Chapter 21 Constance #3
“I see,” I murmur, feeling a bit down. Life will just go on normally for them.
Marriage, children, and big family gatherings when I’m gone.
“Well, this was fun while it lasted… Misha will move on to the next woman pissing Veronica off while Dimitri and Nadya will do whatever Misha says, so they will also play with the new girls, and Alik… he…” I croak that the very thought of either of them touching anyone without my permission and I sit up, gagging.
“CONNIE!” Pyper runs over worried, and I shoo her away.
“I… I’m good,” I wheeze, feeling sick to my stomach at the thought.
“You don’t look good.” She frowns and I smile, playing it off with a shrug.
“Sorry… I think the thought of arranged marriages made me sick to my stomach,” I lie.
“Connie, I knov you don’t understand our customs and it must be strange…
vee vould like ze freedom to marry freely, but…
” she trails off and I can tell she’s thinking about my brother.
“But zhis is about more zhan love. Love von’t keep our family lega—” Before she can finish, there’s a knock at the door.
“Miss Pyper, Miss Constance,” a voice calls. “Ze cars are ready.” She stands, looking me over with a nod, satisfied.
“Guess it’s time.”
She grabs her clutch and sways out of the room, leaving me staring at my own reflection… like maybe it knows something I don’t.
As we make our way to the foyer, even before I get to him, I can feel the air thicken when I see Misha standing there. His predatory gaze takes me hungrily as he saunters over before standing in front of me.
“H-hi…” I stammer and wave, but he doesn’t return my greeting. Instead, he crosses the distance between us in two long strides, catching me by the waist.
“You look so fucking beautiful, Pechenye,” he murmurs, his voice rough and deep, the Russian inflection thick with lust and his eyes full of raw, focused hunger that makes my knees weak.
“Th-thank you,” I choke, the words catching in my throat, pussy clenching. Fuck, just being looked at by him always steals my breath away. “Y-you do-don’t look half bad yourself,” I lay out the corniest line in history, but seeing him chuckle and take my hand to kiss it is worth it.
“Spasibo, Pechenye (Thank you, Cookie.)” He looks me in the eye and I feel like I’ll be swallowed whole, but I snap out of it, fanning my face.
“Y-you’re welcome,” I groan inwardly then look around for the others. “Where are Nadya, Dimitri, and Alik?” I ask.
“Oh…” Pyper speaks up. “Zhey left already.” She gives me a thin-lipped smile.
“Aww, I wanted to see what they looked like, but I guess I can look at it as a surprise.” I grin and Misha cuts his eyes at Pyper before he blows out a breath.
“Come, Pechenye. Guess it’s time to be surprised zhen.” He doesn’t waste time with words. He simply guides me forward, his grip tight and reassuring. We move together toward the grand staircase, heading for the front entrance, but as we head off, Pyper steps in front of us and glares at Mikhail.
“Do NOT mess up ze dress and hair!” She grits and I can feel my cheeks getting hot with her basically telling us not to fuck on the way there. “Seriously, if I see so much as a vrinkle, ve’re fighting!” She glares.
“Since vhen have I ever listened to you?” He cocks his head to the side, basically letting her know he gives no fucks about her warnings and is about to beat my back in when we get in the car.
“Misha!” she groans, facing him.
“Da?” He looks down at her clueless and she takes my arm.
“You know vhat? On second zhought, Connie vill ride in car vit me until we get close to ze venue.”
“Nyet.” Misha shakes his head, grabbing my arm and pulling me over to his side.
“I vas not asking. Connie comes vit me. I refuse to let my friend look like slut for such important event.” She squares her shoulders and Misha grits his teeth.
“Pyper, sh—”
“How about we all ride together?” I blurt out, taking both of their hands and strutting off to the luxury car. I shove Pyper inside, slide in next to her, then pull him inside, and I’m thankful when the driver shuts the door and we head out on the awkward and quiet ride to the venue.
Hell, by the time we get off the property, I’m already regretting the decision from how stifling quiet it is in the car.
All of my weak attempts to talk are met with dull responses from both of them, leaving me to groan.
The silence presses in on us, thick enough to choke, and by the time we finally pull up to the venue, I’m practically clawing at the door for escape, desperate for fresh air and a break from the tension that clings to us.
I tumble out, gasping for breath, and Pyper is instantly at my side, her hand rubbing soothing circles on my back.
“Are you vell, Connie?” Pyper asks and I sigh.
“Just peachy,” I force out, attempting to be reassuring though I know both of them can see right through it. Fucking psychopaths!
“Good.” Pyper forces me up, straightening my back. “You go in zhere, back straight, chest out, ass fat. Show no veakness,” she warns me.
“She has no veaknesses next to me.” Misha steps close, taking me into his arms, and Pyper smirks, impressed.
“Now zhat’s vhat I like to hear. Misha, you protect my girl, or—”
“No need for ‘or.’ I alvays protect vhat’s mine.” He pulls me in for a kiss and I melt against him. “Let’s go, Pechenye. I vant to show you off,” he whispers, pulling away, walking me over to the grand building with Pyper next to us.
I knew walking in holding Mikhail’s arm would cause a scene, but hunnnyyy… I didn’t expect the low hum of chatter to lapse into complete silence like that.
Eyes snap to us so fucking fast, and the gasps are heard throughout the room. I swear more than one Russian aunty grips her pearls.
Mikhail’s grip on my waist tightens, and I look up to see him scanning the crowd, making eye contact with each and every one of them. Every single one of their eyes drop away from his, averting their gaze and looking the other way. Damn… what Glo say? I love me a… no! Focus, FOCUS!
I scan the room, and I’m immediately overwhelmed, though at this point I’m not surprised, by the ambiance.
The event venue looks like something out of a fairytale, with paintings on the ceilings, massive, obviously expensive light fixtures, and large enough to seat more than a couple hundred people.
However, I don’t need more than a glance to recognize that I’m not wanted here by more than a handful of people. Especially Veronica, who is in the center of the room, smiling wide, but with teeth clenched so tight I bet those next to her can hear her jaw creak.
“I knew zhat dress vould make a scene,” Pyper murmurs, seeming satisfied. Damn my best friend is messy as hell… but I love it!
“You must really not like her, huh?” I glance at her as she swoops up her drink, snorting. I’ll take that as a “Hell the fuck no I don’t!”
“Misha, Pechenye, Pyper!” I hear and turn my eye to two of the few people in the room who will actually be okay with me being here.
“Nadya! Dimitri! You both look great! Congratulations!” I smile, trying to appear shameless as possible, as if this shit is normal. I beam taking in her and his matching cream formal dresswear.
“Thank you.” Nadya grins and leans into Dimitri. “Vhat do mean vee look great?!” Nadya beams, pulling me from Misha’s grip and twirling me around. “You are ze star of ze show!” She hugs me tight and I want to groan at her words.
“Th-thank you.” I shyly chew my lip as Dimitri steps up and places his arms around my back, drawing me in for a kiss on the cheek.
“Simply lovely.” He steps back and takes my hand, kissing it.
“Of course she vould look stunning.” Pyper puffs out her chest proudly, and I smack her upside the head, reminding her what setting we’re in. This is honestly nothing to be proud of, but it would go in one ear and out the other with her.
I sweep the room for Alik as I grab a champagne flute and slowly sip, feeling nervous. It really feels like I’ve walked into a lion’s den. All eyes are on us, and how can they not be?
Misha, one of the grooms, is glowing. Pyper looks sexy as fuck, and so do Nadya and Dimitri followed by me…
the outsider, but I stand tall because it’s not like I can run out of here now.
Not when Misha’s arm is wrapped around me so firmly, not even giving me a chance to budge.
But it’s not so bad because the familiar, quiet warmth of my people around me settles me as I look for Alik.
“Oh!” I jolt when I see him.
He’s standing by the far wall, framed by a stunning, elaborate floral arrangement.
The tailored suit, the powerful grace, the slightly rough angle of his jaw, it’s exactly him.
A ridiculous, adolescent thump hits my chest. I straighten my spine, my lips curving into an immediate, genuine smile, mind flashing to the shower and more importantly, to the time he and I spent together before our break up.
“Misha!” I beam up at him, and he glances down at me.
“Da, beautiful?” Misha pulls me into a kiss, hugging me.
“Alik is over there. Can you get his attention?” I ask, but Misha looks up and goes still. He frowns and I look over to see why he’s so stiff when I see there’s someone with him.
She has her hand tucked confidently into the crook of his arm, a sleek, architectural blonde bob, and eyes that match the sapphire of her dress. She’s not just pretty… she’s breathtakingly gorgeous.
My smile freezes then melts away when she lifts the hand not clutching Alik as she speaks to a guest, taking a slow, elegant sip of white wine.
The crystal catches the light from the chandelier, and my eyes zoom in on the two rings…
one a massive, glittering diamond solitaire, and right beneath it, a simpler, thicker platinum band. Two.