Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 84788 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84788 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
I kicked the girls club out of my room for the five minutes before the ceremony, trying to de-frazzle myself and fix my hair. I still had it purple because, well, fuck the people who thought it would look tacky to have purple hair on your wedding day. I looked like a freaking fairy with it all straight and around my shoulders, the white, understated floral crown on top to tie it into my dress.
My makeup was barely-there and I had been convinced to go commando underneath.
No bra.
No panties.
No boundaries.
I had pestered Repo about where our consummation was to take place, but he was keeping real tight-lipped about it. I figured having easy access would make things simpler in case the place he picked ran the chance of being happened upon if we stayed too long.
There was a knock on the door and, figuring it was K to come and fetch me, I told him to come in.
I saw my mouth fall open in the mirror as I watch someone else's reflection approach me.
"Kotyonok," Ruslan said, giving me a sweet smile, his hand going to his heart.
"Rus?" I asked, standing suddenly and spinning to face him. "What are you doing here?"
"You think you'd get married and I'd miss it?"
"I haven't seen you in over a year," I said, shaking my head at seeing him in an actual suit. It was deep gray and cut perfectly over his wide, strong frame.
It was true.
The last time we had seen Ruslan was when he came to visit the compound the year before to inform us he was officially done with Miami and on his way back to the city. K had located the Russian importer and gotten in touch within a week of getting back to the city after saving me. Let's just say that Viktor met a fitting end. It was what anyone would expect from a Russian mobster: violent, brutally so.
Then he and said Russian had teamed up to get Illeana out of her arranged marriage.
Last I heard, she had refused to go back home with her brother and decided to finally live her own life in the city. K kept tabs on her. And, well, let's just say... she was the kind of personality that could give Janie, Alex, and Lo a run for their money.
But since then, Rus had been next to nothing to us. He was an occasional text on holidays. That was about it.
To see him in my suite on my wedding day, despite the invitation, was a complete shock.
"Yes, well, I had a lot of work to catch up on, Maisy. But I'd never miss this. I was there when the man thought he was coming to rescue you from me. I thought I should be here to watch your happily ever after play out. You deserve it, kotyonok, after all you have been through," he said, crossing the room and going on his knees in front of me. Reaching out, he took my hands, running his thumb over my engagement ring. "I might always regret never acting sooner, but I'm happy to see you happy."
"Stop it," I demanded, looking up at the ceiling and blinking furiously. I was not, was not going to be all sappy because it was my wedding day.
"You look like a fairy," he informed me and I felt the smile stretch wide, causing one stray tear to trail down my cheek. He released my hands to carefully brush it away. "You have someone to give you away?"
Oh, lord.
I blinked harder.
The men around me all knew I was fatherless.
And so far, not only K and Rus had offered to walk me, but so had Cash, Shooter, Renny, and, no lie, freaking Duke.
It was just... all too much.
"K," I croaked out, my voice thick with the unshed tears.
"Perfect," he said, giving me a warm smile as he took his feet. "I will see you out there, kotyonok. Best wishes."
I turned back to my mirror and touched up my cheeks and eyes then stood just as K let himself in the door to take me to the ceremony. One look at him and the tears struck again.
He fought back a smile and got all serious on me. "You're going to suck it up and blink back those tears. Then you're going to take my arm and I am going to walk you down the stairs so you don't break your neck in that skirt. Then I am going to walk you down an aisle surrounded by people who love and respect you and I am going to give you to a man who has proved time and again that he is worthy of you."
Immediately, I felt my shoulders relax. I felt my tears ease away.
Good old K.
He always knew just what to do.
"Okay. Let's get me married," I agreed, taking his arm and letting him follow through with the plan.