Page 10 of Darkest Love
“No,” she says flatly. “No. This will not stand. He doesn’t get to take you away from us.”
“Nico took you to Italy, didn’t he?”
“Yes, on our honeymoon. Not to live there. Adrien is French. He’ll want to live in Paris forever.”
“It’s not like you can’t come visit me.”
“I know. But it won’t be the same. You were kept from me for years because of our asshole uncle. I don’t want to lose you again.”
I give Sasha a quick hug so it doesn’t wrinkle the dress. “I know. But I need this. I need an adventure. I’m terrified but I’m also excited. I can handle Adrien.”
“Truly? Because you’ve never dated, Ana. Do you really think you can handle a man like him?”
“Who’s fault was it I was never allowed to date? It wasn’t my choice. I’m not afraid to speak my mind.”
“I know. But that got you into trouble with Denis. He beat you for speaking your mind. What if Adrien does the same? There’s a darkness in him that I don’t trust.”
“There’s a darkness in every mafia man, including your own husband.”
“Trust me. I know. It’s what I struggled with for a long time with Nico. I don’t want you to have to struggle like I did.”
I step away from her. “I am no longer a baby. I can handle myself. I need you to trust me.”
“It’s not you I don’t trust. And you’re already upset with him and you’re not even married yet. That’s not good, Ana.”
“It’s either marry Adrien or be stuck as a prisoner in my own home. And I’m tired of being a prisoner. So I am marrying Adrien, even if I’m not thrilled about it. So accept my choice. I’m twenty now. Not a baby.”
“Ok, ok. This is happening. I can’t stop it. Just know that you can always call me for anything. Ok? Even if you’re in Paris, I’ll hop on a plane to get to you.”
“I know. That makes me feel a bit better.”
We share a smile before heading out to where Mom, Irina, and Natalya are, seated on white couches, sipping champagne. Well, except for Natalya. She just has water.
I step onto the small platform in front of the mirror to look at myself in the dress. All my sisters and Mom ooh and awe at the dress, telling me I’m beautiful.
“It’s perfect on you,” Natalya says. “That’s your dress.”
It is my dress. The one I’m going to marry Adrien in. The man who is going to change my life, for the better… or the worse.
I don’t see Adrien in the month leading up to the wedding. Most of my time is spent working with the wedding planner to get the wedding just right. Even if my future husband isn’t ideal, I’m going to be damned if I don’t get the wedding of my dreams. It’s the only excitement I’ve had in a long time.
The month goes by too fast though and the wedding day approaches. I wonder what Adrien has been doing in this time. Nico told me he went back to Paris for business but that he’d be back in time for the wedding. Was he with other women during the month? Did he think of me at all?
Mom and my sisters help me get ready on the big day. They do my hair and makeup for me. None of my sisters got to have this moment.
Natalya had to marry Mikhail in secret without any of us there since Denis held us prisoner. I was there at Sasha’s weddingto Nico but once again, Denis kept us apart so we never had a moment like this. And poor Irina got the worst out of all of us.
She was kept in a dog kennel by the Irish mob before being forced to marry Liam. It hadn’t been him who had hurt her though. It was his boss, Jack, who had tried to hurt her but Liam saved her life. They’ve been in love ever since. So despite how horrible things started for her, they all turned out good in the end.
I just have to hope the same will happen with me and Adrien.
But the fact that I get to have a moment with all my sisters, helping me get ready for my wedding, doesn’t tell me I’ll get a happy ending with Adrien. All my sisters’ marriages started off in a bad place and turned good.
Whereas I have my family with me. I got to choose to marry Adrien. Everything is pointing in my favor. Which leads me to worry that things will only end in disaster with Adrien.
“I can’t believe this day is happening,” Mom cries, dabbing at her eyes. “My baby. Getting married.”
“I’ll be fine, Mom.” I catch Sasha’s eyes in the mirror. I know she didn’t tell our other sisters or Mom about what I told her. They don’t need to worry. Not yet anyway. Though I suspect once the wedding is over, everything will change.
