Page 193 of Wicked Refusal

“Absolutely not!” they reply in unison.

“Agreed,” Reese comments, walking in with a brimming jewelry case. “Think of your poor makeup artist. Do you wantto give her a stroke?”

Somehow, being ganged up by all my bridesmaids at once manages to cure me of my tears. “I take it back,” I mutter. “You guys are awful.”

“That’s why you love us.” Kallie grins.

I do. I love them so much, if I let myself think about it, I’ll start crying all over again.

“Is the groom in position?” Nik asks into her receiver. It’s the same one I’ve seen her use on all of Yulian’s Bratva operations—I’m not sure how to feel about that. Then again, thepakhan’s wedding probably requires top-notch security, too.

“Just landed,” Maksim confirms on the other end. “Had to change his shirt, though. Kirochka threw up on the other one.”

Figures.A smile bubbles up to my lips. Look at us—messy to the end.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Love isn’t clean. It isn’t the pristine white of new constructions or bleached hospital tiles. It’s a messy splash of color on a blank canvas, and no one else can decide what picture it’ll end up painting. No one but the people involved.

And this love story involves everyone here today.

I glance at my gown one more time. At a first glance, it might appear white, but the fabric shimmers with every step I take. Blush pink, pastel blue, soft lilac—a symphony of colors hidden in plain sight, almost like a rainbow.

“Look at the time!” Kallie gasps. “I’ve got to check on the cake. I’ll see you at the altar, okay?”

“I’ll help,” Reese says.

“I’ll come drop off this lovely little girl,” Ginny adds. “See you out there, Sis!”

Once everyone’s gone, Nikita bumps her shoulder with mine. “What do you say?” she smirks. “One last trip with me as your bodyguard? For old times’ sake?”

“Of course.” My smile turns bittersweet. “You’ve decided, then? You’re leaving?”

“Yup. Right after this.” She mimics tossing her receiver behind shoulder. “I only became Bratva to avenge my sister. Now that her killers are no longer around…”

“You’ll enjoy some hard-earned PTO?”

“Something like that.” Her gaze wanders around with a nostalgic air. I can’t blame her—we picked the Lozhkin mansion as our wedding venue. She must have many memories tied to it, some better than others. “Maybe I’ll try my hand at teaching. Wax on, wax off. Get some kiddos to call mesensei.”

“But you’re Russian.”

“I have a Japanese great-grandmother.” She winks at me. “I’m a woman of the world, Nurse Winters. And soon, you’ll be, too.”

I roll my eyes with fondness. Yulian has planned the most lavish honeymoon known to mankind. He wants to see everything, and he wants to do it with me.

No—withus.Our family.

“I’ll miss you,” I complain.

“Me, too.” She squeezes my shoulder. “But…”

“I know, I know. You have to find your own path.” Privately, I can’t help but agree. The Bratva life has been brutal on Nikita, especially over the last year. And with her health still compromised by her kidnapping… As her nurse, I can onlyrecommend a good, long break from anything criminal. “But you’ll visit?”

“Oh, you’re not getting rid of me that easily.” She flashes me a cheeky grin. “Kirochka’s gonna be spoiled rotten. To say nothing of Eli. I’ve already promised him a thousand ice creams when you guys return.Anda Bond marathon.”

“He’ll love that.” I let her hook her arm through mine. “Lead the way, Miss Double-Oh-Seven.”

“The eagle is leaving the nest,” she says playfully into her receiver. “I repeat, the eagle is…”