Chapter 8
Viktor~
To say that Aurora Marchetti was beautiful was an understatement. Now, while I’d been expecting nothing less than perfection from the pictures that I’d seen of her over the years, I hadn’t been expecting her to look quite so breathtaking up close.
My new wife stood at only around five-three, which put me a whole foot taller than her, but that wasn’t necessarily a disadvantage for her.
After all, she was a Marchetti, and that fact alone told me that I probably shouldn’t underestimate her in any fashion.
Plus, it was a hell of a five-foot-three that she was exhibiting.
Though she was dressed in a simple white blouse and black slacks, there was no hiding that the woman had a figure designed to bring men to their knees.
Aurora Marchetti had that hourglass thing going for her, and it was clear that my bride already had the upper hand in this marriage.
Of course, if that wasn’t enough, the rest of her was something else altogether.
Where her pictures had presented a rather attractive brunette, the soft strands of silk piled on her head weren’t just a random brown shade.
They were a combination of every color of chocolate, and it didn’t appear dry or dull in the least. It was also a perfect match to her dark brows, and paired with her brown eyes, I couldn’t understand what any man saw in blondes or redheads.
After all, nothing was more attractive than a woman who looked both sexy and intelligent, and Aurora Marchetti looked to be every man’s fantasy come to life.
She was also mine.
As of two minutes ago, she was wearing my rings on her finger, and she was now Aurora Korolev, something that pleased me more than it probably should.
After all, it wasn’t like the woman was standing here with me because she was in love with me.
Nevertheless, her looks were going to make her an even bigger target, so I was going to have to really keep an eye on her.
At any rate, knowing that the priest was feeling a bit out of sorts, I said, “So, should we get going and let Father O’Toole be on his way?”
Well, now that the deed was done and couldn’t be undone, the youngest Marchetti son didn’t seem to care about Father O’Toole’s possible disappointment, because he said, “And where would that be? Is my sister returning home with me or...?”
“My wife will be leaving with me,” I told him, not appreciating how he had called Aurora his sister. While that might have mattered at one point in time, the fact that she was now my wife mattered more.
Looking back at his sister, Stefano asked, “Are you still certain about this?”
“I’m fine, Stefano,” she replied easily and confidently, and she really was something else. “Besides, the vows have already been taken, so any lingering doubt is futile at this point.”
Taking his sister at her word, Stefano turned to me, saying, “Her bags are in the car, and since I’m confident that you aren’t comfortable with me following you into Korolev territory, do you want to grab them or what?”
He really was an impertinent little shit, but before I could say anything, Kasimir was being Kasimir. “You know, there’s nothing stopping me from slicing your face in half once we’re standing outside these walls,” he said, making Father O’Toole cross himself.
“Now, gentlemen-”
“No worries, Father,” Stefano said, a smirk on his face. “I’m sure that you’ll have some words of comfort readily available to pray over this sonofabitch’s dead body when I’m finished with him.”
“Stefano Marchetti, you are in the house of God,” Father O’Toole chided.
However, before my brother could accept Stefano’s challenge, my new wife had her hand in her brother’s, saying. “Let’s go.”
What the fuck?
“And where in the hell do you think you’re going?” I bit out, not appreciating her easy dismissal of me. “Have you already forgotten your vows?”
Turning to face me, Aurora looked like a queen addressing a peasant who dared speak to her. “No, I haven’t,” she replied. “But we can just chalk this up to the for better or for worse part, you threatening my brother being one of the worst things that you can possibly do.”
“Maybe if your brother wasn’t an asshole, he wouldn’t need to be taught a lesson,” Kasimir bit out, and while I normally backed my brother in everything, now was going to have to be the exception.
While he was my brother, and I would easily die or kill for him, Aurora was my wife now, and one day, she was going to be the mother of my children, and that mattered in a way that Kasimir couldn’t understand yet.
“That’s enough,” I snapped. “From everyone.”
“I don’t take orders from you, Korolev,” Stefano snapped back. “And as for my sister-”
“My wife, you mean,” I corrected him. “Do not forget what has taken place here.”
“Gentlemen, please,” Father O’Toole said, imploring us all to acquire some sense. “Do you really want to do this in God’s house? And in front of a lady, no less?”
“It’s fine, Father,” Aurora told him before looking over at her brother. “Leave my bags by the door, and I’ll be sure to call you later.”
“The fuck I will,” Stefano bit out, and credit to him. It was obvious that he loved his sister.
“I will not have you upsetting Father O’Toole, Stefano,” she said seriously. “We were raised better than that.”
Satisfied with the dig, Stefano said, “Very well, Stella.”
Stella?
Then, without a backwards glance, as if he had no reason to fear anything by turning his back on us, Stefano Marchetti walked out of the church like a man without a care, and while us Russians had our own fair share of arrogance coursing through our veins, the Italians were something else.
Once he was gone, Aurora immediately turned to Father O’Toole. “My apologies, Father. We will never disrespect you or this house ever again.”
Father O’Toole let out a tired sigh before saying, “Perhaps we can discuss this some other time.”
With the quick reminder that he was her priest and not one of ours, I said, “We won’t keep you any longer, Father.”
“Of course,” he replied evenly before looking back over at my wife. “I’ll see you at church.”
“Let’s hope so, Father,” she said evenly, and that cool control of hers was beginning to grate on my nerves.
Then, without another word from him, he headed towards the back of the church, leaving me, Kasimir, and Aurora alone in the church.
Now, while it was clear that I was going to have to speak with my brother about my new ‘in-laws’, now was not the time, and it wasn’t any kind of conversation that I’d have in front of the only Marchetti daughter.
I wasn’t that stupid.
Looking at my new wife, I said, “A wedding reception for us has been arranged for this evening. We’re expected around six.”
“Well, that’s strange,” Aurora said as she turned her dark eyes my way. “My family’s invitations must have gotten lost in the mail.”
“We’re your family now,” I reminded her, and a wild spark of fire quickly ignited in that dark gaze of hers. “Or have you already forgotten?”
“Oh, I know exactly who my family is,” she retorted stubbornly, and her boldness wasn’t as off putting as you’d think for a man in my position. After all, weaknesses had no place in my life.
Ignoring that, I said, “We will take your belongings back to the house, but I’m afraid that you won’t have much time to get settled before we’re due at the club.”
Refusing to engage, Aurora barely restrained herself from rolling her eyes before she turned to head towards the back of the church, leaving me and Kasimir to follow her like some lowly peasants.
“If you want me to take her off your hands, just say so,” my brother said as soon as she was out of earshot. “That body of hers is worth whatever venom that mouth spews.”
“If you ever make such a reference about my wife like that again, I’ll kill you,” I told him, hoping to make my point as clear as possible.
Kasimir let out a low whistle. “I’d be offended if I didn’t understand.”
“Which is going to be a problem once everyone starts getting a good look at her,” I muttered as I jerked my head for Kasimir to follow me behind my wife.
“Well, there definitely won’t be a shortage of men willing to keep her company if she becomes unhappy,” he snorted, and that truth had me close to seeing red.
“There will be no mercy or second chances for any man that comes near my wife,” I stated seriously, meaning every word.
“Relax, I already put the word out,” Kasimir replied, recognizing the tone of my voice. “Only the suicidal would dare.”
Nothing more was said as we made our way out of the church, and when I saw Aurora standing regally next to her bags, I realized that killing for her was going to be all too easy.