Page 56 of Savage Truce

Aunt Marina and Miss Zoya hurry up the aisle and take their seats while smiling from ear to ear.

My eyes lock on the French doors that stand open, and when I see a flash of white, I square my shoulders.

Finally. After today, Anastasia will be mine in every way.

The song changes from an orchestra playing to a solo piano, and the moment Anastasia steps into the doorway, holding a bouquet of white lilies, I’m hit with such a wave of pride, love, and awe that it knocks me a step backward.

Seeing how nervous and alone she looks, I can’t stand still, and instead walk to her. Her moss-green eyes lock on me, and she sucks in a quivering breath, doing her best not to cry.

When I reach my stunning bride, I hold out my arm so she can take it, and as she grips the crook of my elbow, I say, “I would’ve waited fifty years for you.”

A tear escapes, and as we walk to the arch where the priest is waiting, I don’t take my eyes off her.

I’m so focused on Anastasia, I probably won’t remember the ceremony, but I somehow get through my vows without fucking up.

The moment the priest finishes his blessing and lowers his hand, signaling the end of the ceremony, I wrap my arms around Anastasia and tip her backward while pressing my mouth to hers.

My wife.

Cheers erupt from the guests, but it’s quickly drowned out by shouts from the guards, indicating for us all to move to the backyard while gunfire erupts in the street.

Not hesitating, I grab Anastasia's hand and shout at my family, “Run!”

Suddenly, a truck barrels through the front wall, and knowing what’s coming, I haul my wife to the grass and cover her with my body.

An explosion blasts through the air as Andrei and Sergei throw themselves over me.

Their weight shoves me into Anastasia, but I cover her head, and by her ear, I say, “You’re safe. I’ve got you.”

Another explosion detonates, and I hear Sergei grunt.

It feels like it takes forever before Sergei and Andrei get up, and my underboss barks, “Is it over?”

“It only looks like the one truck,” I hear a guard shout. “A suicide bomber.”

My phone begins to ring, and moving onto my haunches, I keep a hand on Anastasia’s chest while I dig the device out. Glancing over her, I check for blood while I answer, “Volkov.”

“Did you receive my wedding present?” Sokolov’s voice rumbles over the line.

“Yes,” I growl.

“You won’t live long enough to consummate the marriage.”

The call ends, and tucking the device back into my pocket, I lock eyes with Andrei and say, “I want every man on high alert. The bomb was only the start. Sokolov declared war.”

Half of the guests run for their cars, along with Zubkov, Yeltsin, and Popov.

Fucking cowards.

I rise to my feet, pulling Anastasia up. As I glance around us, I see Atanas helping Raya up. Constantin and Christiano stalk toward me, and as soon as they’re close by, Christiano asks, “Who’s responsible for the bomb?”

“Oleg Sokolov.”

“How do you want to handle this?” Constantin asks as the other heads join us.

“You all need to get out of Russia,” I say. “I’ll handle this war on my own.”

Atanas gives me a disgruntled look. “I’m not going anywhere. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.”