Page 98 of Forgotten Vows

Emil:I’ve got four hours to spare.

Ivan:You do not.

Emil:Fuck time zones. Ok. More like one hour. I’ll be there.

“He said he’ll be here,” I reminded the group.

I scrolled on, reading more texts.

Emil:That agent is here again.

Ivan:You’re still at the airport???

Emil:No. I texted that when I was.

Ivan:Where are you now?

Those were from an hour ago.

Emil:On my way.

I sighed. He’d sent that ten minutes ago. “He’s getting back from his trip.” And bytrip, I mean a hit he’d been hired to do. “He mentioned something about an agent. Maybe someone was trailing him.”

Now that I thought about it, I recalled how he’d been so amused by an agent following him at the airport when he was supposed to fly back home with me after my break in Italy.

“Only Emil would pull a stunt like that.” Luka shook his head and glanced at the ceiling.

I had to smile, amused by my cousin’s interest in this cat-and-mouse game. I supposed it was a new thrill, a new adventure, to evade the law and tease them off their course.

I couldn’t even begin to guess what this agent could want from him. Emil was our assassin. He had killed so many people, and it was a question mark who he’d be hunted down for.

It didn’t matter, though. This was my wedding. A real one. Not a joke on a drunken night when he was goofing around to officiate my being Raisa’s husband.

“He’ll get here.” Alexsei nodded, backing him up. But when he glanced at me with a smirk and shrugged, I knew that he didn’t really believe that.

A few minutes later, Luka sighed and shook his head. “I hope he gets here. But I’m not going to wait around. I’ve got to go to the other side and get ready.” He smiled at me, looking proud and content. “Ready to walk your long-lost bride down the aisle?”

He hugged me, wishing me luck and also telling me how happy and excited he was for me. Then he was gone.

“Daddy?” Lev got my attention. “If Gabriella will cry because there are more groomsmen than the bridal ladies, could I be a groomsboy in place of Emil? And Misha can bring the rings?”

He was too sweet to offer. “No, it’s okay. I’m sure Emil will?—”

There he was, rushing into the room. He was still tugging on his tux jacket, giving us that cocky smile. “Emil will be right there,” he finished for me.

“Damn,” Alexsei said, hurrying to help him with his tie. “Down to the last minute, huh?”

Emil shrugged. “Better late than never.”

“You almost were gonna make Gabriella cry,” Misha accused.

“Nah. Gabs isn’t going to cry. Not until Raisa walks down the aisle.” He looked at me. “You ready?”

I’d been ready for the last eight years. “Are you?” I shot back, slightly annoyed that he was almost too late but glad he was here and all right. In his line of work, he always faced more risks.

“Hey, I’m here. I made it.”

I walked up close, shaking my head, before hugging him. “What took so long?”