Page 82 of Shattered Diamonds

Demetri Carbone couldn’t be further from that imagery, that unrealistic fantasy. No, Demetri’s a man I watched cut off another man’s finger for disrespecting me by admiring me. It was almost as if it was entertainment for him. When he shredded my dress to suit his liking, he got off on it. Just like when he smashed the jeweler’s face into glass. He is possessive, controlling, a boss who doesn’t let disrespect go unchecked. He is a thrilling force with an intensity I never thought I had the capacity to love, but I do.

I’m astonished at how fast he has pulled our wedding together. I’m sure he had to have help from someone, but I didn’t ask. The private lounge adjacent to Antonio’s office in club Temptations has been transformed. White flowers, Cala Lily’s I think, decorate the space. It’s hard to believe that a few months ago, I walked into this club because Ciarán wanted me to experience life outside the protective bubble I was kept in. Now, here I stand, waiting, inside the same club getting married to one of the club owner’s top men.

As I stand before him,with his piercing, distinct eyes holding me in the claws of his gaze, I profess my love and devotion to him. I dreamily regard him with stars in my eyes, promising him that my whole heart is his.

Last night changed my feelings for him, it solidified them in a way I never thought possible. I wavered from inexperience. That uncertainty I had for him and his actions was something I had never experienced in the past. A dangerous road I hadn’t traveled down before. Last night settled those uneasy feelings and doubts I had inside. Jessica was right. Demetri is mysterious. Not a quiet man, but a cunning one, taking what he wants, and what he wanted was me. He wants me. It’s a hard thought to accept. Now, he has my full heart whereas before I was too skittish to take the full plunge. There were times I thought he hated me or thought I was annoying. Other times he was domineering and protective, but the one thing he has always been is bossy. I can’t say that I don’t love it now. I just needed to get acclimated to his form of love.

I gaze up at him with devotion. He clears his throat and begins his vows. “I vow to protect you. I vow to satisfy you. I vow to take care of your needs, physically and mentally. From this day forward, you are my responsibility. I say that under oath for all to hear. You are now under my protection and the protection of the family. I, Demetri Andrey Carbone, take you, Haven Emily McKittrick, to be my wife until death parts us.”

Everyone cheers as our vows are sealed with a kiss, and Father John, the family priest, announces us as man and wife. My smile is a massive beam of happiness when we pull apart. Hugs and double cheek kisses along with congratulatory words are said. Luca makes a toast that is funny and serious before welcoming me to the family. Paisley cries while giving hers. The room is packed with so many guests. Prominent men dressed in black suits mingle and talk quietly in corners. Their plus ones—whether wife or girlfriend—chatter while drinking the finest champagne and wine. Even the new acting mayor is in attendance.

The night is filled with a peculiar, but happy, energy. I chalk it up to me only having three people here to celebrate with me. Paisley and Ciarán stick close by my side throughout the night while Cillian works the room. I didn’t expect anything more from Cillian. No matter what event it is there is always business conducted. It saddens me that Finn declined the invitation to celebrate our union. When I asked Cillian if he had extended the invitation, and he told me he declined, I just gave him a curt smile and accepted the disappointment in private. Finn has always been by my side. To know that he didn’t want to share this day with me hurts my heart. I’ve known him for so long, I consider him part of my family, so his choice not to attend stings.

I excuse myself from the conversation Paisley and I were having when Demetri calls me over to where he stands talking to Mr. Heart. He watches my every step as I walk across the room. I stop in front of him with a smile and greet Mr. Heart and Antonio. They both welcome me to the family. Then I am introduced to the godmother of the family. Her elegance is unmatched. The grace she carries herself with is unparalleled by any woman, including myself, in this room. She has a strong presence and it’s quite intimidating. She slides her hand into her husbands. He takes it with ease. She gives me a welcoming smile and compliments my dress. I thank her and tell her that her daughter has great taste. She agrees but then goes on to tell me that I made the dress, the dress didn’t make me. Demetri agrees with a salacious grin.

When Demetri excuses himself to speak to Cillian, Ciarán calls me over to the bar. Three shots are lined up waiting.

“Do a shot with Paisley and me, cuz.”

“You’re going to try and get me drunk, aren’t you?”

“One shot isn’t going to get you drunk.”

“Come on,” Paisley begs. “It’s your wedding day.”

“One shot,” I agree, holding up my finger. “You were not there the last time I drank.”

“Two, and then we will go dance since your brother and your husband are having a pow wow.” She twists her lips, watching them as if she is in deep thought. “Wait. What happened the last time you drank?” Her attention comes back to me. “Where was I?”

“Not here,” Ciarán gruffly mumbles. “It was great until it became a shit show.”

“I missed a lot, didn’t I?” I can hear the sadness in her voice.

I glance over to where Demetri stands with my brother. My sibling may have his ear, but his sight is already set on me. His promising leer is a preview of how our evening will end when we are finally alone. I lift my shot glass in the air, give him a teasing smirk, run my tongue over my bottom lip, and throw the stinging liquid to the back of my throat. I slap the empty glass down on the bar and laugh along with Ciarán when Paisley shivers.

It’s as if a rope, a fine string, a force or a silent calling has me turning back to my husband. His gaze is unmoving, still locked on me from across the room. He pulls his drink free hand from his suit pocket and lifts it, flipping it back and forth as if to study the front and back. He flexes his fingers before dropping his hand to his side. I know exactly what he is implying. The last time I drank, it was at the rave. He spanked me in the bathroom for letting myself get as drunk as I did. At the time, I was appalled at his antics, but as I stand here as his wife, I feel myself shift, arousal flushing through my core. My thighs become slick with hope. While I’m grinning at him, flirting with my new husband from across the room, I feel a tap on my shoulder. Demetri’s usually unreadable face becomes readable. He is not pleased. Before I can turn around to find out the cause, a shot hovers in front of me. I take a hold of that one as well. Demetri raises a brow in warning. I can’t help but smirk, provoking him. He takes a sip of his drink—that I have now learned is Stoli vanilla vodka—and watches me over the rim. I take it as a challenge. I lick the rim before I take a provocative sip while eyeing him back.

“Swallow the damn thing and stop making love to it,” Paisley jokes.

I chuckle inside and wink at Demetri before downing it in one go. Just as I turn to put the glass on the bar, I notice a woman walking across the room, heading in Demetri’s direction. She comes to a halt at his side. She isn’t dressed in wedding attire, but she is dressed in a business suit, so I assume she is one of Antonio’s employees. Demetri’s face turns to stone after she says something to him. She looks extremely irritated while articulating whatever it is she has to say. He barely speaks two words back to her, but when he does, it’s quick and sharp. She turns in haste and leaves. Antonio crosses the room and steps up to Demetri and Cillian. My brother now looks pissed and says something to Demetri. They exchange words and then Antonio walks in the same direction the woman exited which leads to his private office.

I can’t take my eyes off Demetri. The situation is not wedding friendly. Paisley calls my name, but I ignore her and walk straight to my husband. His mouth is a grim straight line until I’m a few feet from him, and then he smiles as if the exchange I just witnessed didn’t bother him.

“Everything okay?” I run my fingers down his arm and wrap them around his hand in a show of solidarity. What bothers him, bothers me.

“Business. Everything’s good,” he explains in a clipped tone, removing his hand from mine.

I’m taken aback by his actions but choose to ignore them because I can tell he is furious. “Didn’t look that way.”

“Haven, you know better than to question him or his business dealings,” Cillian sharply scolds his two cents. “The same rules apply here as they did back home.” He chastises me as if I’m a child.

Before I can articulate a sentence that will diplomatically tell my brother to go fuck himself, Demetri growls, “My wife. My rules. She is no longer your concern.”

“It wasn’t until just now.” My brother grinds his molars.

Demetri grabs my hand and pulls me away from Cillian, but not before shooting him a deadly look. He walks me over the unrestricted part of the balcony that overlooks the club below. It’s one big, massive space. He steps up behind me and puts both hands on the rail, caging me in. His beard-covered chin lingers next to my ear. “You thought it was funny taking that shot after I said if you did, I would spank you?”

“You never said such a thing.”

---