Page 24 of Darkest Game

“If it makes you feel any better, I was expecting things to be a lot different for my own life too.”

“Like what?” I barely know anything about the man I’m about to marry.

“I never expected to get married. I was content living my life… until Jack fucking took over.”

I squeeze his hand. “You can still protect me from him. Don’t let him hurt me tonight.”

His eyes darken as he grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. “Jack wants you. I can’t stop it.”

“Yes you can.”

“And do what? Kill him? We would both be killed then.”

“This isn’t fair,” I whisper as tears slip down my face.

“I know,” he says softly. “I know.” He re-takes my hand again and pulls me into the church.

Jack intercedes us. “I’ll walk her down the aisle. You go first.”

Liam nods and without a look at me, walks down the aisle. All our guests rise for him.

“Shall we?” Jack offers me his arm and it takes everything inside of me not to recoil from him. I place my hand in his arm.

And then we’re walking down the aisle. Liam’s face is a stoic mask. All these people at my wedding are strangers. I’ve never felt more alone in my entire life.

Jack leans in close to my ear when we reach the end of the aisle. “I’ll have fun tonight.”

I shiver.

He takes his seat beside Elaine, who glares daggers at me.

Liam offers me his hand and the next thing I know, I’m standing before him and the priest next to us begins the ceremony.

My body becomes weightless from the fear inside of me. I start to fall back when Liam tightens his hold on my hands, keeping me upright.

He won’t let me fall, whether it’s for his own benefit or mine, I’m not sure. I guess it doesn’t really matter. This marriage is happening and I cannot stop it.

“Do you, Liam O’Connor, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

Liam’s eyes flick to Jack for a second before he nods. “I do.” He can’t look at me as he says it. Is he ashamed? Does he really hate the fact that I’m Russian that much?

“And do you, Irina Petrov, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

I know Sasha or Ana would snap and say ‘no.’ They would raise hell to stop this.

But I’m not like those two. I’ve always been shy and a rule follower.

And right now, the only way I can save myself is by marrying Liam. Jack also won’t give me a choice. He’d probably grab my face and force me to say yes.

So, I force the words out of my mouth. “I do,” I whisper.

“You’ll need to speak louder,” the priest says, making me flush.

“I heard her,” Liam snaps. “She said it.”

“But I need to hear her.” The priest nods at me. “Again.”

I clear my throat. The eyes of all the people in the room are burning into me. “I do.”