Chapter 12
Twelve
Maxim
She might not understand, but going with her brother and friends is the safest thing for her. I understand she wants to be by my side, how we’re one and the same now that we’re married…but her safety is the most important thing to me.
Blood pounds through my veins as I make my way back inside the church.
Gunshots are continuing to ring out and I quicken my pace.
Whoever’s behind this, they could still be here.
My body moves with a frenzied sense of urgency as I sprint toward the entrance to the room we were in a short time ago. The world around me seems to be moving in slow motion, every step feeling like an eternity as I race toward the unknown danger inside.
I burst through the doors and my eyes are immediately met with a chaotic scene. People are huddled together, some clutching their wounds while others lie lifeless on the ground.
The majority of our wedding guests are nowhere to be seen, lucky enough to have escaped this fucking nightmare.
My father approaches me with a look of deep concern etched into his face. “Are you all right?” he asks me urgently.
I nod, trying to catch my breath and hope my heartbeat won’t pound so heavily in my chest. “Yes, I'm fine.”
He scans the area frantically. “What about your bride? Where is Aria?”
I hesitate before responding, not wanting anyone else to hear. For all we know, our enemy could be in our midst. “She’s safe. Sasha is taking her back to the condo I bought.”
Relief floods over his features. “Good, that’s very good. We need to keep her safe.”
While I am grateful that my wife is out of harm’s way, my mind is consumed with finding out why this even happened in the first place. As far as I know, we don’t have many enemies who would dare to launch such a brazen and public attack on us. It takes balls for someone to do this.
My thoughts bubble up inside me, demanding to be released. “Why did this happen? And why today?”
My father’s lips quiver as he lets out a heavy sigh. “I wish I had an answer for you, my son. All I can say is that whoever did this meant to send a message. The question is, who was the intended recipient— our family or Aria’s?”
It didn’t even occur to me that this could be the work of one of her father’s rivals. Marrying her doesn’t just mean my enemies are hers, it means hers are now mine as well.
Aria isn’t deeply involved in the Bratva, that much is clear. She’s always been hiding away, only wanting to avoid this chaotic world and I can’t blame her. If I had a choice, I would choose a normal life over this one.
As I scan the room, I can’t help but notice the overturned pews, used as makeshift shields against the barrage of bullets. Dresses lay torn and blood-stained, once elegant gowns now reduced to scraps of fabric stained with tragedy.
Our wedding was supposed to be a joyous celebration, but now it has turned into a somber funeral.
Stress coils in my body as I turn to my father, desperation clear in my voice. “If you know anything, I need to know. Think hard. Is there anyone who would do such a thing?”
My father takes a deep breath through his nose and meets my gaze with steely determination. “Under immense pressure, anyone can become capable of violence.”
While there may be some truth to his words, I refuse to accept them. “Only a coward would target us at my wedding. And when I find this traitorous bastard, I will make him pay with every ounce of pain he has caused.”
My father knows something, I can see it in the way he holds himself, the way he’s choosing to speak.
He’s always been a man of few words, but when he does speak, it’s with authority and conviction.
As his son, I’ve come to know him like the back of my hand over the years.
He’s not one to be fucked with or underestimated.
I can sense the tension in his body as he carefully chooses his words.
He’s watching everything he says, and that throws up some red flags in my eyes.
He has some suspicions on who is behind this attack on our family and I want answers now.
“Stop playing games,” I demand, my voice laced with frustration.
“Who do you think would dare to do something like this? There must be someone you’ve crossed recently. ”
He chuckles, a sound that sets my teeth on edge. “Of course there is. I am the leader of the Bratva, Maxim, have you forgotten that little detail?”
In a brief moment of clouded judgment, I grab him by the collar and slam him against the wall.
Sure, it’s out of character for me to do something like this to him.
But, today of all days, he doesn’t get to speak to me in that condescending tone.
Not when my wife and I could have been killed in this brutal attack.
I don’t give a damn that we are being watched by members of our organization. In this moment, all that matters is finding out who is responsible for this and getting revenge for what they’ve done to us
The Bratva may be my birthright, but I will not inherit it if I am dead or if my wife is killed because of some twisted plot.
It has become clear to me now that this deal with the Zuyev family goes much deeper than just keeping the Brazilian cartel off our asses.
It’s a move orchestrated by my father to control the Zuyev family and their resources.
I don’t know how I didn’t see it until now.
It’s no secret that there are those in our ranks who still challenge our power, but Aria’s father putting up a fight would only complicate things further. My father knows this and is using our potential alliance with the Zuyevs to his advantage.
After all, what better way to get someone to do your bidding than by reminding them that they are not family?
Despite my father’s position as leader of the Bratva, there are still those who oppose him.
But in this twisted world we live in, power and influence hold more weight than blood ties.
And I’m beginning to understand just how dangerous that can be.
I release him and feel my heart racing, trying to calm myself down. The air feels heavy with tension and I struggle to catch my breath.
My father straightens his collar, his eyes hardening as he speaks with authority in his tone, “You’d better remember who it is that you’re talking to, boy.”
I can’t help but snicker, “A man who can’t seem to keep his son, or his new daughter-in-law safe, it seems.”
Aria’s father, Nikolai, notices the scuffle between my father and I and inserts himself into the conversation.
His imposing figure looms over us as he speaks, “Today was beautiful, despite the danger that came with it. Maxim, I think you should get out of here. Aria will need you by her side while your father and I look into things. Rest assured, we will get to the bottom of this.”
But I know better. I don't trust Aria’s father as far as I can throw him.
Taking a deep breath, I ground myself and turn to face Aria’s father.
“You’re right, I should get back to Aria.”
I quickly make my way out of the church, feeling eyes following me as I flag down a cab. The city streets blur past me as I head toward the new condo I purchased for us.
Hopefully, Aria is there with her brother and friends by now, safe from whatever danger may be lurking around us. But even as I try to reassure myself with these thoughts, a sense of unease lingers in the back of my mind.
Who would do such a thing?
As I approach the towering building that houses our condo, I smile at the familiar doorman who greets me with a nod. The polished lobby is filled with the chatter of people coming and going, but I make my way through easily toward the elevators.
After inputting the key code, I push open the door to our condo and step inside. The open-concept living area is bright and airy, with Aria sitting in the center of the couch surrounded by her friends. Her brother lounges in one of the armchairs nearby.
“Did you encounter any issues on your way here?” I ask, scanning each person for any signs of trouble.
Sasha clears his throat before answering, “No, everything went smoothly enough. The ladies were a bit shaken though.”
I glance over at Aria and notice her hands are trembling. I slowly make my way toward her, a surprising bit of anxiety coursing through me. I don’t like seeing her upset like this…and I realize that somehow she’s managed to get under my skin.
Kneeling down in front of her, I take her shaky hands in mine. “You’re safe now, Aria,” I reassure her.
She licks her lips nervously, causing me to wonder if she’s ever been through such a traumatic experience before. I highly doubt it. The most traumatic thing she’s probably gone through is when her father and stepmother kidnapped her mother as collateral for our impending nuptials.
Malia stands up gracefully and smooths out the wrinkles in her dress. “Perhaps we should leave you two alone for a while. Today has been quite overwhelming.”
I give her a small smile before suggesting, “Actually, it might be best for everyone to stay here tonight until things settle down. We still don’t know who did this and there’s a chance we could be followed or watched.
We have five bedrooms, so there’s plenty of space for all of us. It’s also fully furnished as well."
Aria looks surprised by my offer of hospitality and comments, “That's very kind of you.”
The tension between us was palpable, a reminder of our rocky start. I’ll do whatever I need to convince her that our marriage won’t be the prison she fears it to be.
My gaze flicks around the group of people gathered in our living room, all now aware of the dangers that come with our lifestyle. Sure, Sasha knew…but who knows about the others.