Chapter 25
Alexander
“I’ve never seen you so nervous,” Sinclair said.
I adjusted the goddamn bowtie for the tenth time. “I have reasons to be.”
“He’s nervous about finally getting hitched.” Montgomery laughed when I gave him the finger.
“I’ll remind you of this shit on the day you finally settle down.”
Jaxon snorted. “I doubt you’re settling down, brother. Catherine isn’t the doting, quaint woman determined to keep you occupied with family barbeques and date nights.”
Tilting my head, I was finally able to smile even though I remained tense. “What are you suggesting we’ll be doing?”
“Handling business together for one thing. I can see her as the new corporate attorney.”
“She’s too invested in getting the bad guys off the street, which is why I’d watch what you say to me or I’ll sic her on you.”
“Very funny.” Sinclair glanced at the door to the church. “Speaking of happy endings. Do we have enough security in place?”
“Enough. Our men and several loaned from Russo have surrounded the building and are strategically placed throughout the church.” I checked my watch. The ceremony was set to begin in just a few minutes. Good. I wanted this shit over with.
The day had to be perfect.
“Everything will work out just fine.” Montgomery was so certain.
I wasn’t.
There were several reasons for my concern, including that my lovely bride to be had no clue how I felt about her.
She’d been tense for the last several days.
I scanned the guests waiting for the festivities to begin.
It had been a long time since something of this magnitude had occurred in the Prince family.
They were all dressed up, the pomp and circumstance requiring their festive appearance. Yet nothing felt right.
“What’s wrong?” Sinclair asked when I headed to the corridor.
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“I know you better than the others. Is this about Catherine?”
“I don’t know.”
He stared at me for a few seconds then burst into laughter. “Wait a minute. You really are nervous about getting married. I cannot believe it. I think Catherine has awakened your soft spot. You know, the marshmallow we all knew existed.”
“Fuck you. She didn’t do anything like that.”
“Tell yourself another lie, buddy. Come on. From the day you laid eyes on her you were like some wild possessed man. You weren’t going to take no for an answer with her.”
“I had my reasons.”
He coughed into his hand. “Like crazed hunger. Thankfully, that evolved into something more lasting. Right? If not, the physical side will eventually die out. You know that.”
“Speak for yourself.” I rubbed my eyes. Goddamn it. When was the last time I’d gotten a good night’s sleep?
“So what is it? You do love her. Please say you do.”
“As much as a man like me can.”
“Bullshit. Don’t do that crap. You adore her. I can see it clearly in your eyes. Everyone can. My God. You’d burn down the damn city to keep her protected if it came down to it. Why keep lying to yourself?”
“Because I haven’t told her. Okay?”
He appeared stunned, his mouth even dropping open. “Buddy. Do I need to school you in the act of being involved in a relationship? A little late, but I’ll wing it.”
“I know what I’m doing,” I growled. Like hell I did. I had no fucking clue about a goddamn relationship. She knew it as well as I did.
Montgomery stuck his head out the door. “The show is about to begin. You ready?”
I nodded. The show. That’s exactly what this should be called. One splashy show to impress my sweet angel.
Sinclair walked closer. “All you need to do is tell her what you feel from the heart. And yes, you do have one. You always have. You just tried to shove it aside from fear of getting hurt. You can’t do that any longer, bro. She’s special to you. Why not tell her that?”
A part of me wanted to shove him off, but he was right. “Yeah, I get it.”
“I hope you do. She’s a special woman and do you want to know why?”
“No, but I can’t fucking stop you.”
“Because she can handle you. And she can even make you smile.”
“You’re a pain in the ass.”
“Yeah, so what?”
Half laughing, as soon as I heard the music start, I shifted into a completely different person, one devoid of emotions.
“Are you ready?” I asked, my voice detached.
“Yes. Right by your side. Let’s roll, brother.”
With my brothers following me, I moved to the altar, awaiting the arrival of my bride. I had mixed feelings about the moment, but I knew what I was doing was right. For several reasons, including the protection of my family and the twisted alliance I’d just entered.
As soon as she started to walk down the aisle, everyone in the church stood. With her face covered in a veil, I couldn’t see her expression. Yet with the past and the weight of the future held in the balance, I felt in my gut this was the right thing to do.
The priest joined me as she glided down the red velvet carpet, the loud music curtailing any other noise.
She reached my side, peering up at me through the opaque veil. When she winked, I nodded slowly.
The entire church was holding their breath.
I was counting the seconds.
Just before the ceremony began, the hair stood up on the back of my neck.
Suddenly, the back doors leading to the parking lot flew open, at least a dozen men with guns rushing inside.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
The sound of gunfire drowned out everything else. Guests bolted from the pews, some rushing toward the side doors to escape the melee.
With my gun in my hand, I rushed toward the action, firing off several shots, hitting several of the bastards.
Russian Bratva had come to spoil my special day.
Over my dead body.
I wasn’t surprised they’d sent dozens of their best men, determined to destroy the Prince family since we were all gathered in one place.
“Get down!” Sinclair yelled, pushing me out of the way.
Dropping and rolling, I got off two shots before my brother was hit.
Bodies began to drop as soldiers were gunned down, blood spilling into the aisles.
I rushed forward just as a soldier grabbed her arm, yanking her down. “No, you don’t, you fucker.” I smashed my weapon against his head until he was down on the floor, putting two bullets into his brain as soon as I did.
She nodded, crawling forward. “Get to safety,” I told her. She responded, narrowly avoiding being tackled by two of my men subduing another soldier.
The explosive gunfire continued until the entire church was filled with dead bodies. I fired off another shot. Fuck. Out of ammunition.
“Brother. Take it.” Montgomery tossed me an automatic rifle and I moved to a center point of the church, taking aim at the enemy as they continued to try to massacre anyone involved with the Prince family.
I turned in a full circle, peppering the unwanted guests with a spray of gunfire. The electric jolts from the power I wielded were also fueled by visions.
Of my family.
Of my father.
Of my soon to be wife.
No one from the Bratva would leave here alive.
Seconds, maybe minutes later, a sudden quiet hush rolled over the church, the silence chilling.
As I rose to my full height, I turned in a full circle again, taking note of everyone who’d survived. Had we lost several in the attack? Yes, but by far we’d managed to keep the loss of life to a minimum.
Even with the powerful destruction of the Russian Bratva, there was no satisfaction in the act. Not with my father rotting in his grave.
“Are you alright?” Sinclair asked.
Nodding, I noticed Montgomery struggling to stand, Jaxon not far behind him. “I’m fine.”
“You’re covered in blood.”
“So are you.”
“Alexander.” Montgomery’s cry was full of pain.
“What?” Turning quickly, I noticed he held her in his arms, her dress covered in blood. And for a few seconds, I was reminded just how dangerous my world really was. “Fuck. This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“She’s alive but just barely.”
No…
A sudden flash caught my attention, an enemy soldier slipping from the shadows.
But too late to do anything about it.
Pop! Pop!
Catherine
“Stop. You’re driving me crazy,” Emmeline said for the tenth time in ten minutes.
“He’s late.” How could he be late today of all days? He was Mr. Punctuality, for God’s sake.
“He had a few things to do. Remember?” Her voice was quiet, full of as much anxiety as I felt. We knew the odds of everyone surviving. We hadn’t been allowed to give our say, although wild horses couldn’t have kept me from telling Alexander what a bad idea inciting an attack was.
As usual, he hadn’t listened to me.
Goddamn the man.
“You mean like burn down a church?” I snapped out, instantly sucking in my breath.
“Now, that would be blasphemy. We are Catholics.”
“Why hasn’t he called?”
She moved closer, her face twisting. “I’m sure he’s okay, sis.”
“Sis?”
“You are going to be my sister-in-law.” She was doing her best to keep my mind occupied. We were both failing. Even her lower lip was quivering, the girl fighting to keep from looking me in the eyes because hers were filled with tears. “Look. He’s a big boy and he had dozens of soldiers with him.”
“But I wasn’t there. I should have been there to help him.”
“Do what? He wanted to ensure you’d be protected.”
“Such a damn arrogant man. This is a nightmare.” With my wedding dress rustling on the floor, I rushed to the window, staring out as I said a silent prayer. “It was a horrible idea. I told him not to do it. Trying to lure the Bratva into an attack was stupid.”
“You should know by now that my brother will do anything he wants. He doesn’t play by anyone’s rules.”
“He’s going to play by mine!” I’d never felt so exasperated, so terrified in my life. I hadn’t told him how I felt before he did something so goddamn stupid. “What if he’s dead? What am I going to do then?”
“Calm down,” she said. “Drink more champagne.”
“I adore you for trying, but I can’t do this. I need to go to the goddamn church. I don’t care.” As soon as I started for the door, she stopped me.
“Oh, no, you don’t. I will get some men to lock you in this room if I need to. You are not going anywhere. Try and relax. Okay? He’s only ten minutes late.”
“Ten minutes is a lifetime.” I took a deep breath, returning to the window in hopes of catching sight of him.
Another two minutes passed.
Another three.
I couldn’t take it any longer.
“You’re right, you know,” I whispered.
“What am I so right about?”
“I do love him. Everything I told you before is true about him driving me crazy, but I love him. He’s everything I never knew I needed.”
“Then maybe you need to tell him yourself.”
“I will. If only…”
“If only what?”
The deep voice shocked me. I snapped my head to the window, noticing his reflection. His big, beautiful reflection. A sob left my throat as I turned around, shocked he was standing in the doorway. “I thought I’d lost you.” With my dress hiked up, I rushed toward him, barely able to catch my breath.
“You can’t get away from me that fast.” He peered down at me, shaking his head. “You are so goddamn beautiful.”
“You’re late.”
“I had to change my clothes. I couldn’t allow my new bride to see me… disheveled.”
Covered in blood. The specks on his cheek and neck told no lies.
“And?”
“It’s done.” He placed his finger against my nose. “And no, you’re not going to get any details. That’s the last thing we need.”
“Is everyone…”
He chuckled. “We lost a few men, but my brothers weathered the attack.”
“What about the girl who pretended to be me?”
“Injured, but she should be alright.”
I tentatively placed my hand on his chest as a single tear slipped down my cheek.
“Don’t cry, my angel. Everything is going to be fine.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
With a deep sigh, he lifted my chin with his finger, the piercing look in his eyes one I’d never seen before.
Full of love. “You need to listen to me, Catherine. I can’t promise our life will be perfect or without danger.
That’s not possible and you’re right, I won’t try and insult you by sugarcoating who and what I am.
I’m a monster. But I also realized something very important. I love you.”
“You do?”
“More than I can tell you.”
This time, as he took me into his arms, I felt a sense of peace. Emmeline was right. There was no perfect relationship and what we shared was dark, yet with the darkness came a sense of light that could often be blinding. Maybe that’s what true love provided.
Even for all the wrong reasons.
As his lips captured mine, I knew in my heart he was my home and I was his.
Hopefully, his soul would eventually heal.
And so would mine.