Page 2 of Bratva Prince
“Guess I’m going to Greece.”
1
Willow
The sun beat down against my blonde hair, the heat from the summer day baking me. If it were my choice, I’d be lounging on a floatie in the pool, enjoying the cool water. But Daria, my best friend since childhood, justhadto have her wedding in the middle of summer.
“I promised Daria I would meet her before the ceremony,” I said to Rolan, pulling him around the corner of the beautiful church to give him a peck on the lips in private. If only my father knew…
He grabbed my hips and jerked me closer to him, deepening the kiss. Wrapping my arms around him, I smiled a lazy, goofy smile, and sighed. “I can’t wait until we no longer have to hide our relationship.”
I’m not a typical 22-year-old. Where other girls have already shared their apartment with a man, gotten married, or pregnant, I’d barely managed to escape my father’s tight clutch over my life. I’d only had sex with one man, and that was Rolan.
Convincing my father to let me move into my own apartment while I attended university was a shock in itself. Now, I needed to tell him about my year-long relationship with Rolan, which was something I’d dreaded bringing up. Who knew what he would do once he found out. Overprotective didn’t even begin to describe my father’s behavior. Though, it wasn’t protection for me, but his business and politics.
“I’ll see you at the ceremony,” Rolan whispered, kissing my cheek before escorting me to the front of the church.
Inside, frilly bows covered the ends of every pew, and flowers filled the room in every corner. I walked past the pews to the room behind the altar, searching for Daria. I peeked into the room, watching as Daria stared at her reflection in the floor length mirror, sighing as she held out the skirt of her dress like a princess.
“Why the long face?” I asked, drawing her attention. “You’re getting married. You should be totally stoked!”
My attempt to hype her up was met with a grim expression, her lips pulled in tight. “Yeah…” she answered wistfully.
My eyebrows creased, and I stood behind her, staring at our reflections—two frowning women in the most beautifully elegant attire.
“Are you getting cold feet? Freaking out because you won’t have another first kiss or first date? Because I think a first anniversary, and the first home, first baby, are all way more exciting.”
Her eyes met mine in the reflection—a sad smile curled at her lips. She turned to face me and nodded. “Yeah, I guess it’s something like that.”
I grabbed her shoulders and stared at her dead on, holding her gaze as I said, “You’ve wanted this for years. You spent so long planning this wedding, waiting for the moment you could walk down the aisle and see your handsome groom waiting to kiss you. It’s romantic. Be excited!”
She shook her arms and waved them through the air. “I just need to shake off this mood,” she said, dancing around. Jumping up, she screamed, “I’m getting married,” and grabbed my arms as we hopped in place like two giddy schoolgirls.
“You’re getting married!”
A moment later, her mother appeared, letting her know they were about to begin the ceremony. She tilted her head in awe of her gorgeous daughter, and floated away in her maroon evening gown.
Daria glanced at me; her eyes that had previously been filled with excitement were now filled with anticipation. I gave her hand a light squeeze, ushering her forward asHere Comes the Brideplayed out from the organ.
The vows were beautiful—inspirational—making me want to believe in love stronger than I ever had before. It made me want to say to hell with my father and his overbearing nature. I want to be with Rolan, anddammit, I will be!
I glanced at Rolan, one of the groomsman across from me. He caught my gaze and gave me a discreet wink, his crooked smile melting my insides like butter. The most amazing feeling in the world was knowing you had someone to love you unconditionally, and be there to support you even when you were old and feeble.
They’d just said the first ‘I do,' and all eyes were on the beautiful bride, watching as the pastor asked her to take the groom, in sickness and in health, until death do them part.
Silence.
What’s going on, Daria? Why are you freezing up there? Feet that cold?Nearly twenty seconds had passed, which might not seem like much, but was an eternity when the bride was choking on the stage.
I watched as Daria shifted her gaze to Rolan. My eyes traveled to see his were already watching me, an uneasy look in his eyes. My head cocked to the side, my eyes bouncing back and forth between the two before I cupped my hands to my mouth, the realization smacking me in the face like I’d been thrown in the midst of a game of dodgeball. Though, I would’ve preferred being hit by the ball than this cruel realization.
Without saying a word, Rolan snatched Daria’s hand and they sped off down the aisle and out the massive front doors of the Lord’s house. How ironic.Adulterers!
But adulterer was only the beginning on the list of words I was swiftly composing in my head. How about backstabbers? Liars? Deceptive little assholes who couldn’t keep it in their pants?
Too bad I was too stunned to do anything. Hell, I stood there with my mouth open like I was catching rainwater. Everyone did. It wasn’t until the pastor spoke into the microphone that everyone was snapped out of the scandal of the century to be reminded that this was “Hischoice,” and that we should be blessed that the Lord put his foot down on this union before they were truly joined.
Lovely way to think of it, Pastor, but how about we go with the truth. My best friend was a two-bit tramp who slept with my sleazy boyfriend. And I was absolutely livid.
