Page 29 of His to Own

“Where are all the people?” I whisper.

“I had to plan this fast. There wasn’t time to invite more people.” He practically runs down the aisle with me trying to catch up. I’m breathless by the time I reach Mikhail.

“Elena,” he says in a deep voice. “I haven’t seen you since you were still a little girl.”

All I feel is numb. I can’t even wince or show my disgust. All I feel is a deep, cold numbness spreading through my body.

“Say something,” Father hisses at me.

“Nice to meet you,” I whisper, my lips barely moving.

Mikhail frowns. “What was that? I couldn’t hear you.”

I swallow hard. “Nice…” I can’t get the rest out. I wobble on my feet and my father holds my arm tighter. He is not going to let me pass out like on my birthday. There is no getting out of this.

“Just take her hand,” Father snaps, placing my hand in Mikhail’s. “Start the ceremony.”

The priest looks shocked but nods anyway and begins talking. Mikhail tightens his hold on my hand. Numb. Just numb.

“Do you, Mikhail Kozlov, take this woman, Elena Karetov, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do.”

“You don’t even know me,” I gasp out.

Mikhail tenses. “I don’t need to know you to know you’ll make a good wife. You’re a daughter of Gregory Karetov. That speaks to your reputation.”

I turn to the priest. “Please,” I whimper. “I can’t do this. Please.”

He hesitates, looking torn between his duty as a priest and his duty to my father.

“Please,” I whisper.

A look of pure fury crosses Mikhail’s face. “Your father promised me your hand. He called me last night and said the deal was on. You will not embarrass me.”

My mother motions at me to smile. Always smile. Always be polite and a lady. Adriana’s eyes are full of pain. Father only looks more angry as the time wears on. He keeps checking his watch like he’s running out of time.

“Just say the words,” Father hisses at the priest. “Just say it.”

The priest clears his throat. “Do you, Elena Karetov, take this man, Mikhail Kozlov, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“No,” I whisper. “I can’t… I can’t do this. I have to fight. I… have to try.” My voice has never sounded more pathetic.

“Just say your vows,” Father snaps. “Say it, Elena. Say it!”

I scream as the church doors burst open and in storms Maxim and Nikolai.

“What is the meaning of this?” Nikolai asks, going right over to my father. “You went behind my back and made this deal? We are supposed to consult each other, Gregory. Not fuck each other over.”

Father scrambles to his feet. “I will not let you boss me around anymore, Nikolai. You forced my hand with Lana but I will not do the same to Elena.”

“Too late,” Maxim says, pulling his gun out. In one fast motion, he shoots Mikhail in the head. I scream as Mikhail’s blood splatters on my face as he flops to the ground. The priest falls onto his back with a gasp.

Everyone else in the church looks stunned.

The innocent bystanders all run for the doors but Nikolai fires his gun into the air. The innocent guests all flop to the ground, covering their heads. “Everyone down! I need to handle this. Maxim, you weren’t supposed to kill him.”

Maxim only shrugs. “He was in my way.”