Page 117 of Sinister Promise

"Lust may not be love, but it's something, babygirl. You have no one in your corner. No one to care for you. No one to protect you. The people who should have protected you betrayed you. Now there is no one toshelter you from all the bullshit life throws at us. Let me be that man for you."

A fresh wave of tears tracked down my face.

"Let me be the man who will burn the world to the ground to keep you safe."

I took in a deep, shuddering breath then I whispered back to him, telling him my deepest fear.

"But we don't love each other. You're only marrying me to keep me from talking to the police. What happens when you tire of me? What happens when you find someone better? Who will protect me then?"

He exhaled, pressing a slow kiss to my forehead as he pulled me close, stroking my hair. Soothing me in a way I didn't know another person could.

"Trust me. That's not the only reason and I will never tire of you."

He didn't explain further.

Instead, he kissed me again while pulling out of me, then after tucking himself away, turned to storm to the door and open it just a crack, making sure no one could see me while I got myself together again.

"Tell all the guests to leave. Family only," he barked to someone outside.

I heard a muffled, "You got it, boss."

My panic flared again as I looked down at my destroyed wedding dress.

He had cut the delicate Italian lace.

The corset bodice was sliced and the slit in the leg was ripped clear up to my hip.

"You don't have to kill me," I muttered when Pavel returned to my side.

"Alina, you are going to be my wife, I?—"

"No, that's not what I mean." I gave him what I hoped looked like a reassuring smile. "Yelena will kill me for you when she sees what we've done to her beautiful dress."

Pavel shrugged out of his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

I loved that I was now warm and surrounded by his spicy scent.

"I'll block the first bullet," he said with a grin before scooping me into his arms and carrying me down the aisle.

The church felt different now—more intimate with only family present.

Candlelight flickered off the stained-glass windows, casting colored shadows across the wooden pews. His brothers and cousins sat on either side of the aisle.

Family.

It was strange to think there was literally no one here at my wedding for me.

No one except Pavel.

I had a pang of regret that my grandmother wasn’t here.

To his credit, Pavel had asked me if I wanted her here.

I’d said no.

At the time I told him I was worried about her dementia and disrupting the routine which was so important to keeping her calm and stable.

The real truth was I didn’t want her witnessing this.

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