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“Then I demand you to marry me. Don’t make me live this life of exile.”
“I’m expected to take a wife one day,” I think aloud, although the thought of marrying again had never occurred to me before now.
“No. I’m not some mafia wife. I expect loyalty.Monogamy,” she says it like a dirty word.
My fingers smooth down my beard as I continue to think. “You’re wishing for a fairy tale. You’ve met me; I’m the villain in everyone’s story.”
“Except mine,” she whispers, as if to herself.
“I’ll give the child my name. You’ll have to earn your keep.”
“I have a knife in my hand right now. I can make it so only you hurt.”
My teeth clench. I could make a hundred more heirs. But I want hers.
“You really want the villain? Fine. He’s yours.”
Chapter 12: Katrina
Myheelsclickonthe sidewalk as I walk up to the courthouse. My body’s natural reaction to the building, or really any type of authority, has my adrenaline skyrocketing. My pulse hums, my palms are sweaty, and I have a very distinct need to run that’s coursing through each nerve. Each step forward goes against what my anxiety is telling me to do. I look up at the large, architecturally beautiful building. I focus on each step, counting them as I walk.One, two, three…My head stays down to help me count. Black leather shoes come into my vision, and I feel a shadow looming above. Lifting my head, I see Demetri is standing in dress pants, suspenders, and a dress shirt with his sleeves rolled up.
He leans in, and I think he’s going to kiss my cheek. I stay frozen, not knowing how I should react. “You’re the first person to stay alive who has blackmailed me.”
Blackmail.I’m saving our families from killing each other until no one is left. This is the only way it can be done. But it spikes a new concern I should have thought about before now.
Will he kill me once the baby is born?
Automatically, my hand rests on my pregnant belly. The baby kicks my hand, a constant reminder that he or she is a fighter and can survive this world.
I lean into his hold. “I suppose I’m prettier than most who blackmail you.” I have to be strong and not show weakness. On the inside, I’m scared shitless. I have no idea what I’m doing.
His eyes roam my face, studying me like I’m some exotic pet he’s seeing for the first time. The look is etched into his stonelike features, from his jaw to his irises. The air is thick with tension. I can’t release the breath in my lungs.
He’s going to change his mind.
I release his arm, and we pull away from each other, him taking the air with him, so I suck in a new breath. He takes the first step, and on shaky legs, I follow. We walk into the courthouse as our last names are being called. “Sokolov and Rossi.”
It’s so formal and lacks any warmth. Demetri grabs my hand, pulling me into the room. My feet hurry to catch up with his long strides. There’s no smile on his handsome face. His jawline is straight and pointed with the… lack of happiness… that is radiating out of him. I call it that, because he doesn’t seem angry either.
“I thought you liked me a little,” I whisper. We had chemistry. An inferno of it. Was it only one-sided?
“I don’t like anyone who makes demands of me.” He pulls me to stand up in front of the judge with him.
The judge nods our way. “Katrina Rossi, do you come here of your own free will?”
“I do.” I’ve fucked up so much in my life; I can do this one selfless act for everyone else. Including my baby.
Demetri answers the judge for what I assume is the same question, saying he does as well. I don’t recall these vows in weddings I’ve been to before. The judge must feel the hostility emanating out of the giant man beside me.
Demetri grabs hold of both my hands. His grip is hard and has me wanting to pull them away.
I parrot the lines I’m given. “Demetri Sokolov, I take you to be my lawful wedded husband. Before these witnesses, I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live.” I look over at the empty back half of the room. No family or friends line the seats. “I take you with all of your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with all of mine. I will help you when you need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life with for as long as we both live.”
Everything lacks personality, lackslove.
Demetri repeats the lines I just said. He squeezes my hand when he says for as long as webothlive. I push down my trepidation. I want to see our baby grow up. I don’t know what his emphasis on the word means, but maybe it has nothing to do with killing me.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
