Page 51 of Innocent Bratva Hostage

As he strode toward the exit, Miron exhaled a dramatic breath. “Well, that was fun.”

Rafayel gave me a look. “You really love her?”

“Love?” I filled the empty glass in front of me with whiskey and lifted it to my lips. Taking a sip of my drink, I leaned back in my seat and allowed the liquor to simmer in my stomach. “Do I need to love her?”

He narrowed his eyes on me. “You’re not getting married to her just because you view her as a possession that belongs to you, are you?”

“Is that such a bad thing?” I asked with a smirk. “Will you run after thePakhanand tell him not to allow the marriage if I admit that is the case?”

“As much as I’d hate to, I won’t allow you to mess with her. Her father worked for us for years. The least we can do is keep his daughter safe.”

“Interesting,” I drawled. “And who will you be protecting her from, me?”

“I won’t hesitate.”

A laugh ripped from my throat. I was amused at how much Rafayel had changed. I was even happier that if, for some reason, I was no longer here, there would be someone who cared enough to take care of her and protect her.

I thought of what it meant to love someone for a moment. I knew how much I wanted Giselle, how much I’d changed since I met her, and how happy she made me without even trying.

I thought of the rage I felt when she’d gotten hurt and how much I wanted to keep her safe.

Was that what love meant? Caring about someone so much that you would want to protect them, even at the cost of your own life? Wanting to make them happy and smiling at you thought of them?

If that wasn’t love, then I was satisfied with whatever it was as long as I had her.

“I don’t know if I love her or not, man,” I answered honestly. “I do know I will burn in hell before I let anyone hurt her, and when she smiles, it feels like the world stops spinning and she’s the only person in the universe. Is that enough reason for me to want to marry her?”

He nodded once, like that was enough for him. “I hope you’ll both be happy.”

“Thank you.”

Miron grinned beside me. “That’s either the dumbest thing you’ve ever said or the beginning of something legendary.”

I smiled coldly. “We’ll find out soon enough.”

Chapter 19 – Andrei

“Make sure to smile at the altar. We don’t want our guests to think I forced you into this marriage.”

Giselle whipped around, glaring at me from where she sat on the vanity table, waiting for her makeup artist. If looks could kill, I’d be long gone by now.

Her perfectly arched brow shot up, and she frowned. “Are you going to stand there and pretend you didn’t actually force me into this?”

I played ignorant as I folded my arms and stepped toward her. It was our wedding day, and I’d almost died of a cardiac arrest today—twice, actually—just thinking of how beautiful she would look in her dress.

Giselle Rae was going to be fully mine today.

She was going to be my wife, the mother of my children, and not even the heavens would ever be able to come between us. I was going to make sure of that.

“Did I?” I nodded to the sparkly diamond ring I’d given her for our engagement, which was only a week old. “You looked happy when I slid that into your finger.”

Her cheeks turned red with a blush, but she didn’t back down. “Is that what you tell yourself at night, Andrei? You tell yourself I must be happy with this marriage because I accepted the ring.”

I nodded, smiling as her frown deepened. “Yes. And guess what? I don’t just tell myself that. The thought of it helps me sleep well at night.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed. “If only everyone could be as delusional as you.”

“I’m not being delusional,solnishko. I’m laying my claim on what’s already mine.”

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