Chapter 32
Sophie
It had been, hands down, one of the best weeks of my entire life, which was odd considering I was here because I was running away from my problems, namely my dead boyfriend’s crazy ex-wife.
Yet, I felt safe, cherished, and so happy I could burst, so I wasn’t about to question it. Life was too short, and I intended to thoroughly enjoy every moment of it.
I was in the bathroom, brushing a sweep of mascara over my lashes, getting ready for Amir and Dina’s wedding when my phone began to ring. The sharp buzz echoed against the tile. I glanced at the screen, half expecting a text from Violet.
Instead, my cousin’s name lit up the display on FaceTime. I swiped to answer, angling the phone away from the sink.
“Hello, Kristoff,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips.
“Who are you getting all dolled up for?” he asked.
My cheeks heated, because truthfully, I wanted to look hot for Kian, but I didn’t want to sound like some infatuated young girl, so instead I said, “Going to a wedding.”
“New friends?”
“Yes.” Then I realized the time and I asked, “Shouldn’t you be asleep?”
He chuckled. “I’m good. I got my few hours of sleep.”
“Gosh, I’m not sure how you and Kian can operate like that.” He raised a surprised brow and I realized my mistake instantly, so I quickly asked, “Are the kids and Gemma asleep? How is Sienna?”
“Everyone’s fine and sleeping. Now, elaborate.”
I shot him a puzzling look.
“On what?” He tilted his head, shooting me a knowing look, and I let out a sigh. “Fine, fine. You said it yourself, he’s a good guy.”
“He is,” he agreed. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning exactly that,” he said. “Jonathan did a number on you, and honestly didn’t treat you right, neither the first nor second time. I want to make sure you’re not rushing into something because of that.”
I nodded somberly. “You’re right, but there’s no rushing going on here.
And I’m taking it a day at a time. Kian has been…
” I searched for the right word and failed to find it.
“I don’t know, Kristoff. I just feel good with him.
There’s no drama.” Aside from the dead man he punished, but that was beside the point.
“He’s so calm, put together, and protective.
I feel safe. Like the only girl in the world. ”
“Ahhh.”
I paused my makeup application and turned to look at his face on the screen. “What does that mean?”
“It means exactly that, and that I’m happy for you.”
“Okaaay,” I said slowly, unsure how to take it.
“Although, now it makes sense why he’s been wiring me funds back,” he stated matter-of-factly.
My brows scrunched. “What do you mean?”
“I hired him and his team to ensure your safety,” he explained. “It seems Kian’s taking your safety very personally.”
Turbulent emotions swirled in my chest. Jonathan never made me a priority, while Kian seemed to always do so.
Jonathan hated my chaos, Kian calmed it.
And unlike Jonathan, who tended to shout from the roofs when he did something for someone else, Kian was the exact opposite.
He was more of a results than words guy, and I loved that about him.
Their differences were stark, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I was blind—or simply stuck in the first crush phase—the entire time I was with Jonathan.
“Soph, are you okay?” Kristoff’s voice pulled me from my inner monologue.
“Yes, of course. I was just… flabbergasted at a revelation.”
“Well, do share it.”
I sighed. “I just realized how different Kian is from Jonathan, and I’m wondering whether I was projecting what I wanted in my relationship with him since we got back together.”
“Possibly, but dwelling on the past never does anyone any good. Focus on the future. That’s what matters.”
“You’re right,” I agreed. “You’re still keeping extra security on Sienna, right?”
His expression darkened. “Yes, but how do you know that?”
“She messaged.” I swallowed the familiar lump of guilt in my throat and looked away, staring at the imperfect lines on the marble tile. “I just wish… that I could take back time and prevent her kidnapping.”
“Sophie, look at me.” When I didn’t, he growled.
“Cuz, look at me.” I slowly turned my head, meeting his gaze.
“That’s on Jacqueline, not you. She might have used your relationship with Jonathan as an excuse to hurt our family, but it’s more than that.
She’s always been a vindictive bitch, and the fact you’re my family was probably a big factor. ”
“I just wished she’d taken me instead,” I muttered.
“The outcome would be the same, and she’s still a bad person,” he stated firmly. “That woman needs to be eliminated. Besides, Sienna survived it. Let’s focus on that.”
“She’s strong. A badass girl.”
“And she’ll probably give us all a run for our money very soon,” he retorted dryly.
“Probably.” I smiled affectionately. Maybe Sienna wasn’t my blood relative, but she was as much my family as Kristoff.
“Okay, you go get ready for your wedding and have fun. If anything happens, you call me. You need someone to kick Kian’s ass… You call me for that, too.”
I chuckled. “You got it, cuz.”
We hung up and the day was looking a lot brighter already.
We arrived at Amir and Dina’s reception giddy with excitement.
Kian opened the car door for me, and the heat of the day rushed in, carrying the hum of voices and distant music.
“Bright and early for a wedding,” I remarked as I took his hand to step out, the gravel crunching under my heels.
“Albanian weddings are something.” He straightened his cuffs, looking distinguished and very much the mobster in his dark suit, crisp white dress shirt, and dark sunglasses. “They go on and on, celebrating the couple for days.”
“Sounds… exhausting.”
I slipped my hand into his without thinking and his fingers closed around mine, warm and steady.
“We can leave whenever you’re ready.” He shot me a sideways glance. “I can’t wait to rip that dress off you.”
“Fair warning, Kian, if you do that, I expect two new dresses in return.” I feigned nonchalance while my insides buzzed with anticipation.
“I’ll buy out a store,” he growled. “In every country.”
I chuckled. “So wasteful, but that’s one way to keep the economy going.”
Dark cars lined the drive in tight rows, black and charcoal and deep blue, their mirrored sides catching flashes of movement. Men leaned against them in clusters, their open collars revealing tanned skin. Cigarette smoke curled around them, drifting low over the gravel.
Their heads were bent together, their hands gesturing vividly. Someone slapped another man’s shoulder a little too hard and laughter broke out.
“My first Albanian wedding,” I muttered, watching the scene unfold, “but it seems to start much like others I’ve attended. Men gathering outside to gossip.”
Kian huffed softly, amusement vibrating through his chest. “Give it five minutes.”
As we walked past, several eyes flicked toward us, widening in recognition as they offered a respectful nod at Kian and avoided looking my way entirely.
Some greeted him by name, their expressions shifting subtly when they noticed his grip on my hand. His thumb brushed over my knuckles, slow and deliberate, like he was reminding anyone watching that I wasn’t up for discussion.
“You’re sure I’m dressed appropriately?” I asked again, smoothing my palms over the bodice of my strapless emerald-green dress.
It dipped low enough to be daring without crossing into obnoxious, the hem brushing just below my knees when I walked.
My shoulders were bare, and the shawl draped around me was more decorative than practical, especially in this heat.
“You’re perfect,” he said as we walked, our steps falling into an easy rhythm.
The certainty in his voice made me smile.
“You really know how to make a woman feel special,” I teased, though the words couldn’t be more true.
Kian was magic for my self-esteem. Not that I’d ever been insecure, but I was human, after all.
I noticed my flaws, and I compared myself to other women.
I second-guessed myself. But when Kian looked at me, all of that fell away.
His gaze held nothing but admiration, as if I were the most beautiful and perfect woman he’d ever laid his eyes on.
Under his attention, I didn’t just feel confident. I felt radiant, like I could walk into any room and own it.
The doors loomed ahead, tall and heavy, their gold handles worn smooth by generations of palms. With every step closer, the sound inside grew louder. The stone beneath my feet vibrated with the beat of the drums, as if the building itself were alive and impatient.
Then the doors swung open.
Colors spilled out, along with music that stunned me into stillness.
Red fabric draped the walls in thick folds, gold embroidery catching the light and throwing it back in shards.
Chandeliers blazed overhead, reflecting in polished floors already scuffed by dancing shoes.
The air was heavy with roasted meat, sugar, smoke, and perfume.
Women in bright dresses moved through the space, their bracelets chiming, their laughter cutting through the noise.
And the bride and groom were in the center of it all.
Dina looked gorgeous, draped in a long dress alive with the most vibrant colors—deep jewel tones woven together and edged with gold accents that caught the light with every movement. She stood out effortlessly, radiant in a way that made the rest of the room seem muted by comparison.
When her eyes met mine, she broke into a smile and lifted her arm, waving before pointing to her wrist. A stack of golden bracelets chimed softly as they slid together, and I assumed my gift was nestled somewhere among them.
The sight eased some of the discomfort in my chest.