wedding day.

The realization sits heavily in my chest as I stand in front of the bedroom window.

The grounds below are busy with preparations. Cars arrive through the gates. Staff move between buildings. Somewhere downstairs, people are arranging flowers and setting tables and preparing for a celebration.

A celebration.

I rest my forehead against the cool glass. The reflection staring back at me looks calm enough. My hair is done. My makeup is perfect. The dress hangs nearby. Anyone looking at me would probably assume I’m nervous in the normal way brides are nervous.

The truth feels much uglier than that. I don’t know what my life is going to look like tomorrow. I don’t know whether I can trust the man I’m about to marry. I don’t know what Karl Jonathan wants from me. And despite everything Lukyan has said, I still don’t understand why any of this is happening.

Tears sting my eyes.

I blink them away immediately.

No.

Not today.

If I’m going to walk into this wedding, I’m going to do it standing up. Even if every part of me wants to run.

I draw in a slow breath and straighten my shoulders, staring at my reflection one last time.

The door behind me opens softly.

I turn.

Valeria and Ashley step into the room.