Page 67

CHAPTER 66

MIKHAIL

Song- Sleeptoken Eulicid

It’s time to leave the broken version of me behind.

My wife deserves better.

My family deserve more.

Ana has given me the strength to not need to hide. Everything I need is right in this room.

The people who love me for who I am, scars included.

My past and my future combined.

I don’t need this mask anymore. That part of my life is over.

Even though the nerves pit in my stomach, I remember the day I revealed my true self to Ana. She didn’t flinch or run away. She accepted me, every single broken inch of me.

And I know my family will do that too.

Jax squeezes her shoulder as he returns to Sofia and his kids. I promptly return my focus to my stunning wife.

The dress, a masterpiece of form-fitting fabric, showcases her curves and her little bump, sending my heart racing. Elegant yet sexy. Her curls fall around her face, and those lips. Deep red, my favorite.

The scent of the dark roses fills the air as I take them from her, pulling her into my embrace.

“You look breathtaking, iskorka. Absolutely perfect in every way.”

She blushes as I press a soft kiss to her cheek.

“You look so handsome in that black suit, Miki.”

With a playful wink, and a final glance, I pull away.

I nod to Nikolai and hold out the bouquet. With a grunt, he rises, takes them from me, and gives them to Galena, whose face breaks into a broad smile as he sits back down. I know that is the best place for her now. Nikolai and Mila will make sure she is safe and loved and she has Elena to keep her company.

Lacing my fingers through Ana’s, I feel the softness of her skin against mine as I reach up with my other hand, to grab the knot of my balaclava. Her eyes go wide, then crinkle at the corners as she smiles, her nod a silent affirmation.

“I’ve got you, Miki. It’s time.”

Taking a deep breath, I can hear the blood pounding in my ears as I untie it and tug it away from my face. I don’t know why I expect gasps in horror. But they don’t come.

Nothing. Just silence as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened.

“Everyone in this room loves you, Miki. We don’t see the scars, we just see you.”

Fuck. That hits me like a spear through the chest.

“I love you, pretty girl.” I twirl her thumb with my own, for comfort more than anything. I need her by my side.

As I bravely look to the small selection of friends and family here, my eyes lock with Lara’s glassy blue ones. She sniffles but gives me the biggest smile. I know this will mean a lot to her. She always tells me she misses seeing my face.

Nikolai gives me a nod. We may not use many words for each other, but the love is there.

Enzo, Jax, Ben, Sven and Drago are all pretty unphased. And then there’s Alexei, grinning at me with his silver tooth like a kid in a candy shop.

He gives me a thumbs up and Lara nudges his side with her elbow.

“What? He did a good job?” Alexei whines to Lara.

We would all be lost without our donkey, Alexei. I’m surprised he didn’t bring his flamingos, Sheila and Bruce and whatever the hell they called the baby one.

With a shaky exhale, I feel the chill of the air as Ana’s reassuring grip tightens on my hand.

Frankie clears his throat from the third row back and we lock eyes. A silent gesture of his approval. Me and him have been through enough over the years for him to be here. I trust him and his guys.

Revealing myself wasn’t that bad.

I finally am free from my past. Now that my father is dead and I finally have his blood on my hands.

I can move on, with my iskorka.

Till death do us part. No where to hide. No reason to run.

I get to spend the rest of my days loving the woman who danced with my demons and cut away my chains.

The minister greets us all and I hear it, but I’m too busy admiring my wife.

“Mikhail, do you have your ring?” the old man asks, looking down at my empty finger.

I shake my head.

“Miki, what?” Ana whispers.

Instead, I reach into my pocket, the familiar weight of my blade comforting, and flip it open with a satisfying click.

“Rings can be lost. I want something forever.”

I take Ana’s soft hands, feeling the warmth of her skin, and place the cool, smooth knife in them.

“Have you lost your damn mind?” She blinks rapidly at me.

I dare not look at Lara and Nikolai.

“I hate my scars. They fuel my hatred. They make me cold. Who I need to be to survive. But this scar. This one will be my reminder that not everything in this world is evil. That not every mark I have is a punishment. This one represents my devotion to you. This one I will look at on my finger every day and smile. I won’t hide it, I’ll show it off to the world because it represents that I’m yours, for life.”

Tears well in her eyes as she looks down at the blade and then into my eyes. I know she can read how serious I am about this.

“Aww, Miki. That’s so cute. What do you want me to do?”

The sweat on my palms feels clammy as I pat down my suit jacket.

“Your initial, please, baby.”

She nods, looking at my hand as I hold it out flat in front of her.

“What if I do it really shit? I’ve never done this before?”

I shrug, my fingers brushing lightly against her skin as I stroke her arm.

“I don’t care what it looks like. It’s about you marking me as yours. That’s all I want, iskorka. Claim me.”

Her hand trembles slightly, the blade glinting dangerously close to my ring finger, and then the metallic scent of blood fills the air.

She looks up at me for reassurance.

“Green, baby,” I whisper.

I don’t really feel it, it’s a clean cut. She gets it done quickly. The minister clears his throat next to us. Pulling out the bandage from my pocket, Ana helps me wrap it up, laughing to herself as she does.

“You are something else, Mr. Volkov,” she mutters.

“Well, I’m all yours, pretty girl. Even got the mark to prove it.” I wink at her, making her blush.

Damn, I can’t wait to get my hands on her later.

The rest passes in a blur. We wanted this short and simple. No long vow exchanges. That isn’t for anyone else. We have written vows to read to each other at home later.

“You may now kiss the?—”

I don’t let him finish. I grab ahold of her, my hand encircling her throat as I pour all my love into the kiss.

“I love you, wife.”

I slam one last kiss on her lips.

With a gentle swipe of her thumb, she removes the lipstick stain on my mouth, the touch lingering for a moment.

“I love you, big man. More than you could ever know.”

She places her dainty hand in mine, and I lead us out of the church. I’m lucky I didn’t go up in flames.

We all somehow survived that one. Maybe we aren’t so bad after all.

The next room is cozy, with worn couches and the faint smell of old books. Alexei has arranged an entire wedding reception in his backyard for us. We just have to wait for whatever extravagant transport to arrive.

Bursting through the door, Lara immediately engulfs Ana in a hug, murmuring a hushed reassurance in her ear before her gaze finds me, a mixture of anxiety and determination in her eyes.

“I’m proud of you, big bro. The scars are a reminder of your strength, that we are all still alive because of your sacrifice. Always remember that and how much we love you.”

I pull my sister tightly against me, the dampness of her tears a heavy weight against my chest.

She’s been through a lot, and recently, I’ve never seen her happier. Thanks to Alexei.

“No one can tear the Volkov’s apart, sis,” I whisper to her.

A blonde server, her hair catching the light, glides into the room from the left entrance, carrying a tray laden with flutes of chilled champagne. Everyone rushes over, the sound of their feet pounding on the floor mixing with the kids’ giggles as they bounce on the couches. I take a moment to wrap my arm around Ana’s shoulder.

I pick up one of the elegant glasses, then start to thank her, but the server shuffles away, pulling down her hat. She glances up long enough for me to lock eyes for a split second. I come face to face with a ghost, a woman who’s a master of disguise.

Tatiana.

Spinning around to get Enzo’s attention, but when I turn back she’s vanished.

“Miki, what the hell?” Ana looks up, confusion on her features.

I kiss the side of her head.

“Nothing to worry about.”

I hope.

If she wanted us dead, we would be. She’s after something else. Or someone else. Enzo will figure it out. My father’s warning rings in my ears. If that old bastard feared her, I should too.