Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 97448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I smirk. “I guess time will tell.”
“We’re going home.” Alexei seizes Kristina‘s arm, but she doesn’t let Konstantin go, her eyes wild and scared.
“Our home is her home now,” I say. “Since everyone is here for a wedding, let’s give them a wedding.”
Konstantin actually hugs me. The cheesy fucking asshole, I swear. I pat his back. Only for show. Nothing else.
Absolutely nothing.
I don’t even remember the last time I hugged this little shit. Probably when we were kids. He still gives clingy hugs.
He hugs like a girl. Just saying.
Once this whole thing is over, I’ll be Pakhan and I’ll go to celebrate with my woman.
No, my wife.
2
KIRILL
Attending my brother’s wedding is tedious as fuck.
It was a hassle to convince the attendees that there was a slight change of the groom. Despite my spectacularly charming delivery of the news, I’m not sure everyone believes the tale.
Igor, the Pakhan, and I have to be present during the ceremony to show that we support this union and that Igor and I are still building a partnership.
Only one thing is worth this hassle—Yulia’s contorting face. It looks as if she’s constipated at best and having a stroke at worst.
She attempted to speak to Konstantin, probably to dissuade him. I heard her saying, “You could have someone much better than that devil’s leftovers.” The devil in this equation is me, by the way.
Konstantin actually got angry at her. No. He yelled at her for the first time in…well, forever. My brother might hate his mother’s methods, but he usually tries to voice his disagreements diplomatically.
Not today. He looked that joke of a mother in the eye and pointed at the door. “Kristina is the only wife I will have. If you can’t accept that, leave!”
Of course, she didn’t. The sole purpose of her existence seems to be everything Konstantin. She’d rather be eaten by sharks than miss his wedding.
Now, I must point out that it was slightly comical to watch him get married with a bruised nose from when Alexei attempted to rearrange his features. Lucky for him, we share blood and I didn’t allow for him to be hurt more than necessary.
The other person I share blood with—not Yulia, she doesn’t count—teared up after Konstantin and Kristina were pronounced husband and wife.
Let’s say Karina was actually the most giddy about this turn of events. Probably because she got to hold on to my arm during the entire ceremony and didn’t experience any panic attacks. She seems to have forgotten her slight animosity toward me about Sasha’s departure.
Since my sister has the attention span of a goldfish, she’ll probably go back to her favorite hating game once we’re home.
Once the wedding is over, she takes off like a bullet and hugs our brother. “Congrats, Kosta!”
He ruffles her hair. “Thanks, little Kara.”
She grins and shakes Kristina’s hand. “Welcome to the family. I’ll show you all the things.”
“Thank you,” Kristina says quietly, shyly even. So many emotions from the robot in one day is starting to feel like an overdose.
“You’re like the perfect couple!” Karina holds both their hands in hers, excitement emanating off her in waves.
I stroll to her side and adjust my glasses. “Is it just me or did you not sound this happy when I announced my marriage, Kara?”
She smiles awkwardly and links her arm with mine. “Of course I was!”
“Try again without the subpar acting skills.”
“Well…I just didn’t think Kristina was for you.” She smiles at her new sister-in-law. “No offense. I do believe in you and Kosta.”
Interesting. Karina and I happen to share the same sentiment.
I look at the newlyweds, who are wearing the rings I chose—or more like, Viktor did. I told him to get Konstantin’s size, not mine, because I saw this scene long before it happened.
The only difference was that I was so close to pitying the sorry fuck for liking a robot. Turns out, she’s not a robot around him. Which is all that matters, I suppose.
“Congratulations are in order,” I say in my cool tone.
“Thank you,” Kristina says. “I owe you.”
“You sure as fuck do. I’ll hold you accountable to that.”
“Hold me accountable instead.” Konstantin interlinks his fingers with hers, but he’s not looking me in the eye.
“You’ll both be. Make her pregnant as soon as possible or else I won’t be able to defend you if Igor finds out the only reason he allowed this to happen is a sham.”
Karina squeezes my arm. “Can you stop ordering people around, especially on their wedding day?”
“I decline,” I say absentmindedly while checking my watch.
There’s a text from Maksim.
Fucking finally.
There were some complications, Boss. I’m going to need to stay in hiding for a while. I’ll speak to you when I have better capacity. I’m safe.
I know he said he’s safe, but the fact that he has to stay in hiding and isn’t returning immediately like I asked him to is derailing me from the initial plan.