Chapter Forty-Six
It was a lovely sunny morning in Longhouse Reserve. The sky was clear, and the birds were chirping. The leaves on the trees were just beginning to turn for autumn, yet the air was still warm, like summer. It was perfect for a garden wedding. Aliannah hoped the weather would stay clear for their wedding ceremony this afternoon. The two ladies sat on the balcony, sipping coffee and munching on pastries.
“Gavin said they got back around 10 p.m. last night, and Sylvester has them banished to the other wing of the manor house, so you two won’t see each other until the ceremony,” Michelle read from her phone as she ate.
“Sylvester is a stickler for traditions and fears a curse,” Aliannah laughed at the thought of someone daring to tell Ivan what to do.
There was a knock on the door.
“Ivan, go away! We don’t want the bad voodoo!” Michelle shouted.
“It’s Oliver.”
Michelle walked over and slowly opened the door an inch.
“Are you alone?” she scowled.
“Yes, Michelle. I am alone. Ivan is furious at being forced to stay away.” Oliver tried to suppress a laugh.
Michelle opened the door a little wider and stuck her head out to scope the corridor. Oliver was indeed alone. She nodded and waved him in.
“Aliannah, Ivan sent me to give these to you; I must get back to ensure he does not sneak over.” He placed two small boxes on the bed and took his leave.
Aliannah opened the boxes. They contained a diamond drop necklace and a matching diamond bracelet. Inside the necklace box, there was a note.
Hold on , darling, it’s almost time – I
Aliannah was overcome with emotion. She was glad her makeup artist had not started yet. She was excited for today, a little nervous too, but it was a good kind of nervous.
Her mom and Katerina joined the room when the makeup artist and hair stylists arrived. It was a full-on system set-up. The photographer weaved in and out between them for the shots, and another photographer did the same over where the men were preparing for the day.
At 4 p.m., they were all ready to head down to the garden. Sylvester was waiting out the room to guide them down. Aliannah’s father met them in the foyer. His eyes welled up upon laying sight on her.
“My sweet baby girl…. I am so proud to be your father,” he kissed her cheek and took her arm. They headed to the rose garden. Her mom and Katerina took their seats at the front, and Michelle walked down the aisle as maid of honour. Aliannah could see through the drapes, but she could not be seen.
“Are you ready?” Her father smiled at her. She took a deep breath and nodded.
‘Here comes the bride’ played out from the harpist beside where the altar was set; Aliannah and her father stood at the end of the aisle. Ivan turned to look at her. His face lit up.
Everyone was standing and looking at her, but she only had eyes for him. Her father pulled her ever so gently to start walking, and so she began. Step by step, she made it down the aisle towards the man she would marry. Her man. Aliannah’s father shook Ivan’s hand as he handed her hand to him. The crowd sat down, and the ceremony began.
It was a beautiful ceremony, with no media interruptions, no drones—thank God—and so many security men lined the entire garden. The couple said their vows and exchanged rings.
“I pronounce you Mr and Mrs Kozlov; you may now kiss the bride!” The celebrant finished up.
Ivan swooped her for a romantic movie kiss, and the crowd cheered. Even the security applauded them. They ran through the crowd as everyone threw confetti. A drinks reception was held in the exterior dance area while they went and got their wedding photos taken. Aliannah was delighted the sun stayed out for them.
The sit-down meal was inside as protocol dictated, and as Ivan said, there were no warm fuzzy speeches. There was nothing. It all seemed extremely formal. When the meal was over, they began to make their way around all the guests, and Ivan introduced her to all the Pakhans. You would not think these men were Bratva leaders. They just seemed like high-society businessmen. Everyone was full of smiles and joy.
Ivan led Aliannah to the exterior dance floor for their first dance. The sun was setting, and the sky was golden and pink. Aliannah’s face hurt from smiling so much all day. Ivan wrapped one arm around her waist and took her hand with his other. They swayed to the music as everyone watched on.
“Mrs Kozlov….” He kissed her gently as they moved.
“Yes, husband?” Aliannah giggled.
“Are you enjoying today?” He smiled and twirled her before pulling her back into him.
“Best day ever” She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
After the first dance, they invited everyone to join them on the dance floor. The DJ picked up the pace and played all the hits. It was strange to see the Pakhans dance and even funnier to see all the goons trying not to shake it on the perimeter.
“I’ll go get us some drinks,” Ivan kissed her as he walked away. Aliannah kept on dancing with Michelle. Gavin broke out his robot dance moves, much to Michelle's mortification.
“Hey, Ivan wants you to meet him out the front; he has a surprise for you.” Igor took her by the hand and led her out of the crowd.
Aliannah stopped for a quick drink and followed Igor to the foyer. They descended the steps onto the gravel and looked around.
“Where is he?” Aliannah raised a brow.
“He should be here? Maybe we are too early?” Igor looked around.
A crash followed by a screeching noise filled the air. Three blacked-out cars sped up the drive and surrounded them.
“Igor… What’s going on?” Aliannah grabbed his arm.
“I don’t know.” His eyes were wide.
Six men jumped out of the cars, all pointing guns at them. One of them stepped forward.
“You bitch. You are the reason my brother is dead!” the man hissed at her.
“What? Who are you?” Aliannah was shaking.
“I am Dmitri Antonov. Viktor’s brother. You took what’s mine; I am here to take what is yours! You are a dead man walking, Ivan.” Dmitri roared.
Multiple shots rang out before Aliannah could speak. She screamed. Igor threw himself in front of her and took the hits. The blood sprayed everywhere. The men jumped back in their cars. Ivan came running out from the manor house, screaming as the cars sped away.
Igor slowly fell to the ground, gurgling and gasping for air. Aliannah clutched him to her to lighten his fall. She was covered in his blood. Her wedding gown now resembled something from Carrie.
“No!... NO…. NOOOO!!” Ivan roared as he dove on top of Igor, slapping his face and checking his pulse.
“Wake up, you motherfucker! You don’t get to die on me today!” Ivan began chest compressions.
Aliannah sobbed silently behind him. Igor had been hit in the chest and the leg. Everyone from the wedding filtered out from the wedding party and crowded nearby. Ivan’s men formed a human barricade to keep the guests back.
“It was Dmitri…. Viktor’s brother…. He thought he was you….” Aliannah whimpered.
“FUCCCCK!” Ivan roared. A woman’s scream pierced the air. Nikolai and Katerina rushed over.
“My baby boy!!!” Katerina cried out.
“Son….” Nikolai put his hand on Ivan’s shoulder. Ivan kept going with the compressions.
“IVAN!” Nikolai commanded his attention.
“NO!!” Ivan refused to give up.
The blood had pooled around Igor from the shot to the chest.
“My brother will not die today!!” Sweat had formed across Ivan’s brow as he refused to stop.
Aliannah reached for Ivan’s hands and gently pried them away from Igor.
“Ivan… You can’t do anymore… He’s gone…. I’m so sorry…” Tears fell silently down Aliannah’s blood-stained face.
“FUCCCKK!!” Ivan roared to the skies as he sat back on his heels, his shoulders sinking. Tears filled his eyes and tumbled down his cheeks. He had lost his brother, his right-hand man, his twin…, and his best friend.
Igor lay there on the ground between him and Aliannah.
His eyes stared vacantly. He was gone.
THE END