Page 80 of Ruthless Vows

She still hasn’t warmed up to me fully, but we’re getting there. Finally, it’s Lucia’s turn to say her vows.

“Ivan,” she starts, “you’re definitely not what I was expecting. But I think my heart connected with yours the minute I saw you. I tried so hard to ignore that connection. I tried to fight it when I really should have been embracing it, because it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You make everything in my lifeworthwhile. And you make it so incredibly easy to love you, Ivan. I’m so thankful to you for all you’ve done for me. And I promise to always be there for you, to trust you every day, to choose you every day. I know there’ll be bumps in the road ahead, but I’ll gladly go through them as long as you’re by my side. You may be a grumpy old man at times, but you’re my grumpy old man and I love you so much,” she ends sweetly.

I chuckle, despite the lump in my throat. “That was beautiful, sweetheart,” I whisper.

The priest says a couple of other things, and then we get to my favorite part.

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” he announces. “You may now kiss the bride.”

And just like that, my family grows. There’s a small ache in my chest when I think about the other member of my family that should be here today, but I know Alexei will come back eventually. And when he does I’ll make things right with him.

My lips meet Lucia’s as a note of finality rings within me. The kiss is soft but filled with all the emotion, all the love I feel for her. It’s a promise, a commitment that goes beyond words. As I pull back, our foreheads resting against each other, I feel a sense of peace wash over me. This is where I was always meant to end up.

The reception is in full swing on the second floor of my hotel. Large arched windows line one side of the room, reaching from the floor to the high, ornate ceiling. Through them, the fading light of the evening spills in, casting a warm, golden glow across the room.

The tables are draped in ivory linens, with centerpieces of white roses and greenery, echoing the flowers from the ceremony. Crystal glasses catch the light, sparkling like diamonds, and the air is filled with the soft murmur of the guests’ voices and the gentle strains of music.

Lucia only just left my side because, unlike her, I’m not a fan of constantly having to greet people and accept their insincere congratulations. I’m standing aside at the bar, taking everything in while my eyes track my bride’s movements across the room. Lucia’s changed into something more comfortable, a shorter dress that doesn’t make her look any less radiant.

All too soon, my quiet bubble is dissolved when Adrian Rossi approaches me. I already know what he wants to talk about.

“So you’re really not responsible?”

I stare at him for a couple of seconds, my gaze calculative. I still don’t like the man very much, but after Lucia and I broke up, I needed something to distract myself so I decided to look into his mother’s murder. I had my suspicions of who could be responsible and I was proven right.

“You wouldn’t be letting me marry her if you thought I was,” I state.

Adrian nods. “That’s true. She seems to trust you for some reason, and I trust her.”

“And?” I prompt.

“What?”

“An apology for your baseless accusations, Rossi,” I clarify.

He sighs dramatically. “Alright, fine. I’m sorry, Volkov. I shouldn’t have accused you without proof. In my defense, someone did point me in your direction.”

I nod in agreement. “Yes, and I know who it was.”

Adrian’s eyes widen. “What?”

“In fact, Rossi, I not only know who sent you the tip, I also found out who’s responsible for what happened to your mother.”

“Are you fucking with me?”

I shake my head. “I wouldn’t joke about something so sensitive. The person who sent you the tip is the same person responsible. He was trying to throw you off his scent by accusing me.”

His jaw clenches as he takes in that information. “Who is it?”

My gaze drifts around the ballroom, taking in the guests in attendance. He’s here, laughing and talking like he did nothing fucking wrong. There’s a code we subscribe to in the mafia. And this man has constantly flouted that code.

“You can’t do anything reckless, Rossi. This is delicate information. If you make the wrong move, you risk ruining everything and then you’ll never get your revenge.”

He swallows once before nodding. “He’s in the Bratva, isn’t he?”

“Yes,” I confirm.

“Why haven’t I been able to find him all this time?”

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