23. Lucia

CHAPTER 23

Lucia

A ll I wanted was a peaceful wedding day. Was that really too much to ask?

My heart is pounding in my chest as I take in the fact that most of our guests have scattered from the room, leaving only a couple of people and guards. My sister is with her husband, fear written into her face. Adrian's still here, and Sabrina. Camila and her husband as well. Basically anybody that cares about me.

Ivan covers me with his body, and I can feel the tension rolling off him in waves. The room itself is quiet; no one moves as the brothers continue to stare at each other. None of the guards approach Alexei. I think everyone's confused. He walked in here on his own with a gun.

A few seconds later, though, it becomes clear why he was confident enough to do so. A red beam of light lands on Nico's chest. And suddenly, there's several more on strategic points of the room. Snipers. My hand goes over my mouth in horror.

Oh, God.

"What are you doing, Alexei?" Ivan finally speaks.

"You know, you really should be thanking me, brother. My partner wanted me to blow up the wedding in the church, but I thought it was a bit morbid. Not to mention blasphemous."

"You don't even believe in God."

Ivan's voice has taken on that polished arrogance, his tone dismissive. I want to tell him that it'll probably make Alexei angrier if he's not taken seriously.

"The point is, I let you get married. I let you have a few moments of happiness with her. And now you're both going to die," Alexei announces.

"No!" my sister screams.

She tries to walk toward me, but Nico holds her back, his expression strained.

"Everyone but my brother and his bride, get out! Get out or this place becomes a massacre," Alexei states. "You and I know it'll happen, Ivan. This only has to be between you and me. Clear the room."

Ivan must make some sort of gesture because the guards all start to move out. It takes a bit longer for my family to leave. I step out from behind Ivan to look my sister in the eye.

"Go. I'll be fine. I promise," I assure her.

Tears brim in her eyes and I can tell she'd rather do anything but.

Ivan speaks up as well. "Ramirez, I trust you and Rossi will handle the snipers?" he says casually.

"They're not going to be able to handle shit," Alexei spits.

Nico nods in agreement and, after sharing a look with Adrian, both men leave and he takes my sister with him. Thank God.

There are only four people left in the ballroom. Alexei with his gun, me, and Ivan. And then Ruslan, who stands in the corner close to us, like an immovable statue.

Alexei's jaw ticks as he takes him in, but he must decide there's no point trying to get him to leave. His loyalty to Ivan runs deep.

My heart rate calms slightly when my husband takes my hand in his, his thumb drawing comforting circles on my skin. Alexei's eyes narrow onto the point of contact.

"Can we have a conversation like civilized people now?" Ivan asks his brother.

"I think the fuck not," he retorts, brown eyes blazing. "You're not taking me seriously, Ivan. This isn't a joke."

"Of course not. I didn't think it was a joke when you disappeared a month ago. And now you're standing in front of me, healthy and pointing a gun at my face. Nothing about this is fucking funny," Ivan grits out. "Who are you working with?"

Alexei cocks the gun in lieu of answering, growing visibly angrier.

"That's irrelevant," he says. "All you need to know is that I approached him on my own. I asked him for help to take you down, because I'm so fucking sick and tired of you walking around like you own the place."

"I do own the place. It's my house, my money," Ivan drawls. "You've done nothing but laze about your whole life, Alexei. And now, suddenly, you think you're entitled to anything more than I've provided for you most of my life. I don't know who's filling your head with such bullshit, little brother. But I'm going to need you to wake the fuck up."

Silence rings out at the end of that statement. And when Alexei falters for a half a breath, I shut my eyes in relief. Because it means he can still be reached. Ivan must know that, too. I think he's stalling for time at this point, waiting for Nico and Adrian. Because until those snipers are handled, none of us can make a move.

He seems to have had it with his brother because Alexei's eyes narrow on me next.

"Congratulations, Lucia. I'll admit, you look beautiful. Quite the blushing bride," he notes.

"Thank you, Alex . You look good, too. For a man on a stupid warpath."

He smirks. "It should have been me standing in front of you today."

"It would have never been you," I assure him.

"Whatever you say, sweetheart. At least you found someone better, richer, older," he lists. "That's a lot of fortune my brother will be leaving behind for you once he's gone. Unfortunately, you'll be leaving with him today so you won't get to enjoy it."

My blood boils at the assumption.

"Fuck you. I don't love your brother because of his money. Not everyone's like you. He's a much better man than you can ever hope to be."

"I know that," he says on a nod. "Which is why I'm going to become so much worse than him." He turns to his brother then. "You killed our mother so it's only fair I kill you, isn't it?"

My grip around Ivan's hand tightens. I silently urge him to just tell the truth.

"I didn't kill her," Ivan grits out.

"What?"

"You heard me, Alexei. She's alive and well in Russia, living her life without a care in the world about us. The same way she's always lived. Do you know who has been there for you? Me! I raised you. I made sure you were clothed and fed. I was only a kid myself and yet I did everything I could to take care of you. You standing in that position right now is a slap in the face to everything I've ever done for you."

"I understand the sacrifices you made and I'm grateful for them. But you also made me feel small at every turn. You belittled my choices. Do you even remember how I almost died when you tossed me in that stupid pit all those years ago?"

Ivan's jaw clenches. "You deserved it."

"I almost fucking died and you acted like you didn't care. You've been an unfeeling robot for most of my life, Ivan. And I'm suddenly supposed to believe you care about me? Sure, you took care of me, but only out of duty and responsibility. The truth is you're nothing but hollow inside, brother. Or at least you were until she came alone," he says, pointing the gun at me.

"Let's talk about her, shall we?" he continues. "Lucia's the first woman I fell in love with, and when you found out about our relationship you acted like it didn't matter. You brushed me off. Again. Do you have any idea how hard it is to make something of myself when you constantly look at me like I'm a failure? But I'm not going to be a failure this time. It doesn't matter if you killed our mother. What matters is the path I've chosen to take. You know very well I've come too far to stop now."

"Bullshit. If you stop now, I'll save you just like I always do."

"Enough with the savior complex. I don't need you to save me!" Alexei yells. "Now, which one of you is going to die first? It's kind of poetic, really. The bride and groom, dying on their wedding day."

"You're not going to shoot either of us, Alexei."

"Oh yeah? Try me."

As if to prove a point, he aims the gun and shoots a point at the side of my head. I gasp, moving away as it whizzes past me and embeds into the wall.

"Fucking stop!" Ivan yells, pushing me aside and covering me with his body. I'm trembling as I grip his jacket, wondering what's going to happen next. I know Ivan is banking on Nico and Adrian getting to the snipers, but what if they don't get there in time?

"Move! She dies today, Ivan."

Ivan doesn't budge.

"Fine, then you die first," Alexei says simply.

"No!" I breathe, trying to step out, but Ivan holds me back.

"Stay put, krasavitsa . He won't be able to pull the trigger," Ivan orders sharply.

"You're still not taking me seriously. There are snipers surrounding this room!"

"Are there? You talk too much, little brother," Ivan states, triumph in his voice.

I realize abruptly that all the red beams are gone. Alexei realizes it, too. He whirls around like he expects to conjure his backup out of thin air. Ivan starts to walk toward his brother, and the next few things happen so fast I can barely believe it.

He's only taken a few steps when Alexei turns around. "Stay back," he warns his brother.

Ivan doesn't listen, which prompts Alexei to pull the trigger. My entire world narrows down to only a few moments. I scream as I watch the bullet fly.

I swear Ruslan appears out of nowhere. I'd completely forgotten he was even in the room. He manages to push Ivan out of the way, and the bullet hits him instead. He falls to the ground.

Something cracks in my heart at the sight, and I run toward them. Ivan looks disoriented for only a minute before rage fills his brown eyes. I lean down to look at Ruslan, who has blood rapidly seeping from his wound.

When I inspect it, I realize the bullet is in his arm.

"Oh, thank God," I breathe, my eyes filling with tears. I hurriedly press my hands against the wound to stop the pressure. "You're the best, Hulk," I say tearily, so grateful to him for saving my husband. "The fucking best."

He grunts in reply, his face screwed up in pain. The next thing I hear is the sound of flesh hitting flesh. I look up to see Alexei falling to the ground and cradling his jaw. He drops the gun, his eyes filled with shock. Like he can't believe he actually took the shot.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Ivan roars.

He picks up the gun his brother dropped and points it at his head. The anger in his eyes sends a chill down my spine.

"I should fucking kill you for this. You might be my brother, but you've taken it too far. You actually fucking shot at me."

Alexei doesn't say a word to defend himself. He looks down, shame brewing in his expression. He looks pitiful in the moment. And despite everything, sympathy for him swirls within me.

But I don't say a word to Ivan. I don't have to. I know he's not a monster.

He lets out a growl before tossing the gun to the ground.

"If Ruslan dies, you're dead," he says harshly.

"Ruslan will be fine," I assure him. "We just need to get him to the hospital."

The room quickly starts to fill up with his guards, and my family's guards as well. I fall back on my ass when someone takes over from where I stopped, pressing a cloth to slow the blood flowing out of Ruslan's arm.

I think I'm in a daze, everything happened so fast. I snap out of it when my husband appears to pull me to my feet.

"Look at me, moya zhena ," he murmurs, placing a hand on my cheek. "You're fine. I'm fine. We're safe, my love. I promise, we're safe."

His words bind me to the present. I nod once, before exhaling.

"This has to have been simultaneously the worst and best day ever," I say, burying my face in his chest.

His arms wrap around me and I find solace in his warmth.

"I'm sorry, baby. I promise I'll make it up to you."

He really does end up making it up to me. We celebrate our honeymoon a couple of days after the wedding. Ruslan had to have surgery to remove the bullet, but we made sure he was on his way to recovery before leaving.

Ivan takes me to Italy, to a place that means everything to me. I thought it would be heartbreaking, walking the streets of Milan and imagining my parents there before me. But as I stroll along with the man of my dreams, all I feel is immense peace.

Our hotel isn't far from the beach and Ivan suggests we go and watch the sun set there. I've always loved the beach. I breathe in the ocean breeze, enjoying the chill in the air. Ivan hugs me from behind as we take in the beautiful sight.

We're both lost in thought. I imagine he's thinking about his brother, who is currently on lockdown in the villa. I don't think Ivan knows what to do with him. He tried to talk to him, but it'll take some time for the brothers to repair their relationship. Although I have no doubt that they will.

I'm grateful they still have something to repair. I look toward the horizon, trying to forget my problems in favor of this moment, here and now.

"I never want to leave," I say.

He chuckles. "We don't have to, baby. If you say we should stay, then we'll stay. But allow me to provide you a little incentive to return home," he states, dangling some keys in front of my face. "Your wedding gift. I was meant to give it to you on our wedding day, but considering all that happened, I decided to wait until later."

"What is it for? A car?" I ask, taking the bunch of keys. "I've always wanted a BMW."

"In that case, I'll buy you one as soon as we get back," Ivan replies seriously, despite that it being a joke. "That's the key to a building, moya zhena ."

"Whose building?"

"Yours, baby. I bought you a building. So you can start your own fashion magazine."

My jaw drops. I turn around in his arms to look at him. "How do you know about that?"

Starting my own company is an idea I've been toying about for a while, but I've never allowed myself to consider it for too long.

"I know you, Lucia," he says softly. "After I realized what happened in New York, I figured this would be something you wanted. The building is in Chicago and it's big enough for you to do anything you want. I have no doubt that you'll succeed."

I'm completely speechless. Every time I think I can't fall in love with him more, he does something like this that sweeps me off my feet.

"I really don't deserve you," I say through tears.

He wipes them away with his thumb, shaking his head.

"You do, baby. Every moment I get to spend with you is precious."

"Thank you so much," I say, getting on my toes to kiss him.

The kiss becomes heated as soon as my lips meet his. Every kiss leaves us wanting even more. I pull back to say the words that I fully plan on saying every day for the rest of my life.

"I love you, Ivan."

"I love you, krasavitsa ."

THE END.