Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Kira
My wedding day.
After weeks of planning, it’s finally here. And all I can feel is absolute dread in the pit of my stomach as I stand before the mirror in the hotel suite in my wedding dress. Our guests are arriving at the hotel now. Enzo and I are going to be married in the outdoor garden in just an hour.
I have to stop myself from throwing up. My entire life is going to change. No more safety. No more spoiled existence. I doubt Enzo is going to treat me like a princess the way my father has. No. Enzo is going to push me and I’m worried what I might do.
My father and Maksim arrive. Without a word, I throw my arms around my brother and he holds on tight.
“I’m always here for you, Kira,” he says into my ear. “I never wanted this for you. Trust that I would never have married you off to Enzo if it were up to me.”
“I know. I don’t blame you for this. Nikolai is in charge of the Bratva. It was his decision.” I pull back and offer my brother a smile. “I know you’ll keep me safe.”
“If Enzo ever tries to hurt you, I will hurt him. I promise.”
Gregor puts a hand on his son’s arm. “Maksim, we can’t risk a war. You can’t go after Enzo despite what he’s done. Despite what he may do to Kira.”
A look of pure anger crosses Maksim’s face. “You’re just going to stand back if he hurts her?”
“Of course not. But if Enzo wants peace, he’ll know he can’t do that. I am giving my daughter over to him and it’s the last thing I want. But we have no choice. We have to do this and we can’t risk a war from happening.” He pauses. “I can’t risk you getting shot again.”
Maksim’s eyes widen. Our father is never soft when it comes to Maksim. It’s usually only me.
“Now, Kira, you’ll do your duty,” Gregor says to me. “You’ll marry Enzo. You’ll make us proud. And you can come home any time you want.”
“Even though you’re mad at me for betraying your trust?”
“Yes. You’re still my daughter. My little princess. You’re always welcome home.”
My tears hit me before I can stop them and I run into my dad’s arms. He holds me tight just like he did when I was a little girl.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “For sneaking out all those times. I’m sorry I disappointed you.”
“You did but you’re doing the right thing now. By marrying Enzo, you’ll be responsible for creating peace between the Bratva and the Mafia. I am proud of you, my darling.”
I hold onto my dad a moment longer before pulling away. I know I’ll always have a safe space with my brother and dad but the problem isn’t them. It’s Enzo. Will I ever feel safe with him?
The urge to run is coursing through my body. But I have to do this. The consequences of running would be astronomical. It could destroy everything.
After my family leaves, another knock on the door comes. I’m expecting to see Irina or Natasha but instead, it’s two women I’ve never met before.
“Yes?” I ask, opening the door.
The older woman looks to be in her sixties with dark red hair and a simple dress suit on while the younger woman looks to be around my age. She has a graceful aura about her with her soft brown hair and black dress that makes her resemble Audrey Hepburn.
“I’m Francesca Bianchi, the aunt to Enzo. And this is his sister, Gianna. I thought it was time to meet the woman my nephew will be marrying.” She looks me over with an upturned nose. “And I must say… you’re disappointing, my dear.”
I blink, unsure of what to say. “Sorry?”
She motions for me to step back so she and Gianna can enter the room. Gianna hasn’t said a word yet. In fact, she keeps her chin ducked and her eyes downcast. Either she’s shy or she’s afraid. I’m not sure which.
“I mean, look at that dress.” Francesca waves her hand towards my wedding gown. The princess one I chose – not the one Enzo tried to force me into.
“What’s wrong with my dress?”
“It’s so… frilly.”
“I like it and it’s my wedding day, so…”
“Of course, of course. I was just expecting my nephew to marry a woman with more class than you possess, my dear.”
“Why do you keep calling me ‘my dear?’ You’re clearly being sarcastic about it. It’s condescending, you know.”
Francesca looks shocked to be called out this way. I’m suspecting from my short time with her that she’s never been called out before. Even Gianna raises her head with wide eyes but still doesn’t say a word.
“You are a brash little creature, aren’t you?”
“I am not a ‘little creature’ as you call me. I am the daughter of Gregor Petrov. I will be married to Enzo Bianchi. I am a woman.”
“I know class when I see it and you don’t have any, my dear. I am against this marriage. I never wanted my nephew to marry a Russian. It’s unbecoming. He should be with a good Italian girl but no one would listen to me. So here I am.”
“What are you hoping to achieve?”
“That you’ll say no to this marriage.”
“And you think I have the ability to do that?”
Francesca sniffs like I insulted her. “You just said you’re a woman. A woman can make her own choices. So leave. Don’t marry my nephew. If you do, I’ll make life horrible for you.”
I stare at this woman I’ve just met, unable to believe anything she’s saying. It’s too ridiculous. “You’re insane, you know that?”
She gasps, clutching at her chest. “What?”
“You’re insane. I can’t just leave. It would mean war between our families. I have to marry Enzo. I don’t want this any more than you do but I have to do it.”
“A war is not a concern to me.”
“Get out,” I snap. “I have to get ready for my wedding.”
“Yes, you should. And change that hideous dress. Come along, Gianna.” Francesca storms out of the room while Gianna hesitates, looking at me uncertainly before following her aunt out of the room.
I slump onto the chair before the vanity table, not even caring if it wrinkles my dress. That’s the family I have to marry into? Francesca is horrible enough to make me want to run away from this wedding.
I clench my hands around the side of the chair. No. I can’t leave. It would mean war. It would mean Maksim could get hurt again. Natasha could be kidnapped again. I can’t risk my family’s safety.
I have to go through with this wedding.
I stand beside my father at the doorway that leads to the outside garden where Enzo and I will be married.
“Am I in trouble?” I whisper.
He clutches my arm with his hand. “I don’t know, my darling. I just have to hope that Enzo will treat you right.” But he doesn’t have any hope. I can tell by his tone.
The door opens and we step outside into the garden. Our guests are here – over a hundred of them. Between both the Bratva and the Mafia, a lot of people wanted to witness this union.
Enzo stands at the end of the aisle with a smirk on his face like he knows something I don’t know.
My feet falter and I can tell he notices. I have to be strong otherwise Enzo is going to overtake me.
His eyes lower down to my dress and a scowl crosses his face. He doesn’t like that I disobeyed him but I don’t care. I am going to wear the dress I want on my wedding day.
When I reach the end of the aisle, it’s time to let my father go but I can’t unclasp my hand from his arm. The air grows awkward. Everyone can tell this isn’t what I want.
My father has to wrench my hand from his arm and hand it over to Enzo. The moment Enzo wraps his hand around mine, I know this is my fate. There’s no going back now.
My eyes find Francesca’s in the audience and the scowl on her face tells me she is not happy about this.
Enzo’s own look is hard to read. It’s dark and dangerous but there’s a tiny bit of light there.
The officiant – a priest my father had to bribe to do this wedding without asking any questions – begins the ceremony.
When the time comes to say our vows, I’m not sure I can speak.
“Do you, Enzo Bianchi, take this woman, Kira Petrov, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
Enzo is quiet for a moment. Is it to make me squirm? Because if so, it’s working.
And then he finally speaks. “I do.” His deep voice rings throughout the air. It’s a voice that any woman would love. The only problem is: I hate him.
“And do you, Kira Petrov, take this man, Enzo Bianchi, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
All I want to do is run but I plant my feet. I have to do my duty. I have to keep a war from happening. I have to be the sacrifice for peace to exist.
I’ve never been selfless before in my entire life. I guess now is the time.
“I do,” I say in as strong of a voice as possible. I don’t want Enzo to think I’m weak.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Enzo’s eyes darken even more as he cups my face. It doesn’t feel like the embrace of a lover. It’s more like the trap of a cage.
Then his lips are on mine. It’s just the smallest peck. A promise of things to come. But I don’t want things to come with Enzo. Not when I don’t trust him at all.
Enzo doesn’t say a word as he takes my arm and walks us down the aisle. Our guests clap for us. Everyone knows this is to bring peace. I just hope we can all make it through the night without anyone getting shot.
Instead of taking me to the ballroom, Enzo pulls me down a hallway of the hotel away from our guests.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Your wedding dress. I thought I gave you a different one to wear.”
I shrug. “So? I’m going to wear what I want. You can’t control me. Don’t even think about it.”
“I could spank you to keep you in line.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I growl.
In one quick motion, he spins me around and slaps his hand right to my ass. I screech and pull away.
“What the hell?”
“That’s just a warning. Don’t mess with me, Kira.”
“I thought you wanted a challenge.”
“If you being insubordinate means I get to spank you, then I’ll be a happily married man. Just don’t get on my fucking nerves. I could bring war upon your family whenever I want.”
“And my family could do the same right back to you.”
We glare at each other, neither one of us backing down. We’re both breathing heavy. For a moment, my eyes flick down to Enzo’s lips and he does the same to me. We take the smallest step towards each other before I realize what’s happening.
I quickly back away from him. “I hate you.”
“You’re not exactly a joy ride either. But I think I’ll enjoy riding you,” he says with a sweep of his eyes over my body. I try to slap him again but he catches my wrist. “Not so fast. I would be careful if I were you, Kira.”
I know in this moment that my life is going to be miserable. There’s no way I’ll ever find happiness with Enzo.
Not when I hate him with every fiber of my being.