Page 23 of His to Ruin

“Okay, but I don’t just want to shop in Paris. There are museums and galleries I’d love to see.” I don’t want my new husband thinking shopping is all I’m interested in just because I happento be good at it. “And I’d like to do a boat trip on the Seine and have a picnic in the park.”

“Well, we’ll be there for a few days, so I’m sure you can do all that.”

I can? My heart sinks. “Won’t you be coming with me?”

Piotr shakes his head. “I have business in Paris, but don’t worry, I will make some time to enjoy my new bride.”

“Oh, will you?” The nerve of this asshole. “Lucky me.”

Piotr shows no response to my irritation. As the music slows, he brings us to a stop and performs a courtly bow. The guests gathered around the dance floor break into raucous applause. If Piotr’s trying to sell the image of a golden couple, I guess they bought it. He takes my hand and leads me toward our table. We’re halfway there when we’re met by his uncle and my mother. Both are grinning broadly. I guess they’re sold on the fairytale too.

“Mamma,” I acknowledge her as she pulls me in for a hug.

“You look so good together.” There are tears in her eyes as she releases me and enfolds Piotr in an embrace I’m sure he doesn’t want. “Don’t they, Boris?”

“Yes, the perfect couple.” His accent is more heavily tinged with Russian than Piotr’s. It occurs to me I know nothing of my new husband’s background. Did he grow up here? He mostly sounds like any other New Yorker, though he throws in the occasional word from his mother tongue. “I believe you need to leave soon.”

“We do.” Piotr checks the platinum watch on his wrist as he untangles himself from my mother. “Imminently, in fact.”

Boris nods. “Then I will make the announcement.”

“What announcement?” I ask as Boris puts his arm around my mother’s waist and steers her toward the stage.

Rather than answering, Piotr shushes me. It’s so patronizing I want to punch him in the face. I don’t, of course. First, I don’t believe in violence and second, it wouldn’t make an auspicious start to our union if I got his blood on my beautiful dress.

The band abruptly stops playing as Boris grabs a microphone. He calls a waiter with a tray of drinks over to him and takes two glasses of Prosecco, handing one to my mother.

“My dear friends,” he addresses the crowd. It’s a testament to his power that everyone stops what they’re doing to focus on him. “As most of you know, I’m about to embark on a new chapter in my life, with this beautiful woman by my side.” He smiles down at my mother, who’s gazing at him as she always does, like a love-struck teenager. I don’t begrudge her the happiness she’s found with him. She adored my father, and he loved her, but he didn’t pay her the attention she deserved. Boris does, and I’m grateful to him for that. “And so I’ve decided that today, on the occasion of my nephew’s marriage, that the time has come for me to step aside. Piotr, I hand all of my power and responsibility to you.” He raises his glass. “Za bratva.”

I only know a handful of Russian words, but I’m guessing that was some sort of toast to their brotherhood. I glance at Piotr and find his expression steadfastly neutral as he inclines his head in acknowledgment of the great honor he’s been given. He appears entirely unfazed, but I’m stunned. My stomach churns and my head spins. I feel as if I’m going to throw up.

This is a monumental change and I’m not sure I’m ready for it. Though I knew it was only a matter of time before Piotr became leader of the Reznov Bratva, I didn’t think it would happen so soon. I hoped we’d find our feet as a married couple first. But Piotr is now king, and I guess that makes me his queen. Fuck! I am not ready for this.

As people flock to us to congratulate Piotr on his elevation and ingratiate themselves with the new Pakhan, I spot Alessia sitting alone at a table at the back of the room. She’s staring into space, running a finger around the rim of her glass. Even from here, I can sense her unhappiness.

“Please excuse me,” I tell Piotr. “I need a quick word with my cousin.”

“Very well, but make it quick. We leave in five minutes.”

“Of course.”

Nodding in response to remarks from the wedding guests about how wonderful it is that Piotr’s taking over for his uncle and how excited I must be, I make my way through the crowd to Alessia. She looks utterly miserable, but when she sees me, she sits up straighter and smiles.

“Well, Mrs. Pakhan.” She grins broadly. “Aren’t you going up in the world?”

“I guess.” I take the seat next to her. “You seem upset. Did one of my brothers do something?”

I didn’t see any of them speaking to her, but it’s a fair bet one of the assholes is behind her low mood.

Alessia sighs heavily, which I take as confirmation. “It’s nothing, Liv. I don’t want to spoil your day.”

“It’ll be spoiled if I spend it worrying about you.”

“Really, it’s nothing.”

“Okay, then I’ll ask Antonio if he knows who upset you.”

As I rise from my seat, Alessia grabs my arm and pulls me back down.

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