Page 101 of Paved in Fire

Finn trots at her feet, and I can’t help but laugh when I see what he’s wearing. I had no idea they made tuxes for dogs, but he’s in one, and he looks downright handsome. Alina turns her head to give Dominic a smile as she walks past before turning her eyes back to mine. She’s stunning, and I can’t look away. The last six months have been the best of my life, and I know it’s only going to get better once she’s my wife. Seeing the engagement ring on her finger isn’t good enough. I want to see a wedding band. Her last name won’t be changing since we’re all going by Melnikov now, but I need the marriage certificate, the wedding vows, and the wedding bands. I want and need everything with her.

Roman and Alina stop just a few feet in front of me, and when she turns to look at her brother, the first tears start to fall. She throws her arms around him and pulls him in for a big hug. I can already hear all the bridesmaids sniffling. Roman whispers something in Alina’s ear that makes her nod her head and squeeze him harder. When he lets her go,he grabs her hand between his and with a big smile, he kisses the back of it and then places her hand in mine.

Leaning closer so only I can hear, he says, “You’re the only man I would ever trust to keep her safe, Matvey. I know you’ll love her and take care of her like she deserves.” His hand squeezes my shoulder when he says, “I’m so happy for the two of you.”

He walks back to stand beside our brothers while I tighten my grip on Alina’s hand and try not to break down in front of everyone.

“You look so beautiful,malishka,” I whisper, running my eyes over every inch of her. She’s gained back the weight she’d lost, and her skin has a healthy glow to it. She’s come so far, and I’m so damn proud of her. She still meets with Dr. Taylor every now and then, but things are getting better for her. Every day seems to bring her further and further into the light and away from the darkness she’d been forced to endure. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure she never spends a day in the dark again.

With our eyes locked on one another and her small hand in mine, we recite our vows in front of our family. When it’s time to slide the band around Alina’s finger, I feel like we’re finally where we’re supposed to be, because she was always meant to be my wife. She knew it long before I did, but we were always destined to end up right here. She’s mine, always has been and always will be.

Cupping her smiling face, I lean down and kiss my wife. She threads her fingers through my hair, pulling me closer, and when our lips touch, everything else disappears. The two years of hell, the fear and horror and heartache, the constant pain in my chest and feeling like I couldn’t breathe—all of it fades away, because the love we feel for one another won’t allow it in.

“I love you,” I whisper against her lips.

“I love you, too,” she whispers back, and then everyone is cheering and hugging us, and I don’t even mind all the physical contact. Alina makes it better. She makes everything better, so I hug my family and keep one arm firmly wrapped around my wife, knowing there’s no way in hell I will ever be parted from her again.

We hired the same photographer that Vitaly had hired for his after-wedding photos. He still looks scared of us, but he’s decided he likes the money we pay way more than he cares about his fear. My face is aching from smiling so damn much, and I can tell he’s not even close to being done. We have several group shots taken, forcing Dominic into several of them, and then he puts the two of us on the swing we have on the veranda with Luka, Maxim, and Natalya.

“Hold still, Max,” I say, laughing when he keeps trying to wiggle around. Luka sits on my other thigh while Natalya sits in her aunt’s lap, looking every bit like the well-behaved princess she is. Several of the shots are probably of me just trying to wrangle the two boys into position, but we do manage to land a few where everyone is looking at the camera and smiling.

Finn is in all the photos, looking every bit like the integral part of the family he is. He’s protective of the kids, but his eyes never stray from Alina for long. His fiercely protective nature with her mirrors my own, and it’s created an understanding between us. We’d both die to protect her, no matter what.

I reach down and pet his head, scratching behind his ears just like he likes before I grab my wife and pull her against me for our first dance. I know everyone is watching us, but I don’t give a fuck. All I can see is Alina, looking so goddamn beautiful it makes my chest ache.

“I can’t believe you’re finally my wife.”

She plays with the back of my hair while we sway gently to the music, smiling up at me. “I can’t believe you’re my husband.” She laughs and shakes her head. “I think the first time I imagined our wedding I was nine. There were a lot of white horses involved, and there may have been a castle. I was reading a lot of fairy tales at the time.”

I laugh and kiss her. “I hope you think the wait was worth it. There might not be any horses or a castle, but we do have Finn and a penthouse.”

She smiles. “Even better.” Resting her cheek against mine, she whispers, “This feels every bit like a fairy tale. One of the good ones,”she quickly adds, “not one of the many Russian ones that end with tragedy.”

“We’ve had enough of that to last a lifetime, Alina. It’s time for our happy ending, and this is only the beginning,malishka. I plan on spoiling you for the rest of your life, so prepare yourself.”

I feel her smile against my cheek before she kisses it. “I have everything I need right here.”

“Me too, baby, me too.”

We dance until Roman comes and steals her away. I rock Luka to sleep and watch as each of my brothers takes a turn. She laughs when Dominic joins in and pulls her away from Lev, spinning her around and teaching her what must be some Italian dance I’ve never seen before. I look at her smiling face, memorizing every detail and knowing I’ll do everything I can to make sure she’s always this happy. She deserves the world, and I want nothing more than to give it to her.

When I’ve waited on the sidelines long enough, I give my sleeping nephew back to Emily, kissing his small head before walking across the dance floor to reclaim my wife.

“I knew you wouldn’t be able to wait much longer,” Vitaly says with a laugh. He’s the one who’s currently dancing with Alina, so he gives her a hug and then spins her around so she lands in my arms, right where she belongs.

I look down at her smiling face and cup her cheek, running the pad of my thumb along her skin. She leans into my touch, just like she always does, and sneaks a quick kiss when my thumb grazes her bottom lip.

I recognize the look she’s giving me, and when my smile grows, she gives a soft laugh. Threading my fingers through her hair, I pull her closer so our lips are almost touching.

“Not too much longer,malishka.”

One of her fingers slips below the collar of my tux and runs along my skin while her other hand slides inside my jacket to grip my hip, reminding me that this is our wedding, and we can sneak away if we want to.

“You’re right, baby. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”

Her smile grows when I wrap an arm around her waist and lead her off the dance floor. She motions for Finn to stay where he’s at, lying on the dog bed that’s closest to where Lev is holding Natalya. Without a word, we start to walk back inside. I’m not at all surprised when Vitaly meets us with a grin on his face.

“Where are you two going?”

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