Page 95 of Deceptive Desires (The Syndicate #2)

Roman

I stand nervously at the end of the aisle. It’s ridiculous to be nervous. She’s already my wife, and this is only our vow renewal. Margot and I planned the whole thing based off what Cecilia started planning before… she left.

It’s in the garden where I proposed, and it melts my heart that she wanted it to be here. I look around, finally at peace that our family and friends get to witness our marriage, even if it’s our second one.

I look around the room and see everyone we love. Well… everyone we love and Katerina.

Dom’s wife, the Bratva princess, sits in the row behind my parents while my brothers stand beside me. Despite our insistence of treating her as family since she technically is family now, Dom has forced separation between us. We barely know his wife, and it’s his fault.

Dom obviously doesn’t trust her, evident by the Syndicate guards flanking her.

I could entertain the idea that it’s for her protection after the events of the last wedding if it weren’t for the hostile glares they shoot each other.

I wonder if Dom’s slight limp has anything to do with their animosity and the guards.

Is he trying to protect her or us from her?

Unlike Dom, the rest of the family has been nothing but kind. I, however, have trouble even looking at her. Guilt overwhelms me. Dom only entered an arranged marriage with the enemy’s young daughter to force an alliance to end a war I unjustifiably started.

If it weren’t for me, Dom wouldn’t be married to a woman he hates.

I swear he’s aged a decade since their wedding.

But as I study him, I realize he doesn’t look miserable, he looks angry…

and passionate. Under the ruthless glare, there’s almost something close to admiration in his eyes as he stares his wife down.

It takes me by surprise. I’ve never seen so much emotion on Dom’s face. Hell, I don’t remember the last time I saw any emotion from him. But now, he aims so much towards her. Granted, most of it is negative, but I still find it interesting that he cares about the woman he didn’t choose.

And the way Katerina looks at him… She looks at him like their marriage is a game she’s already won. I can tell she’s more intelligent than she lets on. I wouldn’t be surprised if she has Dom running in circles.

I just pray they don’t kill each other. Because I don’t have it in me to step up and run the Syndicate. Oh, also, I love my brother and don’t want him dead.

I glance at my brothers standing next to me, and try to see what’s going on with them. Matthias is happily married. Dom is… unhappily married. And Bash, I have no idea. He’s been distant.

Soft music starts playing, stealing my attention to the doors. They swing open, and I’m disappointed to see Margot instead of my wife standing at the entrance. She walks down, staring at her husband the entire time.

Then Cecilia’s sisters walk out. They’re smiling happily for their sister.

Then it’s Gracie, Cecilia’s maid of honor.

She’s glowing with pride. I know she’s excited with how things turned out between Cecilia and me.

I also know that Cecilia kept a lot of our issues from her, but I suspect Gracie knows more than she lets on.

She winks at me then stands next to the sisters on the other side of the aisle.

Then, my world freezes.

The breath is knocked out of my lungs worse than any punch I’ve ever experienced. Because being led down the aisle by her father, is my beautiful bride.

Looking like the goddess she is in a white billowy dress that hugs her breasts, flows over her swollen belly, then falls delicately down to the floor, she floats towards me.

When they reach me, her father kisses her cheek and with tears in his eyes, puts her hand in mine.

“Cuídala, yerno. Es lo más precioso que hay en este mundo. Pronto lo vas a entender,” he whispers to me. “Take care of her, son-in-law. She’s the most precious thing in the world. You’ll understand soon.” He nods to her protruding belly after the last part.

And I already understand. Despite my daughters not being born yet, they and their mother are the most important things in my life. My world revolves around them now. And I know I’ll feel it even more when I finally meet them.

“I will, Senor Hernando. I swear,” I tell him, my eyes also rimmed with tears.

“Call me, suegro,” he says, then takes his seat.

I lead my beautiful bride in front of the officiant. As he starts the ceremony, I don’t hear a thing. Because all I can do is stare at my glowing sunshine.

I didn’t think it was possible, but since becoming pregnant, she’s become even more gorgeous. It shouldn’t be possible. You can’t improve your perfection. But somehow, she has.

I feel an elbow in my back and turn to see Dom gesturing me to proceed.

I look at the officiant and realize it’s time for my vows.

Which I wrote.

I do a few rounds of box breathing as I take the carefully folded paper out of my tux pocket.

“Cecilia María, from the first moment I saw you, concussed and lying in my arms, I knew I wanted you. All too quickly, I fell in love with you. I mean, how could I not? You’re the sun, brightening my every day.

I would do anything for you. I know I didn’t always make the right moves, so I want to make some vows to you.

I vow to never lie to you again. You deserve only honesty, and a foundation built on lies will crumble at the slightest wind.

I vow to protect you every day. You will always be the most important part of my life. You will always be safe with me.

I vow to be the best husband to you. I’ll take care of you and provide for you. You’ll never know a day without love.

I vow to be the best father to our daughters and all the other children to come. They’re already a priority to me, and I haven’t even met them yet. I love them like I love their mother.

I vow to be the best man I can be, because you make me want to be a better man for you. Every day, I will work hard to earn you. Because you’re too good for me, but instead of letting that keep me from you, I’ll let it drive me to be better.

I love you with everything that I am. You are my heart outside my body. You will forever be mine, just as I am yours. Because, sunshine, you own me. Mind, body, and soul. It all belongs to you. I’d do anything for you, and I will do everything for you.”

I stare into her eyes as I profess my love. I almost feel bad about the pregnancy hormones causing her to sob at my words, but I know she’d be emotional even without them. She hiccups, then pulls out a sheet of paper delicately folded.

“Roman Montclair, when I first met you, you were my héroe. You saved me countless times. Even when I found out about the unconventional methods you used, the core sentiment was to help me. You’ll always be my hero.

My savior. And I know you’ll do the same for our children.

I’m honored that our daughters get to call you ‘Dad’.

I couldn’t hope for a better man to have a family with.

I vow to always hear you out. I’ll listen before coming to any conclusions. I’ll trust in you as my husband and as my héroe.

I vow to come to you when I’m in need. And to trust that you’ll take care of me, as you’ve done countless times.

I vow to raise our daughters and all to come in agreement with you. I’ll be patient and hear you out. However, they will be allowed to date before they’re thirty,” she says teasingly, bringing up a conversation we’ve had many times.

I growl in disagreement. Meanwhile, Margot and Gracie snicker behind her. The crowd cheers. But my brothers, to my surprise, make noises of disapproval, clearly as rationally protective over their nieces as I am.

“I vow to be your perfect wife. I’ll be whatever you need me to be. Your friend, your confidant, your calm, your ally, your wife… I’ll always be here to support you.

And I vow to lead you to the light. No matter what you do in the darkness, I vow to always be your sunshine. Your peace. Your happiness. I won’t let you succumb to the night, because I’ll be your sun always lifting you to the daylight.

I love you. And I will always love you. You’re my héroe. I’ll never take you for granted, nor all you do for me. I love you greatly. Please know, you’re my life. And I wouldn’t be happy without you.”

She smiles at me through her tears, and I have to swipe my palms over my eyes to see through my own. I don’t care who sees the ferocious Roman Montclair cry. I’ll do as I damn well please for my wife. And they’ll take this as a warning of how much she means to me. Of how far I’ll go to protect her.

When the officiant finally lets me kiss my bride, I don’t even wait for him to finish.

I pull her towards me and lean over her belly.

I thread my hand through her hair and kiss her fiercely.

It’s not as innocent as it should be for this setting.

But my wife just married me, so I can’t help it. She’s irresistible.

***

We’re sitting at our table at the reception. After the first dance and the father-daughter dance, my pregnant wife needed to get off her feet.

In fact, I grab her feet, take off her shoes, and start rubbing them under the table. She shouldn’t be in pain carrying our children.

“Roman,” she moans out, and I shift as my cock hardens. “That feels so good.”

I curse under my breath and continue the task at hand.

All I can see is her. My sunshine. She’s my life. We didn’t need a wedding to prove it, but she deserved one. And I know from her smile, she’s happy she got it. Pride fills my chest as I look at that brilliant smile.

“Do you think Dom and Katerina will survive each other?” Cecilia asks worriedly, nodding to a corner.

Katerina is talking to one of Cecilia’s male cousins. They’re a respectable distance apart. Nothing seems amiss. But the furious Dom striding across the room towards them doesn’t seem to agree.

Dom pulls Katerina even further away from Mateo and against his chest. Dom then says something to Mateo that has him paling and scurrying off to the other side of the room.

Katerina breaks free of Dom’s grasp, the fury on his face reflected in her own.

They get into a heated discussion, and for a second, it looks like she might stab him.

I see her eyeing the cake knife on the table next to her.

He intercepts her hand as it sneaks out to grab it and uses it to pull her into him. She huffs and rolls her eyes.

I hear Cecilia’s swift inhale, matching my own worried anticipation. I’ve never seen someone act so disrespectfully and defiantly towards Dom. I’ve seen him enact violence on his own men for much less.

I sit up in my seat, ready to intervene if needed, but Dom just grits his teeth and pulls her back into his chest. She fights him, but I suspect she could get out of his hold if she wanted.

He drags her onto the dance floor, and they fall into step easily. With every turn, the distance between them seems to diminish. Until they’re chest to chest, and their lips are mere centimeters apart.

It’s at that moment I wonder if he’s even touched his wife since they married. They seem so inexperienced with their proximity. Horror overwhelms me at the idea of staying away from my Cecilia.

Although the anger is still palpable, there’s passion in their eyes. A level of emotion I’ve never seen from Dom. If I wasn’t sitting down, I’d be on the floor from shock.

I watch as Katerina glances at his lips then back to his eyes and lifts her chin ever so slightly. His eyes widen then a wicked grin takes over as his hand trails up her back, pulling her in. He leans down to kiss her, and when their lips are a breath apart, she pulls back and cackles.

She says something to him that has his gaze hardening, and he pulls her back in. He doesn’t go for the kiss this time, but I can feel how much he wants it. How much he needs it.

Poor Dom.

Sucks for him though. Because I’m going to bed my wife tonight, and it’ll be amazing. I love her so much.

“I think they’ll be alright,” I assure Cecilia.

But in the back of my mind, I fear that someday soon, it’ll be too much. They’ll either implode or explode. I just pray the fallout is something devastatingly good. Because the alternative could be horrific. I pray Dom and Katerina don’t destroy each other.

Watching them, I realize what a formidable opponent Katerina is for him. And what a strong ally she could make.

If he plays his cards right, the Queen of the Syndicate could be something to behold.