Chapter 37
DARIUS
Ihad bled for power, fought for respect, and killed for survival.
But for her? For her, I had finally started living.
I stood in front of the newly built garden chapel on Gregor’s estate, flanked by the rest of the men in my family. All of us dressed in suits. The colors of our ties and boutonnieres carefully chosen and arranged by Yelena and Nadia.
I had faced down gunmen, CEOs, and presidents. I had stared death in the face more than once, but I had never been more terrified than I was standing in front of that altar with a flower in my jacket while I waited to see if Anna chose me.
My hands were tucked behind my back, my posture military tight. It felt like I couldn’t breathe, and I had to remind myself not to lock my knees so I didn’t pass out before my vows. Assuming she was still planning on exchanging them.
I just stared down the aisle and waited.
I waited for the moment when either my bride stepped onto that path and made her way to me, or for one of the other wives to step onto that aisle, a look of panic painted across her face as she came to tell us that Anna had realized this was all a mistake. And she didn’t really love me.
That scenario played in my head, over and over, and it started to feel like an inevitability.
At least until Damien nudged me in the arm and leaned over to whisper, “Don’t worry, man, if she runs away, we’ll just go grab her, and you can throw her over your shoulder and drag her back.
She wouldn’t be the first Ivanov woman to be carried to the altar.
At this point, an unwilling bride is more a tradition than an inconvenience. ”
I rolled my eyes, but the other men all laughed.
“We really should do something to make it up to them,” Gregor said. “Every woman dreams of her wedding day, but I’m sure most of them picture actually saying the words ‘I do’ instead of ‘go fuck yourself, you psychotic Neanderthal.’”
There was more laughter, and this time I couldn’t help joining in.
“Nah,” Artem said. “Now they laugh about it. Apparently, it was very ‘bodice-ripper chic.’ Whatever that means.”
“Are you going to cry when she walks out?” Pavel asked.
“No,” I bit out a little too harshly. Then I admitted the truth. “Probably.”
My shoulders sank, and I took a slow, deep breath, trying to calm my nerves before looking around the beautiful garden.
Gregor had spared no expense when putting this together, and every inch was steeped in tradition.
A white path lined with rose petals led up to the arbor.
A rushnyk, an embroidered ceremonial cloth that had been hand-stitched by our great-great-grandmother, lay across the ground for Anna and me to step onto together.
There were bread and salt presented on a wooden tray, offered by Gregor and Samara in place of our absent parents.
I never understood the symbolism before. I knew what it meant: prosperity, unity, and endurance through hardship. But before this, those were just words.
Being with Anna and making this commitment to her showed me what they represented. It was a promise that no matter what life threw at us, we would face it together, as one.
Assuming she wasn’t in a car, speeding away.
“Calm down,” Roman whispered in my ear.
“They’re late.”
“Yelena’s probably just fussing over Edith’s dress,” Damien offered. “She was a little disappointed with your bride’s choice of gowns. Yelena said it was elegant, but simple. She didn’t get to do any of the extravagant beadwork or tiny little stitches that she usually does for wedding dresses.”
That actually made sense. Anna wasn’t one for a ton of shine and glamor. She preferred her simple elegance, but Edith loved to be fussed over. After the proposal, Edith and I had become fast friends. We bonded over our love of classical music and our distaste for Anna’s mother.
I was happy she was able to be here for Anna on this day. Whether it was to love and support her or drive the getaway car.
At least, Edith was doing well in the new assisted care home. She and Alina's grandmother had started a nightly game of “Cards Against Humanity.” Their goal wasn’t to win, but to mentally scar the nurses they didn’t like.
“So, how does it work?” I said, breaking into whatever conversation the other men were having.
“The wedding night?” Damien asked.
“I think it might be a little late to explain that one to you, Uncle,” Pavel added with a laugh.
“No, the picking up of the bride and dragging her down the aisle.”
We all laughed, but I was only half kidding. Thankfully, before I could say anything else, the music changed.
I turned to look down the aisle and stopped breathing.
Anna stepped into view, lace framing her glowing face. Her dress was timeless, the soft fabric clinging to her curves like a vow. A vow I intended to repeat every single day for as long as I drew breath.
She walked arm in arm with Edith, who was beaming like a queen in her intricate dress.
Something in my chest caved inward, not in pain, but with something far less familiar. Surrender.
I never thought I’d get to this, not in my world, not in my line of work.
Love was for other men. Men who led quiet lives in quiet homes. Men who didn’t deal in death, who didn’t conduct business in back rooms or boardrooms that had to be swept for bugs first.
Instead, they lived their lives in homes filled with family, with children’s laughter echoing through the walls.
Other men, better men, deserved the life that I was stealing.
This life wasn’t meant for me, but there I was, watching my future walk toward me with a soft, almost serene smile gracing her beautiful face. I didn’t care if this wasn’t meant for me. I was taking it with both hands, and I was never letting go.
When she joined me at the arbor, I leaned over and first placed a kiss on Edith’s cheek then whispered a “thank you” in her ear.
She patted my cheek and then turned to take her seat as Anna’s hand slipped into mine.
I tightened my grip just enough for her to feel it, and her smile brightened. Her bright eyes didn’t show a single moment of hesitation, and the knots in my stomach loosened.
She was here. She was standing at the arbor with me, and she was going to be mine. My lungs finally filled with a full breath as my shoulders relaxed, and I allowed myself to be in the moment.
A moment where I wasn’t thinking about blood, power, or legacy.
Just her.
I could only think about the woman at my side and the life we would build together — filled with laughter, passionate nights that led to messy kids, warm music, and love.
I was giving her everything I offered: my loyalty, my name, my soul.
When she looked up at me, wonder reflected in her bright, clear eyes and a soft, knowing smile curved her lips, as if I was her entire world. I realized she was giving me something far rarer than I was giving her.
She was giving me a life worth living.
A life that wasn’t measured by numbers in a bank ledger or the bottom line.
She was giving me a life that was measured in moments of pure joy, excitement, and love.