Page 33 of Used By the Merciless Bratva
“The color was the major consideration,” I told her as I took the robe off. “Something to tell the arrogant bastard to go fuck himself.”
She laughed, helping me into the dress.
“Danil isn’t a monster, you know,” she stated, her tone turning less playful. “He’s not a man of many words, so I won’t be surprised if his silence has annoyed you. But he is one of the good ones; he’s loyal to the core. Danil will die protecting you if that’s what it takes. He’s that kind of man.”
His handsome face came to mind as I digested what my best friend just told me, but the image of him forcing me to sign the marriage papers was enough for me to shake it off.
The door opened at that moment, and Sava came in.
“It’s about time,” he announced, and Marielle nodded, picking up her purse.
“I’ll see you down there, babes,” she said, pulling me into a warm hug. “My biggest wish is for you to look back at today with not a hint of regret, babes.”
As she left the room and Sava approached, I didn’t know if I wanted her wish to become true.
***
“If you want to fake a faint and run, I have a Vespa Sprint ready, and it’s pink,” Sava revealed, making me laugh.
We were walking toward the end of the hallway, toward a door that I was sure led to the back garden.
Sava’s compliments weren’t the only basis for me to know how beautiful I looked; I saw it myself before I stepped out of the room.
I suddenly felt all eyes on me as we got to the entrance of the garden. My heart warmed as I realized Sava’s remark was to lighten the mood and calm my nerves.
My eyes skipped over the small crowd comprised of the suited men and glamorously dressed women to the man who stood at the altar.
The man who would become my husband in a matter of minutes.
Danil Yezhov.
He looked cold as always, but still appeared spotless in a black suit and white shirt, his hair slicked back perfectly.
“See ya,” Sava whispered as he stepped away from my side.
I swallowed as the soft music began to play. The short distance I had to walk to the altar didn’t seem so short. I gritted my teeth, pushing thoughts of how sweet it would have been if my dad were there to ‘give my hand.’
Let’s get this over with.
Marielle threw me a kiss as I walked down the aisle.
Coming to stand in front of an expressionless Danil, I tuned out everything the middle-aged officiant recited. Of course, I couldn’t care less. For all I knew, everyone watching us was a member of the Bratva, and they knew the circumstances leading to the marriage. There was no point in selling them a ‘happily married’ facade.
My eyes shifted from the greenery behind Danil to his face again. That was when I noticed a tiny but clear change in his expression.
His left eyebrow was raised, and the ends of his lips twitched like he was holding back from saying something. Something bad, if the intensified coldness in his blue eyes was an indication.
“Do you accept, Miss Katria Wolfe?” the officiant asked.
I looked to see the audience look on with anticipation. It hit me then that that wasn’t the first time the officiant had asked the question.
I blinked at Danil, daring him to make me speak like he made me sign the papers.
“She does,” his voice was cool as he answered for me.
The officiant’s disapproving look was met with Danil’s threatening glare; the former let out an awkward cough.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” he uttered, a forced smile on his face. “You may now kiss the bride.”
