Page 6 of The Mistake

I glared at Andrei. He came to gloat.

I noticed Peter and Victor were keepingtheir distance. Slavik was married, as was Andrei, and now me. It was only a matter of time before Ivan found a wife for the two of them. Ivan’s desire to play matchmaker was a little disconcerting.

Staring across the dance floor, I can’t help but look at my bride. Her feet peeked out from beneath her dress. Something told me she wasn’t a fan of wearing heels. She was a small person, and against Ivan, she looked even smaller. Eighteen. Fucking eighteen years old and married.

I didn’t know the kind of life she had, but from what I’d seen of her reactions to men and violence, it hadn’t been good. I didn’t know the kindness and love Rage spoke of. Most of the time, her eyes looked dead, like she wore a mask. People only wore masks when they were trying to hide or protect themselves.

Charlotte didn’t have a good life. She didn’t know kindness. She tensed at affection, shied away from it even.Something told me that if I ever learned the truth about her past, I wasn’t going to like it.

I already had a dislike of the Evil Savages MC. Her father had been a real piece of work. Turning my attention to the other sister, Cassie was sitting at the table with Adelaide and Aurora, carrying the conversation, laughing at her own jokes. I didn’t like Cassie. She was a spoiled princess. She was used to entering the room and being the center of attention. I’m surprised she had allowed Charlotte any limelight today.

“I think your wife needs rescuing,” I said, wanting Andrei away from my table. I didn’t need to talk to him.

Andrei tsked. “And here I was giving you hints and tips on how to handle your virgin bride.”

I didn’t need hints or tips. My wife was going to remain a virgin. I was a monster by nature, to those that deserved it. Charlotte would not be my true wife.

Ivan finally found the time to bring my wife to my side. “She is a true treasure,” Ivan said. “But now I must mingle. Always a pleasure.”

He left, and now I was alone with my wife. Charlotte didn’t say anything. She sat perfectly still. I had to watch her closely to see if she was till breathing. Her chest rose and fell, but not with rapid inhales. I noticed she breathed in deeply and slowly exhaled, almost like yoga breaths.

Small talk was not my forte.

Staring out across the dance floor, I watched as people mingled and danced.

Ivan took control, and forced out speeches from Rage, Cassie, Slavik, and even Andrei. There was a toast to the happy couple, and then at Ivan’s insistence, I had to dance with my wife. To deny him would show weakness.

I took her hand and felt how she shook within my grip. I ignored it and walked her out onto the dance floor. Everyone else had left the floor.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” Charlotte said, tilting her head back to look at me. “I’ve never danced before. I can stumble or something. We don’t have to do this.”

I wouldn’t allow her to stumble. Putting my hand at the base of her back, she tensed up. I’d seen the scars that decorated her back. There were quite a few, and all of them seemed to blend to create a picture of an abused woman. At her father’s hands, of that I was sure.

“I won’t allow you to fall.You need to hold onto me.”

She quickly put her hands on my shoulders. Her fingers seemed to sink into my flesh, but not to hurt me.

“I don’t want to make you look like a fool,” she said.

I tightened my grip around her waist. “You never will.”

Nothing and no one would ever make me look like a fool. I held her tightly and as the music changed, slowing down, I danced with my wife.

Charlotte’s grip kept tightening and then loosening. Her feet stumbled. I slowed down. “Put your feet on my shoes,” Isaid.

“I’m way too heavy to do that.”

“Do it.” I wasn’t going to argue on the dance floor. She would do as she was told.

She rolled her eyes, but eventually she got onto my shoes, and then I was able to walk her around the dance floor. I didn’t care what people said, or if they pointed. Her dress was long enough to hide what we were doing.

This was our wedding day.

Charlotte nibbled her lip, and each time she tried to look down, I’d scolded her and told her to keep her gaze on me.

She winced. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to doing anything like this.”

“Then don’t panic. I’ve got you and I’m not going to let you go. Just follow my rhythm. Don’t fight me.”

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