TWENTY-ONE
The following evening, before his family, friends, and associates, and Dale’s small group of friends, Lukas married the love of his life. Samuel stood next to him, his proud best man, and Farah—more emotional than Lukas had ever seen her—was at Dale’s side as her matron of honor.
His father, still sporting a bandage over his ear, sat with his brother, Semion, and Vasily. All of the men wore black because even though they were celebrating a new beginning tonight, they were also in mourning for the men they’d lost the night Lukas’s father had been shot. The night Lukas’s life had changed forever.
He and Dale repeated vows, exchanged rings, and shared their first kiss as husband and wife. Through it all, Lukas knew all was well because he’d never seen the dimple flash so often.
They had dinner on the veranda where the ceremony had taken place. White flowers and tiny golden lights surrounded two long tables that had been set up. The Zavrazins and Tarasovs were scattered around both. When Lukas had stood to toast his bride, he’d looked to the end of his table and had seen the reason why Maksim’s confidence had been so great in the operation he’d organized to take Dawson out. Micha Zaretsky, Maksim’s right hand and one of their world’s most accomplished assassins, sat next to him. Garrett Dawson should have felt honored to have been killed by the man.
Once everyone had full bellies and fuller glasses, the tables were cleared and moved aside, and a small band began warming up. That’s when the clink of a solitary glass had Lukas pausing his conversation with Yasha who’d just informed him Nero’s father had been contacted in Detroit with the news that his son’s remains had been found in a whorehouse near the Mexican border. The Zavrazins had sent their condolences and would send a representative to attend the funeral that would be held next week.
The sound of his wife clearing her throat into a microphone had Lukas turning to see Dale standing in front of the band, champagne glass in hand. From the first moment he’d seen her come through the French doors, and every time he’d set eyes on her since, she stole his breath. The way she looked as his bride, wearing what had essentially been his choice, made his chest swell to the point where it felt as if his feet were leaving the floor. Her off-the-shoulder gown was snow white, and it hugged her curves to perfection. The beading around the neckline was minimal, though Dale hadn’t thought so, and the skirt was a tight A-line made up of the finest layers of chiffon. Her midnight hair was drawn away from her face in a gentle style that had the thick mass falling down her back in big curls. He’d had the distinct pleasure of folding back the veil he’d insisted on, but it had since been removed.
She cleared her throat again and smiled a little. Just one side of her mouth—which had been glossed over with a pale pink shimmer that was driving him nuts; he wanted her lips back. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I just want to say a few words before the dancing begins and people start drifting off.” Her smile grew when her eyes flicked to the corner where Maksim and Micha were with hanging with Paula and Peyton. Lukas noted the twins no longer looked as wary as they had when the boys had advanced thirty minutes ago.
“I’d like to start by thanking you all for joining us tonight. As Lukas said, we’re blessed to have you in our lives to share such a wonderful occasion. Girls,” she looked to the corner where her friends were scattered. “I love you, and I appreciate your support more than you know. I’m going to miss seeing you every day, but Lukas insisted I pass along that you’re all more than welcome to come out here and keep me company whenever you have some free time.”
Kisses were blown and exchanged on the air before she looked around and settled her warm green gaze on her father-in-law.
“Kostya, and Samuel and Farah.” She smiled at the other two. “Thank you for welcoming me…” she cleared her throat and ducked her head to hide by staring at the floor while she fought her emotions, “into your family. You have no idea how…special your acceptance makes me feel.”
Her next pause was longer, and when she lifted her head again, it was to find Lukas in front of her. He couldn’t stand seeing her struggle alone. He wouldn’t let her do it. Not anymore.
She put her hand out. “Oh, thank God,” she breathed, then balked and dropped the microphone to her side as everyone laughed. “I’m dying here,” she said as he drew her into his side.
“You should have told me you were going to do this.”
“I had no intention of saying anything.” She forced a smile because they were still being observed. “But then you were so eloquent, and your father and brother made me cry. I kinda figured I had to publicly tell you how much I love you before I ended up looking like my mother. She would be sitting off alone, resting bitch face in place, making everyone uncomfortable. I’m trying to avoid making enemies in this crowd. Know what I mean?” Her cheeks flushed a gorgeous pink when a smattering of chuckles sounded to indicate that even though the microphone was at her side, they could still be heard.
He cupped his hand over the thing and ignored the feedback that screeched through the speakers. “Would you like to share that with me before you announce it to the world?”
“What?” She looked up at him, and he could see by the strain around her eyes, public speaking was not her thing.
He smiled and kissed her, grateful the time had finally come where he could voice his feelings, even if it was in fucking public. “I’ve loved you my whole life, Magdalena,” he murmured so she knew what he wanted. “I just needed to find you to let you know it. Now, you’ve been claimed, you’ve accepted me, light and dark, and you’ll never forget who you belong to. Who you’ve always belonged to. From the moment you entered this world, you’ve been mine, and you will be until the heart in my chest grows quiet.”
She covered her face with her hands and pressed into his front. “Oh my God, Lukas.”
“Hey, don’t fall apart now. I need something back from you, and my patience on the subject just fucked off.” He pulled her hands away and used his thumb to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Tell me.”
She gave him a watery laugh. “Already dropping commands, Your Grace?”
He winked and put a finger up to the crowd to tell them to hang tight. “Damn right.”
“Okay. Um.” She glanced at their guests. “Should we tell them to carry on?”
“No. They’ll wait.”
“Okay. I’ve, uh, been talking to that higher power you mentioned a while back, and um, I find myself thanking him a lot. For you.” She pressed her finger to the base of her nose and sniffled before finally allowing him to look into her eyes. “When you’re generous, I thank him. When you’re loving, I thank him. When you’re forgiving, I thank him. But I’ve now come to the conclusion that instead of him, I should be thanking you. For being so different from what I thought a mobster would be. And for being so sure this was real, right from the start. If you’d had any doubts and you’d let me walk away, I would have felt your absence for the rest of my life. I’d have mourned your absence, because…you’re right. I do belong to you. I fell in love the moment I looked into your eyes, and you’ve been rewarding me for it ever since. I should have told you…” she swallowed and gripped the sides of his tux tighter. “I was too scared to even admit it to myself. But now? After feeling how happy you truly are that we’ve done this? I don’t feel so afraid to let you know you’ve become the center of my universe.” Her hands cupped his jaw, and she kissed him. “Thank you for not giving up on me.” She kissed him again. “Because I am so in love you, Lukas. Please, just…don’t break me, okay?”
With his life now complete, he raised the microphone and opened his hand enough to expose a patch he could speak into. “She wants you all to know she loves me. Drink, dance, and have a good time, everyone. Thank you for coming.”
He dropped the mic, scooped his tearful bride up, and disappeared into the house to the sound of applause and whistles.