“Have you gone soft in the head?” Mishca asked him seriously, struggling to reign in his temper. “Because you married a whore, the rest of us have to be miserable?”
Mikhail laughed joyfully. “They are all whores, boy. You will learn.”
Mishca pushed Vlad’s hands off of him as he boldly walked forward, not caring of Mikhail’s goons since Luka had them under control.
“Call her that again and it will be the last thing you ever say.”
The threat hung in the air between them, and maybe once, Mikhail might have called his bluff, but even if he didn’t want to admit it aloud, a part of him knew that Mishca was more than happy to deliver on it.
When he just stood there, Mishca took a step back, smoothing a hand over the front of his jacket. “Don’t show up tomorrow. I don’t want to see your face.”
He brushed by him, making sure that his shoulder brushed his as he walked back into the restaurant, hearing Luka and Vlad on his heels.
“I didn’t even get to shoot anything,” Luka complained, holstering his weapons.
Vlad shook his head. “You were not supposed to have weapons here.
Luka smirked at him, patting him down, jumping back when Vlad made to grab him. “Don’t act like you don’t have anything on you, you big bastard.”
“Twelve hours,” Lauren said with a smile as they stood outside her hotel room after a long, but reasonably wonderful night.
When Mishca and the others had come back in, sans Mikhail, things had returned to normal. Mishca had even made a point to pull Susan to the side to talk with her privately. Neither had been willing to share their conversation with Lauren and Ross, but Susan seemed to be in a better mood after.
He reached for her hand, tracing her knuckles. “Took long enough.”
“Nobody to blame but yourself, Mish. Don’t forget, you were with Rebecca when we first met.”
Mishca laughed, rubbing his eyes. “Don’t remind me. I can still remember the look on your face when she spilled her food on you.”
“It wasn’t my fault,” she said, joining in his laughter. “You’re the one who decided to tell her you were interested in me. I mean, great date night conversation, Mish. I’m surprised I didn’t take a drink to the face too.”
“That wasn’t how the conversation went, but that’s besides the point. I believe that everything that happened, happened for a reason.”
“Yea.” She wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his chest. “It was what brought us here, I think.”
“Of course.”
She arched up to kiss his cheek. “We really should get to bed. We have an early morning tomorrow.”
He smiled brilliantly. “I’ll see you at the end?”
“Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Today was the day, and the butterflies in Lauren’s stomach had her antsy. Since the moment Susan had woken her up at six in the morning, she and Amber had been running around, trying to get everything together as Lauren moved around like she was walking on a cloud.
It didn’t feel real, but she was there, in the room getting ready for what was to be the best day to her life, and everything around her was complete chaos.
Alex, trying to stay in charge of the dozens of people in attendance, was practically running from room to room, making sure that everything was according to plan and that nobody was running behind. One of the directors at the hotel was more than willing to provide her services, but she was acting more as an assistant to Alex than anything else.
Lauren was currently sitting in a chair, her hair clipped in pin curls around her head as Amber worked her magic on her face.
“With the way you keep bouncing your leg, you’re making me nervous,” Amber said, holding the powder brush aloft as she waited for Lauren to mellow out. “Do you need a drink?”
Her stomach turned at the prospect. “I think I drunk enough for a lifetime the other night. Besides, I’m totally cool.” Though she was freaking out a bit.
“It’s okay if you are. I don’t think I know anyone that was one-hundred percent sure the morning of.”
“No, this is what I want.”
“Good, because it took a long time for me to finish this makeup, and I don’t want all this to work to go to waste.”
Alex reentered the room, dropping her clipboard onto the bed, carrying a package beneath her arm.
“Oh good, we’re almost done. I have a surprise for you.”
“The last time you had a surprise for me, I didn’t like it that much.”
Ignoring that, Alex began unwrapping the box, carefully extracting the bundle inside. She held it up with both hands, grinning proudly.
“No.”
“Definitely yes.”
“I’m not putting that on.”
Alex pouted, looking down at the corset in her hands. “Why not? It even has blue in it.”
“Because I would like to be able to breathe while I’m standing at the altar.”
Narrowing her eyes, Alex wasn’t giving up that easily. “You promised you would do what I say. If you don’t put this on, I will give you hell.”
“You can’t possi—Fine.” She could only imagine what Alex would do to her, but she would rather go along with it now.
After Amber finished the last of her makeup, Lauren stood, taking the corset from Alex, pulling it on over her head.
“You might want to hold onto something,” Alex suggested as she started tugging on the ribbons along the back of it.
She didn’t think it could be that bad as Alex started, but the tighter she gripped it, the more Lauren realized why she knew she would hate this idea.
“Oh God, this is hell,” Lauren groaned as she gripped the bedpost, squeezing her eyes shut as Alex stood behind her, murmuring words in French as she tightened the corset. “Why do you insist I wear this?”
“Stop complaining. I wore one of these for a banquet I attended and I wasn’t crying about it.”
“How do you expect me to get out of this later?”
“Tell your husband to untie you,” Alex said, amused.
Lauren didn’t even want to ask what she was thinking.
“I’m almost done. Deep breath in…”
As Lauren breathed in deeply, she grimaced as Alex finally finished tying it, finishing the bow at the bottom.
Susan came out of the bathroom with the gown, steam billowing out behind her. They helped her into the gown, painstakingly buttoning each of the little pearls along the back of the delicate lace.
Lauren focused on the mirror standing in front of her. Everyone was moving around her, laughing, talking, excitement charging the air. She was trying not to hyperventilate. There was so much happening that she couldn’t focus on any single thing.
She needed to talk to Mishca, just to hear his voice.
“Can I use my phone?” Lauren asked, thanking Alex as she dropped it into her hands.
Five little words was all she sent. I need to see you. She had no idea if he would even get the message with everything going on around them—and the fact that Alex threatened to hurt him if he used it at all today.
“There, all done,” Susan announced proudly as she took a step back. “Now we just need to get the veil.”
Before she could, a heavy knock at the door froze them all.
Exasperated at the lack of help, Alex mumbled, she went to open the door, using her body as a shield to prevent whoever was on the other side from looking in. It did’t help that it was Mishca, and he was nearly a foot taller than her.
“You can’t see her!” Alex yelled in a shrill voice, holding her hands above her head to keep Mishca from seeing inside.
“It’s okay, Alex. I asked him—”
“No!” Every woman in the room said looking back at Lauren.
“Perhaps I can talk to her through the door?” Mishca suggested.
That was enough for them to get their privacy, but Alex made sure to warn her brother that if he even dared trying t
o sneak of peek, she would make him pay.
“Trying to make sure I didn’t run away?” Mishca asked softly when it was just the two of them, him on the other side of the door.
“This is, everything is, overwhelming and I just wanted to hear your voice,” She said, wishing she could see through the door to read his expression.
Even if he was upset by that, she knew he would never tell her. She was partially to blame for why he might feel that way, especially with everything they had been through together. But in just a short while, all of those doubts would be put to rest.
“I’m not going anywhere, Lauren, you should know this first. But there is no need for panic, everything is fine.”
She wanted to believe that, but fear of the unknown was crippling.
“In just a few hours, this will be over, and tomorrow we’ll be off on our honeymoon. Three weeks of absolutely nothing but the two of us, yes?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
He reached around the door, the familiar sight of his hand easing some of her fear. She laced her fingers with his, just long enough for that residual panic to fade.
“Finish getting ready and come marry me. I’m getting restless.”
“Jesus, mom. You’re going to make me start crying again.”
For once, Lauren couldn’t fault Susan for it. This day and everything it stood for was a lot to take in, and while neither of them could have imagined who she would have pledged her life to, she could not regret a single thing that had brought Mishca into her life.
“I’m fine,” Susan said sniffling, always the eye for detail as she swept a loose curl behind Lauren’s ear. “You just look so beautiful.”
And just like that, Lauren’s eyes welled up again. She tried to wipe at her eyes before the tears fell, but it was no use, one still slipped past her fingers.
“What are the two of you crying about?” Ross asked as he slipped into the room looking concerned.
“It’s not her fault. I’m being emotional.”
Chuckling knowingly, Ross kissed her briefly. “I think it’s your turn to get out there.”
Composing herself as best she could, Susan gave Lauren a thumbs up, promising to see her shortly. Lauren picked up her bridal bouquet, turning the roses around in her hands.
“I’m the lucky one,” Ross said as she took his arm, allowing him to lead the way. “You make me look good.
Laughing softly, she shook her head. “I’m the lucky one. I don’t know if I’ve told you, but I’m glad you’re here walking me down the aisle.”
“My job is to support you, no matter what. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to remind you every now and then the type of man you’re tying yourself to.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
They weren’t far from where they would be walking out into the courtyard, and as they stopped in front of the doors waiting for her cue, Lauren could just see them through the glass, everyone seated staring ahead as the bridesmaids and groomsmen went down the aisle. Luka was with Alex and despite his pension for jeans and a tee, he looked good in his black tuxedo, his hair slicked back. He was like the light version to Mishca’s dark. Amber and Tristan were already waiting at the front too.
“There’s still time,” Ross whispered, glancing down at her out the corner of his eye.
Squeezing his arm, she shook her head. “Not a chance.”
“Can’t blame a man for trying. Come on then, it’s time.”
As the bridal song began playing and the audience stood, two attendants pulled the doors open, the glow of the sun beaming too brightly for a second until her eyes adjusted. Lauren could feel everyone’s eyes on her as she and Ross started down the aisle, the train of her dress sweeping over the rose petals on the runner, but she didn’t care.
The only thing she saw in those precious moments before she made it to the front was Mishca’s smile. He had been nervous at first, fidgeting with his bow-tie, but as soon as he saw her coming towards him, his arms dropped to his side, his eyes lighting up, and she knew without a doubt, she was the luckiest girl in the world.
He turned his entire body towards her, extending his hand when Lauren and Ross stopped.
Ross kept his glare strong even as he placed Lauren’s hand in Mishca’s. He leaned forward to whisper in Mishca’s ear and as Mishca grimaced briefly, Ross stepped back with a smug grin, moving back to his seat.
As they turned to face the preacher, Lauren whispered, “What did he say to you?”
“If I hurt you, he’ll remove my balls.” Glancing over at Lauren, his mouth twitching, Mishca said, “I believe him.”
They quieted as the officiator began.
“We are gathered here today for the union of Mishca Mikhailovich Volkov and Lauren Delilah Thompson.”
Lauren tried to focus on his voice, but Mishca was distracting her, rubbing circles along the back of her hand with his thumb. He wasn’t even looking at her, bright blue eyes focused in front of him, but she knew all too well that he could probably still see her.
Either the officiator had given the shortest speech ever, or she had been too caught up in Mishca to notice how much time had passed. “And now, for the vows.”
Mishca turned to her, twining their hands together. She could tell, just from the look in his eyes, that by the time he was finished, she would be sobbing.
“From the first day you spilled coffee on me, I knew that I wanted you in my life.”
She laughed—as well as most of the others—eyes watering already. She didn’t think she had ever cried this much in her life.
“It was your smile, the way you laughed, how despite a less than…ideal start, you were willing to take a chance on me and even after, when you had every reason to walk away, here you stand. I promised you once that I would protect you and I meant every word of that, but more than that, more than my…obligations, I promise to love you, to show you everyday what you mean to me.”
Her bottom lip was trembling, the tears she’d ben trying to vain to hold back, freely falling. She could only imagine what she looked like, but with the adoration she saw in Mishca’s eyes, she doubted he cared about her running mascara.
He brought her hand up, splaying it over his heart, near one of the stars that he had bled to get.
“Ne do kontsa vremeni—Until the end of time.” He whispered, only for her to hear.
How could he expect her to speak after that?
She had memorized her vows, days before because she didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of so many people, but those carefully written words fled her mind now that she was facing Mishca.
Opening her mouth, she expected to stumble over her words, but she chose to speak from her heart. “You were different from everyone I had ever known. You saw me alone, not the tragedy that happened in my past. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I fell in love with you—” A wistful smile spread across her lips as she looked at him, her future. “—It feels like I always have. While I can’t promise to obey your orders—”
“Tell me about it.”
“But,” she went on, talking over him, “I know I will love you, until the end.”
There was so much more she wanted to say, to express to him, but she didn’t how how to form it into words, but Mishca knew her, inside and out.
He kissed her, slowly, pulling away to say, “I know.”
The officiator cleared his throat, making them both look at him. Luka chuckled. “Jumping the gun there, Boss.”
The rings came next.
Amber handed Lauren Mishca’s. She turned the band over in her fingers, reaching for Mishca’s hand as she pledged her life to him, promising to love and respect and honor him in all ways, flushing when she saw a smile light up his face as she slid the band into place.
Vlad didn’t look as gruff as he normally did when it was his turn to pass Lauren’s ring to Mishca. In fact, he was actually smiling. Hers was a more feminine version of Mishca’s, one that suited the older
style ring she was already wearing. She heard the click of camera shutters going off as Mishca slid it onto her finger, saying words similar to her own, though he added a promise to protect her at all costs.
Then, as he had done so many times in the past, he picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiator said proudly. “You may now kiss the bride.”
Mishca came to her, his thumb sweeping over her cheek before he tilted her face up, slanting his mouth over hers. At first it was rather docile, just a gentle press against her own lips, but it didn’t matter that they had an audience, Mishca deepened it.
Mishca didn’t release her until catcalls started his soft laughter vibrating in his chest. They turned to face their families, hand in hand.
A glowing spot on the building just across the street had Lauren narrowing her eyes on it, but it vanished in the next instant. Putting it out of her mind, Lauren smiled, squeezing Mishca’s hand as everyone cheered.
They started down the dais and she was blissfully happy, doubting that anything could ruin this day.
Until everything went to hell.
She heard the shouts of surprise as people dove to the ground, the brigadiers immediately going for their guns, but the only thing Lauren could see was Mishca as his hand was snatched from her as he flew backwards, landing on his back. The blood rushing in her ears drowned out everything else as she rushed towards him, tripping over her skirts as she fell to her knees beside him.
“Mish, what—no, no, no.”
A dark saturation began to bloom in the center of his chest, extending up to the white of his shirt, the startling shade of red making her suck in a breath. In the next moment, she was screaming for someone, anyone to help as she placed her hands on top of the wound, applying pressure.
His mouth opened and closed futilely, as though he wanted to say something, but she shook her head softly, her throat closing up as tears welled in her eyes. “You’re going to be fine, I promise. You can’t die,” she said to him, her voice catching when she saw a tear roll down the side of his face.
The Final Hour Page 11
