Chapter 36
Katerina
The guards seated on either side of me ignore the glares I’m shooting at them.
But then it dawns on me who’s actually to blame, and I redirect my fury to my infuriating husband standing by his brothers at the altar.
He meets my gaze and smirks. Of course he finds this situation humorous, he’s the one that orchestrated it.
Instead of sitting next to Margot and his parents at Roman and Cecilia’s vow renewal, Dominic has me seated a row behind them flanked by Syndicate guards. And all because I had a few choice words for him this morning.
I tried to holster a gun and knife under my dress, but Dominic scoffed.
When he insisted I leave them behind, I may have threatened to sneak them in and use them on him during the wedding.
Not my finest moment. He dramatically declared me a threat that needed constant supervision. So that’s how I ended up here.
The ceremony passes in a blur. The emotional vows made me uncomfortable. Promises of forever love and lots of babies had my skin crawling. But there was also a pit in my stomach. Would I still find it so troubling if Dominic wanted it with me?
I love my life here. I like the rhythm we’ve gotten into, but there’s still so much in our way.
We fight constantly, even if it’s lighthearted, and that can’t be good for a relationship.
He doesn’t trust me. I’m the enemy’s daughter, so I get it.
But I doubt I could ever earn that trust. I don’t even know if I could trust him.
Despite proving to me countless times that he’s nothing like Viktor, how can I be sure?
Moves like today, not letting me bring weapons, are point enough.
Roman and Cecilia look at each other so adoringly, and I realize how different this is from my wedding.
Mine was cold and formal, nothing like this.
I wonder if we had it now, now that Dominic and I know each other, how different it would be.
Our vows would have small jabs at each other, and we’d be smirking the whole time.
He’d probably bring up in his toast the time I stabbed him.
I’d bring up the time he vomited after a run.
My eyes wander to my husband’s, and I find his already on me with a faraway look. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I wonder how close it is to what’s in my head. I keep my attention on him until the ceremony ends, and the happy couple retreats down the aisle.
Margot turns to me as people pour out of their seats and looks worriedly at the guards flanking me.
“What’s with the security?” She lowers her voice. “Is there a threat here?”
I almost laugh at the absurdity of her statement, but then I realize the fear in her eyes and the tremble in her voice are real. She’s actually worried. It’s so unlike her normal gregarious demeanor, that it stuns me.
“No, not at all. This is just Dominic messing with me for pushing his buttons earlier. There’s nothing to worry about.” I gently hold her hand, trying to assure her.
She relaxes then laughs.
“What’d you do to him? I know the rest of the family thinks you’re all innocent, but I know a fighter when I see one.
You drive him crazy, don’t you?” Her eyes shine with pride as she says it.
I nod slowly, not wanting to get myself in trouble.
“I did the same with Matty when he first took me. I think it’s what made him fall in love with me.
Men like them need someone to keep them in line! ”
I follow her gaze to our husbands heading towards us.
Both have their gazes set on their wives as they march through the crowd.
Matthias looks dotingly upon his, whereas my husband looks calculated and cunning.
Something tells me Margot’s little fights with Matthias weren’t quite as… bloody as ours.
Matthias grabs Margot and pulls her into his side. He places a kiss on her head and wraps an arm around her. She giggles which brings a soft smile to his face. I don’t catch what she whispers in his ear, because, suddenly, there are hands on my waist pulling me back.
I stomp on my assailant’s foot then pull my elbow into their stomach. I reel back, ready for more of a fight, when a husky voice fills my ears.
“Tiger, as much as I’d love to pin you down and prove how much stronger I am than you, now’s not the time.”
I take a step back until my back is flushed against his chest. I can feel his exhale.
Then his hands trail closer together until they’re intertwined on my abs.
My breath gets caught in my throat. We haven’t been this close since family dinner on Sunday.
I’m so caught up in the feeling of him that I don’t register the church emptying until I hear a snicker.
Margot and Matthias are watching us. Margot looks at me knowingly, but Matthias stares at his brother like a puzzle he’s trying to solve. Margot wiggles her brows suggestively, and my cheeks flush. I step forward, breaking our contact.
“Shouldn’t we go to the reception now?” My voice is higher than normal as I try to collect myself.
Dominic nods and leads me out of the church with his palm on the small of my back. I try not to overthink the gesture. He’s just treating his wife as a husband should in public. This doesn’t mean he wants to touch me.
We drive to the reception with Margot and Matthias. I’m thankful for the company keeping us distracted. Margot dominates the conversation, but I don’t mind. Her voice becomes background noise to my thoughts.
When we arrive at the reception, Dominic walks around the car and opens my door for me without being prompted. I grin at him, pleased that I’ve trained him well.
“Looks like I can teach an old dog new tricks,” I whisper gleefully in his ear.
“I don’t know if I should be more offended by being called old or being compared to a dog?” he rumbles back. I just smirk and elbow him teasingly.
The reception goes smoothly for a few hours. I notice the Montclair brothers and the Syndicate guards checking the entrances occasionally. I realize Margot might’ve had reason to suspect the guards were here for our safety.
“Hey bellissima, can I get you a drink?” I turn to see a guy close to my age standing behind me. I look around, surprised to see he’s talking to me.
“Oh, no thank you.” I decline in a sweet voice.
“What’s your name?” he relents. He seems like a nice guy, but unfortunately for him, my husband isn’t one.
“I’m Katerina Montclair, Roman’s sister-in-law.” I offer him my hand to shake, obviously displaying my wedding band. Dominic needs to get me a loud engagement ring to avoid these situations.
“I’m Mateo, Cecilia’s cousin on her mother’s side. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He steps back, a clear sign that he’s no longer hitting on me. I release my breath and smile at him. “It’s such a nice event. The Montclair family seems so kind.”
The Montclairs being described as kind instead of ruthless makes my lips twitch. I fight to contain my laugh. This poor man has no idea what his cousin married into.
“I’m blessed to be married into such a good family.” There’s more truth in that statement than I expected.
“They put on a great party. I mean, did you see the cake?” He points to where it stands tall next to us. He seems so excited, and I realize he must not go to many events like these often.
“It looks really good–” My words get stuck in my throat as I’m yanked back into a hard chest. I see Mateo’s eyes widening as he takes a few more steps back, and I instantly know who’s holding me.
“Mateo, meet Dominic Montclair my–”
“Her husband. If I ever find you flirting with my wife again, I won’t stop until you’re begging for death’s sweet escape.” Dominic’s voice is lethal as it slices through the air.
Mateo visibly pales, then scurries across the room.
I roll my eyes and grit my teeth as I break free from Dominic.
“How dare you treat me like property! I’m allowed to converse with other men!” I seethe at him.
“How dare me? How dare you flirt with some guy as though you aren’t my wife! Don’t make me remind you of what I’ll do to any man that tries to get your attention.” Dominic’s shaking in his fury. His ears are red, as are his cheeks.
“You don’t get to control me! I don’t listen to you. Haven’t you learned that yet?” My fury matches his own as his eyes narrow.
“What I’ve learned is that you’re a brat.
What you need to learn is that you’re mine.
My wife! And no other man gets any part of you!
” He points his finger at me accusingly when he calls me a brat, then he points it back at himself, violently jerking it towards himself every time he claims me as his.
I look around and my eyes catch on the sharp silver cake knife. I smirk as I whip my hand out to grab it. He seems to listen a lot better when I have something to fight back with. But all too quickly, my hand is grasped in his, and he uses it to pull me into him.
“Not so fast, tiger. Now isn’t an appropriate time to showcase your weaponry skill.” He chuckles darkly as he pulls me even closer.
I huff and roll my eyes. I hate that he knows me so well. I push against him, but he effortlessly pulls me right back in. I struggle against his hold trying to recall how Nik taught me to get out of this one.
“You’re going to cause a scene,” I hiss at him when I realize how we look.
He looks around, then back at me. With my heels on, we’re almost eye level. He lifts me slightly off the ground and carries me to the dance floor. I refuse to be impressed by his strength.
“What are you doing?” I mutter at him.
He ignores me and readjusts us until we look like we’re a normal, non-matricidal couple dancing. He spins me around the floor, and with each turn, the distance between us diminishes. Until we’re chest to chest. Until our lips are mere centimeters apart.
“I’m enjoying a dance with my exasperating, infuriating, captivating wife.” Even though I can feel the anger hanging in the air, there’s something else in his eyes. A different kind of heat.
Lust.
And I smile because I can use that to my advantage.
I soften my features, matching his passion.
It’s easy because I’m feeling it too. I’m just stronger at fighting it.
Glancing at his lips, then back at his eyes, I lift my chin slightly towards his mouth.
His eyes widen, then a wicked grin takes over.
His hand travels up my back pulling me in.
He tilts his head, and when our lips are a breath apart, I pull back and laugh.
It sounds almost maniacal. But I can’t help it.
This man brings me to the brink of insanity.
“Darling, I won’t be the one to crack first. You’ll have to be on your hands and knees begging for me before I give in.” I pull back as I say it and meet his steel eyes.
His hand snaps up my back and grasps the back of my neck. He uses it to pull me back into him. But instead of going for the kiss, he hovers.
“Maybe you’re right, tiger. Maybe I need to show you why you’re mine, so you stop fighting it.” His features change, and suddenly, I’m looking at man who’s at peace. And that terrifies me.
“What… what do you mean?” I ask warily. For the first time, I feel unsure. I don’t know what his next move is. He diverted from the script. He wasn’t supposed to agree with me.
“Come,” he muses then untangles himself from me. He steps back, breaking all contact except the hand gripping the back of my neck.
And then he marches me out of the ballroom. Through the hotel. To the front desk. Then up the elevator. Until we’re in front of a door to a hotel room.
He unlocks it.
Turns the handle.
Then looks at me.
“Get inside. You’re never going to question whose wife you are again.”