Page 114 of Cinderella and the Daddy

"Having second thoughts?" Mara asks with a knowing smile.

"Never." The answer comes without hesitation. "I just... sometimes I can't believe this is my life. That he's mine."

Through the bridal suite window, I can see guests arriving. Due to safety concerns, we’re holding the wedding at our compound. He thought I would be disappointed we weren’t getting married in a church.

I told him I would marry him in a cardboard box in a back alley.

The guest list reads like a who's who of organized crime families, legitimate business leaders, and politicians—the complex web of relationships that makes up Luka's world.

Ourworld now.

A soft knock interrupts my thoughts. "Come in," I call.

The door opens to reveal Leo in his perfectly tailored tuxedo, looking so grown up it makes my chest tight. At six years old, he's appointed himself chief guardian of both his baby sister and his mother. Officially, his mother.

"Wow, you look like a real princess."

"Thank you, handsome. You look pretty amazing yourself." I adjust his bow tie, which is slightly crooked. "Are you ready to walk me down the aisle?"

His chest puffs out with pride. "I've been practicing with Tony all week. He says I need to walk slowly and keep my shoulders back and make sure everyone knows you're my mom."

The sentiment makes my eyes threaten to water, but I blink back the tears. No crying until after the ceremony—Mara will kill me if I ruin my makeup.

"Where's Sofia?" I ask.

"Grigori has her. She's being really good, just sleeping in her fancy dress." Leo grins. "Dad is walking all around like crazy. Viktor told him to stop because he's making everyone nervous. Then Dad told him to shut up or he would shoot him.”

I wince, but it’s nothing Leo hasn’t heard before.

I can picture it perfectly—my usually composed husband-to-be reduced to anxious energy because he wants today to be perfect. The thought makes warmth spread through my chest.

"Is he okay?"

"He keeps asking if you changed your mind. Tony told him,"If you were smart, you would run away.”And then Dad got that look that means someone's in trouble, so now Tony's hiding in the kitchen."

I laugh despite my nerves. "Poor Tony. Tell Dad I'm not changing my mind, okay? I'm just getting beautiful for him."

"You're already beautiful," Leo says seriously. "But yeah, I'll tell him."

Another knock, softer this time. Mara opens the door to reveal the Russian priest who had flown in with Luka’s family.

"Mrs. Markovic? We're ready when you are."

Mrs. Markovic. In about thirty minutes, that will be legally, officially, and eternally true. Although I’ve been called his wife for the last year.

"I'm ready," I say, and mean it completely.

Our six-month-old Sofia sleeps peacefully in Grigori's arms—he volunteered for baby duty and takes the responsibility as seriously as he takes everything else. She is our honorary flower girl. Grigori was supposed to pull her in a wagon, but Sofia decided a nap sounded like more fun.

And if we’ve learned anything about our daughter, when she wants to sleep, we let it happen.

Mara smooths her dress and takes her position. Leo offers me his arm with the solemnity of someone three times his age.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

The massive doors swing open, and suddenly everyone is rising to their feet. But I barely notice them. My eyes find Luka immediately, standing at the altar in a black tuxedo that makes him look like he stepped out of a magazine. When our gazes meet, his entire face transforms with relief and joy, and something so deep I feel it in my bones.