Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Katya
So far, I’ve only decided for certain that my mother, Gaia, Linus, and Ares should be there.
They’re my immediate family, and despite Ares being a troublemaker with an attitude problem, I would probably be devastated if he didn’t come see me get married.
He’s like a brother to me. And since we share Gaia, the relationship with him has been easier to build than the one I have with Linus.
No one else really gets to see Ares Gabris’ soft side.
He’s a good older brother to our little sister, and he makes time with her no matter how busy his chaotic schedule can get.
He’s canceled plans with friends before because she was sick and didn’t want him to leave.
He stayed in for two whole days watching Disney movies and heating her up some soup while she had the stomach flu.
He didn’t whine about germs or flinch when she would snuggle up to him on the couch while running a fever and throwing up into her little barf bags.
Ares can be a menace, but he’s a part of my family.
I don’t think he would allow himself to be excluded even if I didn’t want him there, purely so that he can be Gaia’s personal guard dog.
Besides, he’s friendly with plenty of Leon’s brothers from what they’ve both told me, and I’m sure he’d like the excuse to see them.
Weddings always have after parties and booze as well, which he will certainly partake in after my mother takes Gaia up to bed.
I wonder if Leon will want to be married near his house or near the big Moretti compound?
With that last curiosity, I shake myself out of my head and breathe.
I have other things to do today, which means I can’t just sit around and ponder my wedding details.
Although I’m sure I’ll be doing plenty of it in the back of my mind while I’m out and about.
I’ve scheduled myself an hour before the call to brainstorm alone in my room and write anything down that I may forget.
For now, I’m taking one of my rare trips and leaving the house by myself. Typically getting out for me means going to lunch or the park with my mom and sister, or being coerced into a shopping trip with Chloe, but not today. Today I’m doing something I’ve had plans to do for months.
Due to who my stepfather is, going out alone means I’m never fully alone, of course.
There’s four guards with me at all times, but part of me is certain that even more trail behind us wherever we go, just in case backup is needed.
Walking into a luxury spa with four big, buff bodyguards isn’t exactly a casual, relaxing set up, but feeling safe can replace a lot of awkward interactions.
I don’t have to worry that when I shut my eyes to get a facial, the esthetician has been paid to slit my throat, or that if I want a massage, I’ll be taken advantage of by one of my stepfather’s enemies in some way.
Being pampered at least once a month has become a bit of self-care that I long for, and I would be devastated if I can’t continue once I marry Leon.
I’m going to make sure that there’s something I can do for a spa experience once I move there, even if it means hiring one of my husband’s men’s wives for in-home treatments.
Since the employees here are used to seeing me, no one bats an eye as I enter with my security.
In fact, I’m the only client they’re expecting today.
It’s a little much for my taste, but Linus insists on renting the place out every time I go for added safety.
No one comes in or goes out once I’m in the building, and this is the only spa I go to.
It’s only ten minutes from home, and frequented by other wives and daughters within our community.
“Hello, Katya,” Ellen greets with a smile.
My masseuse is a forty-five-year-old woman with wild gray and black hair who wears crystal jewelry and smells like cherries at all times.
She’s the kind of woman who looks approachable and safe at all times, even if she’s a little eccentric.
Like a middle school art teacher. “We’ve got a good day ahead of us.
I see you’ve brought my favorite young men around with you.
Have you convinced any of them to try a hand massage yet? ”
I chuckle and sigh, pretending to be disappointed. “They won’t relax on the job, Ellen. I fear we’ll never convince them to indulge. Maybe if I buy them gift certificates they’ll feel obligated to come here on one of their off days.”
“A brilliant idea,” she says with a conspiratorial wink. “Jenna is finishing up your room’s preparation right now. We’re doing facial, massage, and scrub today, yes?”
“Yes,” I reply, feeling a wave of relief relax into me.
Just the sound of the treatments is enough to make me sigh dreamily.
“Maybe someone could make sure my nails aren’t too rough as well?
I don’t need a whole manicure since I’ll probably chip it in a few days.
But there might be a ring on my left finger very soon so—”
Her eyes widen and she gasps, hands flying over my mouth. “You are to be married? Oh, that’s so wonderful! We must take excellent care of you to keep you full of peace and serenity before your big moment. Yes, indeed.”
Sweeping me out of the reception area, Ellen pulls me back into our original room.
Two guards stay in the large lobby while two come with me.
One will stand outside the door at all times, and the other will be in with me.
Andreas has been one of Linus’ security guards since my stepfather was a little boy.
He’s a much older man but the kind of man no one would want to cross.
Always fear an old man doing a young man’s profession.
No one fears Andreas looking at me in a half undressed state to be massaged, or that he’ll be distracted by the other ladies around me at any given time.
He’s been married since he was eighteen, and he’s never even thought about stepping out on his wife.
And he views Linus’ family as his own. He treats me as he would treat his own daughter, with nothing but paternal respect.
“So, are we allowed to know who you may be marrying?” Jenna asks, already hearing the gushing news from Ellen.
The two women gave me a moment to change into my robe while Andreas stood in the corner, looking away.
And now Jenna is steaming my face while Ellen works on massaging my hands and lower arms as a warm up.
“It’s not official yet, but it kind of is,” I muse with a half smile. “I can tell you, but don’t call me a liar if the paperwork doesn’t go through and there’s some kind of issue.”
“We’d never,” Jenna says, looking scandalized. She’s only twenty years old, but she’s the best facialist in this place, and her hands are butter soft. She’s a sweetheart, even if I don’t know much about her outside of her job.
“I was joking,” I say just to calm her down. “But I wanted to tell you guys either way, since this might be my last trip here.”
Ellen gasps sadly. “Say it isn’t so.”
“Really?” Jenna asks with a frown. “This man of yours is far away?”
“A few states away,” I confirm with a nod. “Have you heard of the Moretti family?”
Ellen’s hands jump a little and Jenna freezes as she works.
I take their stunned reactions as answer enough.
“Leon Moretti wants me to be his wife and I’ve accepted his offer. He’s…he’s been very nice.”
“That’s great news, Katya,” Ellen says, squeezing my hands softly before rolling her thumbs in my palm. “They’re a good family, and you deserve a good marriage. We’ll miss you, but I won’t be sad to see you go somewhere you’ll be appreciated.”
“Exactly what she said,” Jenna agrees quickly. “I’m so happy for you, even though I’ll miss you and your perfect glass skin. Taking care of you has been one of my favorite parts of working here. You gave me a chance before any other big clients did.”
My heart gives a warm, funny beat hearing the sweet genuine words.
“I’ll miss you both as well,” I admit with a sad smile. “But I’m excited too. I feel like a new chapter of my life is beginning. Like some other, unknown part of me is being unlocked, and I can’t wait to get to know her.”
“Being married can do that,” Ellen says wisely. “There’s nothing quite like sharing your life with someone and learning who you are through it all. You’ll discover things you’ve never known about yourself, and he’ll do the same.”
“Wow,” Jenna murmurs before I can reply. “You make it sound like an awakening.”
I see a smile crest on Ellen’s lips. “Everything in life can be an awakening if you allow yourself to welcome it.”
I’m taking in her words, letting them absorb and mulling them over when a loud crash sounds from the not-so-far distance. Glass breaking, from the sound of it. Sharp and brutal, followed by an echo of sprinkling coming from the shards hitting the ground. The lobby, I realize in horror.
Jenna and Ellen both gasp, and if on instinct, the women move to block me from the door.
My heart skips and flutters warm, watching them jump to protect me despite it not being their job in the least. They have no responsibility to protect me from harm, only to not inflict it upon me themselves and yet they jump to my defense just as fast as my guards would.
Andreas is already at the door with his hand on his pistol, opening it slowly to check in with the man outside of it.
The two of them speak in low voices, and I understand that there’s no real threat immediately by the way Andreas relaxes his shoulders.
Still, he doesn’t take his hand off his gun, not entirely.
“What is it?” I ask, sitting up and pushing past Ellen and Jenna’s shoulders to get a better look. The two women look reluctant to let me up, but don’t try to stop me as I get to my feet, clutching my robe tightly around my chest.