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As I glance at the clock, there is no sign of Sophia. Even though she was supposed to start walking down the aisle two minutes ago, she still isn’t here yet. My chest constricts as I look across the event hall to the entrance doors.
She is always on time. The people I’ve had following her since I found out who she was, have told me as much. It isn’t like her to be late especially not for her wedding.
I look over my shoulder at Nik, raising an eyebrow in a silent question. He shrugs, offering no explanation for where she could be. As he pulls out his phone and checks it, a car pulls up right in front of the entrance.
The tight grip around my chest loosens as the car door opens and Charlie Fletcher steps out, wearing a tailored black tux. He leans down, his hand extending into the car.
When Sophia steps out of the car, my world shrinks down the way it always does when she’s around. She looked stunning. Her white dress is strapless with a neckline that dips low between her breasts. It perfectly fits her body, hugging those curves down to her knees. Once the dress hits her knees, it flares out slightly.
Charlie reaches Sophia, grabbing the white lace veil and pulling it down over her face. My heart skips a beat as soft music starts to play. She holds her flower bouquet with one hand while the other grips the inside of her father’s elbow.
My throat catches a lump as she makes her way toward me. Even with the veil masking her face, she is still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Her big brown eyes lock on me, those full lips curving slightly.
The smile doesn’t meet her eyes, but at least there aren’t tears.
As quickly as she meets my gaze, it is gone again. The photographer follows them down the aisle and to me, snapping pictures of the two of us as her father hands her over. I take a deep breath as I lift her veil and reveal her face.
“You’re not supposed to do that until it’s time to kiss me,” she whispers, her voice soft and her cheeks pink.
“I want to see the woman I’m going to marry, not a scrap of lace.” I give her a small smile, but she doesn’t return it. “You look amazing, doll.”
She won’t look me in the eyes. She looks everywhere but me as the officiant goes through the ceremony. The feeling in the room is tense. I don’t know how to make this better for her.
This is what life is now. It’s me and her against the world. I don’t want her to hate me, but there isn’t much I can do about it right now. One day she will come to accept the path I chose to bring her to me.
“Sophia, you may now recite your vows.” The officiant hands her a small piece of paper with cramped handwriting onit. Her chest rises and falls with the deep breath she takes and her hands tremble.
“Ivan, I promise to be your honest and faithful wife. I promise to honor you and stand with you against your troubles. To look to you when I need protection. Until death do us part.” Her voice wavers slightly as she speaks, but I don’t care. She’s playing the part she needs to play and she’s doing it well.
The officiant nods and turns to me. “And now for yours.”
I look down at her, searching for the vows Nik made me practice on the way over here. “Sophia, I take you as mine. I will be your protector and your savior. Today, I join my life to yours as your supporter and your faithful husband until death do us part.”
“You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant says, his voice booming through the room as the people around us start to cheer.
She finally looks me in the eyes, fire burning in her gaze. There is a stubborn set to her jaw, but she closes her eyes and tilts her face upward, submitting to me.
I grin and loop an arm around her waist, hauling her against my body. My lips move against hers, trying to draw more than a small reaction out of her. Her lips are soft against mine as she puts on a good show for the people around us.
When we part, her eyes are shining but she doesn’t look like she’s going to cry.
We just have to get through the rest of the night and then we can figure out how to go from here. She’s willing to submit to me, which gives me hope for the future.
She’s going to make a good Bratva wife.
***
The stars shine outside the event hall as the remnants of dinner are cleared away and space is made on the dance floor. The first song starts playing as I stand up and hold my hand out for Sophia. She looks up at me, tendrils of her dark hair falling around her face.
“Come on, doll. You don’t want to miss our first dance.”
Her eyes narrow but she still slips her hand into mine and stands. I brush my thumb over the back of her hand, savoring the spark between us as I lead her to the middle of the dance floor.
My hand flattens against her bare lower back, holding her close as we waltz. Sophia is stiff in my arms, but she can’t stop the small smile that curves the corners of her mouth as I lead her on.
When the song ends and another begins, more people rush to dance. I link my fingers with hers, pulling her over to the edge of the room where the dessert is being served. Nik, Roman, and my uncle, Lev, stand there and pick at the available assortment.
“Congratulations to the happy couple,” Uncle Lev says, grinning like he knows exactly how this marriage came to be even though I didn’t tell him.
