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“She looks very beautiful,” Rurik whispers. “Congratulations, Nikolai Gennadyevich.”
My chest is filled with pride as she takes her place beside me. It’s hard to take my eyes away from hers, but I do. I nod to Anton and Pavel, who move to stand beside me and Rurik, and then I nod to Mercy, who flashes me an unexpected and pleased-looking grin.
I realize that my old family may be gone, but today, I will create a new one for those still around me. I feel proud to be their pakhan. I look over at Eden and catch her gaze. She smiles, and I want to sweep her into my arms. To treasure her innocenceand determination, which I needed to finally realize that I could control my life and not let it control us.
I recite the vows I’ve written for her. I stare into her eyes as if only our happiness matters and nothing else. She is waiting to say her vows to me, but before Edie can say a word, a hissing sound cuts her off.
A guest in the back screams while another curses, and soon more voices join a disjointed chorus.
Confusion overtakes the guests before panic swiftly kicks in.
From the corner of my eye, I see movement before I hear another loud hissing sound, then a flash of light followed by a bang. Smoke pours out of the canisters, filling the hall with a thick white smoke that burns the eyes. I survey the scene before me. Panicked faces quickly search for cover as a second flash bomb hisses before it lands.
We all know what that sound means, and the reactions are instantaneous.
You fool! You stupid, prideful fool!I snarl inwardly. But at whom? Myself? Or at the only man insane enough to attack this wedding?
The heinous sound of gunfire erupts, and the room descends into all-out chaos. People scream and scramble for the exits, unsure of what is to come next.
I push my bride to the ground to safety, and Mercy shields Eden with her body, squeezing her tightly. I reach for my gun as the chaos ascends to a peak and scan the room for any sign of the attackers.
Orders drown out the screams; people rush the doors, and others take cover on the floor. Guards rush forward while others speed to dark corners to force the intruders out into the open.
I catch sight of a menacing figure, unmistakable even through the haze.
A lone gunman.
Zakhar Budanov.
He appears from the shadows. His gaze focuses on mine, not caring what happens to him as long as I die. I have a clean shot, but I feel a hand wrap around my ankle. Eden stares up at me, her beautiful face pale with terror, and I can’t pull the trigger. Not while her pleading eyes watch me. My heart races, torn between love and duty, vengeance and a promise.
I grit my teeth and take aim.
“Forgive me, Eden,” I whisper, pulling the trigger. The bullet leaves my gun, but time is not on my side.
Zakhar didn’t hesitate to take his shot. The blast sounds, but I’m knocked onto the floor with a sharp shove to my back. Anton falls beside me, his white shirt quickly turning red. His throat gurgles as he struggles to breathe.
“Anton! No!” I shout as I grab him, rolling him onto his side.
Another shot sails above my head and Mercy curses, screaming hysterically as she does. I leap toward her and Eden. They’re spooked, but okay. I crawl back toward Anton, but his distant gaze tells me I’m too late.
“Pavel, with me!” I shout, and he crawls toward me. “Now!”
“I don’t see him!” he shouts.
Screaming surrounds us again as another shot shatters a vase of flowers on the altar. “Grab the girl.” I gesture toward Mercy. Rurik is already leading Larissa away. I point my gun in the direction of the smoke rising to obscure our line of sight and empty my gun into the cloudy haze.
Eden moves to get up to run. I rush forward, grabbing her into my arms, and join the others running for the exits.
In the hallway, Gunsyn and Alexander are giving orders to the soldiers.
“It’s a fort, you fucking morons!” Gunsyn shouts. “So use it to your advantage.”
He nods to me and then eyes Eden.
“Secure the venue!” I order.
Gunsyn nods. “I would make sure the women are safe first, Nikolai Gennadyevich. Both of them.”
