Page 103 of Owned By the Bratva

Pyotr grins. “No, I was mesmerized. There’s a difference. I couldn’t stop staring at you because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I thought you deserved so much better.” I shake my head, but he continues. “You’re smart, you’re brave, and you’re selfless. When you walk into a room, my whole day immediately gets ten times better. I look forward to every morning I get to wake up beside you, and every evening holding you in my arms. So I’m asking you for real this time. No deals to be made, no peace treaties to uphold… Alina Salkov, I love you. Will you marry me?”

Happy tears well up in my eyes. I’m practically bouncing out of my chair with pure, giddy excitement.

“Yes!” I exclaim, throwing my arms around him.

The momentum throws him off balance and he stumbles back with a hearty laugh. I kiss him, tender and true. When our lips finally break apart, Pyotr takes my hand and kisses the ring already on my finger.

“I love you,” he tells me with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.

“I love you, too.”

I stop, a sudden pain radiating from my stomach. It’s not terrible, but certainly unpleasant. Pyotr’s face goes blank as he grasps me by the shoulders.

“Alina? What’s wrong?”

The voice in the back of my head figures out what’s happening before the rest of my body can. “I think… I think my water just broke.”

Pyotr’s eyes widen. “Are you serious?”

“The baby’s coming!”

He laughs and kisses me at the same time, quickly scrambling to his feet and offering me a helping hand. “Merrybell!” he shouts. “Merrybell, the baby’s coming!”

The door to the farmhouse bursts open. Merrybell looks like a woman on a mission, car keys already in hand. “Get in the car! I’ll call the hospital on the way and the bags are already loaded in the trunk. Let’s move, move,move!”

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s more excited than I am.

Pyotr takes my hand and gives me an encouraging nod. “Are you ready, wife?”

I nod back, happy as can be. “I’m ready, husband.”

Chapter 44

Pyotr

Luka thought it was a little ridiculous. Why hold a wedding ceremony when we’re already married? He just doesn’t get it.

It’s a small ceremony, only a handful of guests—mainly consisting of my family. Regardless, I spare no expense. The location, the flowers, the lights. I want today to be perfect because Alina, frankly, deserves no less.

I stand at the altar, Dimitri at my side. It wasn’t hard picking him to be my best man. As my twin, it was an obvious choice.

Merrybell, Aurora, and Natalya are all fawning over my daughter, Ava. She’s as cute as a peach. Dare I say it, I think she might be the most beautiful baby in the world. My brothers will likely argue with me if I ever say that out loud, but I know the truth. Nobody can hold a candle to my darling girl.

“Would you relax?” Dimitri says as he claps me on the shoulder. “Why are you more nervous now than when you did this the first time?”

“I just want everything to be perfect,” I answer, smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles of my tuxedo. “I want to make sure it lives up to her expectations.”

He gives me a knowing smile. “I’m sure it will, Pyotr. Seriously, relax a little. You’re supposed to enjoy your wedding day, not end up in the back of an ambulance because you’ve given yourself a stroke.”

I take a deep breath. Always with the dramatics, Dimitri—but I know he’s right. I’ve been so focused on making sure Alina has a good time I’ve forgotten this ismywedding day, too.

When the string quartet I hired switches seamlessly into the bridal march, I tense up. This is it. The moment I’ve been waiting for since I don’t know how long. Alina rounds the corner on Mikhail’s arm. The moment I set eyes on her, I can’t look away.

She’s so beautiful, I want to savor every last gorgeous detail and burn it into my mind so I can think back on this day for the rest of my life.

Her wedding dress hugs her waist and plumes out into a long train, delicate beadwork making the front shimmer in the gentle chapel lighting. The sweetheart neckline accents her delicately long neck and the shape of her face, the cropped sleeves adding to her elegant air. Her locks are done up in graceful spirals, the lace veil sitting atop her head fluttering behind her as she walks.

A literal angel on Earth.

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