Page 33 of Debt to the Mafia King
Lifting my hands, I pushed the veil back over her head. Her heart-shaped face was expertly done. I frowned.
She was beautiful, but she wasn’t Leah. This caked-on makeupwasn’t her, and neither were the teased and coiffed hair and perfect makeup. She didn’t even look like her anymore. She looked like how people thought I wanted her to look.
“Hi,” she said shyly.
I didn’t answer her, instead reaching up, I swiped my thumb against her lips and rubbed the too-pink lipstick off of her mouth. Smearing it. “That is not your shade,” I hissed. “Don’t wear it again.”
Her eyes widened, and for a second, there was a spark of anger in her eyes, but she blinked and it was gone again.
“Yes, Viktor.” She gave me the smallest of smiles.
“Good girl.” I smiled. She was learning and learning quickly. That was good. It would make the next twelve months easier for both of us.
Taking her hand, I turned her toward the front. “Let’s get this done,” I ordered the priest, who shuffled forward with a pained look on his face. Just another person who didn’t agree with what I was doing, one in a long line of people. And I hadn’t even told my father yet.
How that would go, I had no idea, but I didn’t fool myself. The old man would be furious. But then again, he was always furious when it came to me. As a child, I’d done everything to please him and failed every time, but I hadn’t been a child for a very long time. I no longer craved his acceptance. I was the real power in our organization, and everyone knew it.
And now that I was married, he couldn’t deny me any longer. I would be head of the Petrov family. I would finally rule.
The priest started talking, and I let my mind wander, not to the woman standing next to me, who was so nervous that I could feel her trembling, but to how I was going to tell my father.
Concentrating on anything but that until I had his blessing would be disastrous. Blessing? I stifled back a laugh. He would never bless me, but it wasn’t his blessing I needed, not really. He couldn’t go back on his word. My marriage was legit.
Control of all the family’s businesses was now legally mine. Theold man just had to step down quietly and sign the damn paperwork I had ready, and if he didn’t— Well, there were other ways of taking over.
Vows were said, crowns were put on our heads, and then I was acting on autopilot and turning Leah to me. And fuck, she looked amazing. Even with that bright pink lipstick smeared across her face, she made my balls ache.
I wanted her, and that was the problem. Because wanting something in my line of work was dangerous, and I was sure even my lust was clear on my face.
“You may now kiss the bride.” The priest's voice boomed out, and a cheer went up.
Expectantly, Leah tilted her chin up, her lips waiting for mine, and her eyes already half closed. She was so fucking perfectly demure at that moment.
I lowered my face over hers, my body aching to pull her into my arms and kiss her properly. Instead, I brushed my lips against her cheek and stepped back.
It didn’t matter how much I ached for her. I couldn’t let myself show that kind of weakness, not when I had to see my father. Not when every small thing I did would get back to him.
“Take her back to the house,” I ordered Stephen. He nodded politely. “Of course, Mr. Petrov. I will keep her safe.”
I already knew he would. He might not have any Russian ties, but Stephen was as loyal to me as any dog. I had saved him once, and he had saved me numerous times since.
“Viktor?” Leah’s voice trembled. Her bottom lip was quivering. “You’re not—”
I tore my eyes away from that bottom lip. “Go back to the house and wait for me there, Leah. I have things I need to do.”
Walking away, I ignored the gasps that went up, and I ignored the stare I knew she was leveling at my back. She was hurt, or maybe humiliated was a better word for it, because there would need to be feelings for her to be hurt, and I knew there wasn’t any of those.
On either side.And yes, maybe it was the asshole thing to do, leaving her right after our ceremony, but there were things moving in my world that were more important, and they had to come first.
Business always comes first. Striding towards my car, I took off at high speed, the gravel under my tyres scattering as I sped away.
There had always been something about speed that I enjoyed. Whether it was cars or women, it didn’t matter. I wasn’t the type of man who enjoyed the chase. I saw what I wanted, and I got it. Hard and fast.
Just like I’d taken what I wanted when I had seen Leah, I was about to take my father’s organization from him, and there wasn’t a moment to lose.
All I had to do was show him that I’d done everything he wanted me to do. I’d married. Ok, the fact I’d married someone of my choosing and not his might be a problem, but that wasn’t my problem.
The only thing he had specified was that I needed to find a wife, and that’s what I had done. My wife, instantly, my thoughts went back to the church and the way she had looked. The soft parting of her lips and her defiant eyes.
