CHAPTER 52
LATER THAT DAY...
Iwant to scream, beat any fucker that crosses my path, and take Lana with me. I want a fucking explanation.
Why the hell didn’t she wait for me? She wouldn’t do something like this. She would never put herself on his father’s side. We were tricked.
When I get to the place, I stay waiting in the car. I can’t make any mistakes. If her husband is Alexei’s family, Lana is in severe danger.
People come in and out of the place, but not the newlyweds.
I was supposed to be one of them.
I was going to say, “I do.” I was going to kiss her. Take her on our honeymoon for three months. I had everything ready. No one was going to interrupt.
And everything went to hell.
I thought I was late; I thought my watch had the wrong time, but it wasn’t that. They tricked me. Us. Lana doesn’t deserve to go through this.
I jump out of the car and go to the entrance. To my surprise, no one stops me. I could ask for backup. I could take Lana by force…
“Calm down, son.”
I need you, Dad.
There are many guests—Lana could end up hurt because of my impulsiveness, and I don’t want to risk it. We can’t finish them without hurting innocents in the process. In the worst case, they might even take hostages.
I don’t mind dying if it means I get to save her, but she can’t die here. Fuck, she hasn’t lived at all. She’s been locked up in that fucking house her whole life. She deserves an easy life, not to die from a gunshot.
When I come in, someone offers me a drink.
I accept it, just to be polite. I walk through the crowd; everyone is standing, looking at something in the middle.
Everyone is standing and looking at something in the middle, except for Victoria, who is holding a glass of wine and has tears soaking her face.
Our gazes meet. Her face softens, and she looks around before mouthing, “Save her.”
I nod once. My pulse shoots.
I have to kill him today. If I could, I would run to him and shoot him in the fucking head. I’d wrap my arms around Lana, and I wouldn’t mind being heavily wounded. I’d tell her to run, to take her mother with her—anything—but she has to leave this fucking place, even if I don’t make it.
Alexei will be my second target. That son of a bitch has to pay for everything he’s done.
“Cool head.”
Shit!
My gaze turns blurry again. I fix my attention on the decorations.
Everything is fucking white; the cake is huge, and there’s a band playing.
.. Lana wanted colours. Light colours, nothing white.
She wanted a small cake, and I was in charge of the music.
I didn’t care about any of it because she didn’t know I was taking her to the airport before the reception.
She told me about her choices with the brightest eyes and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face. She was so happy with the idea of getting married to me, of forming a family, of being at ease for the first time in her life.
And they took it from her again.
I keep walking before I lose my mind, but it’s even harder to keep my head calm when I realise they’re in the middle of the dance floor.
My fiancée and her husband.
That should be me.
It was supposed to be me!
There’s no sign of discomfort on her face. Her eyes are bright, her smile is huge, and she looks so calm in his arms it breaks my heart.
When they finish, they look at each other. She gives him one of her beaming smiles and stands on her tiptoes to kiss him.
I can’t fucking breathe. My heart is breaking in a million pieces.
“Calm down, son.”
The crowd breaks into applause. Lana smiles, her cheeks reddened.
And she looks at me.
Her face drops. Her chest heaves up and down rapidly, and she grabs her husband’s jacket, tightening her grip.
Is she scared? Of me? Of the same person who has loved her since the beginning?
The bastard follows Lana’s gaze. He smiles when he catches mine, raises his chin and pulls her closer to him. I will erase that fucking smile by beating the shit out of him, even if it’s the last thing I’ll do.
I raise my glass, forcing a smile, and then I drop it. I won’t cheer for this bullshit. Whether Lana is with them or not, she’s coming with me. He’s not going to lay a finger on her.
I leave before anyone else sees or recognises me. I don’t need to be in a room full of people who hate me.
I get back into my car and drive away. Lana is safe inside, as long as I’m not seen. Whether she’s with them or not, that doesn’t give her immunity.
I desperately want to go back and give in to my impulses, but I already lost someone because of it, and I will not repeat that mistake.
Once I have her with me, I will never take my eyes off her. No one will take her from me, even if I have to kidnap her to keep her safe.
Willingly or not, she’s coming with me.