Page 96 of Obsession of the Bratva

Ava quickly pulled my veil over my head and handed me the flowers Ilana had brought inside.

“I’ll see you out there,” she said, turning around and stepping out of the bridal room.

My heart squeezed. It was happening. The room suddenly felt quieter, and I looked at my reflection again. Not because I needed reassurance, but because I wanted to remember this moment. The moment before everything changed. The moment before forever began.

My forever.

I breathed in a deep sigh and finally stepped outside. The wedding march was already playing, and everyone was seated. Ava was walking with Viktor, who was one of Nico’s groomsmen as well. The ceremony took place overlooking the water, and the afternoon sun painted everything gold.

White flowers lined the aisle as soft music drifted through the air. The ocean stretched endlessly behind the altar. It was beautiful. Guests stood as the music changed, everyone waiting for me to walk ahead. Until now, I had thought I would feel my father’s absence on the aisle, and it would hurt me, but I had been wrong.

It didn’t hurt. Because even if he had been here, he would never have done this happily. He would have ruined the biggest day of my life, and I didn’t want that. I no longer belonged to his plans and expectations and control. I belonged to myself and to the future I had chosen.

I walked further ahead and everyone turned to look at me. The aisle stretched ahead, and at the far end stood Nico.

My Nico. Waiting.

The rest of the world disappeared in that moment as I walked without hesitation. His eyes never left mine. Not once. Halfway down the aisle, I noticed the others. Kliment stood proudly beside his brother while Fyodor looked suspiciously emotional. Jarek was pretending not to be emotional, but I knew he had a soft heart.

Misha and Elisse were smiling on my side of the aisle while Ilana and Ava openly cried. I nearly laughed, and then I reached the altar.

“Took your sweet time, didn’t you?” Nico whispered and took my hands immediately.

As if he needed confirmation I was actually there. His fingers tightened around mine. Warm. Steady. Real. The officiant began speaking, but I barely heard any of it because Nico was looking at me. Because every time I glanced up, he was already watching.

Eventually it was time for vows. Nico went first and I was surprised to see how the terrifying mafia boss who intimidated everyone somehow looked nervous. I intended to treasure that forever. He exhaled slowly and then looked directly at me.

“Vera, my love, before you, I thought survival was enough.” The crowd fell silent and I could feel everyone inching forward, waiting to hear what he had to say. “So I survived. Every single day of my life I only ever focused on surviving. But then I met you and suddenly surviving didn’t seem particularly impressive anymore.”

Several people laughed softly and Nico smiled.

“I spent a long time believing I had lost you. I spent even longer learning what life looked like without you and it turns out I hate it.”

There was laughter again, but tears gathered in my eyes.

“So I promise you this.” His voice deepened. “I will choose you every day. I will stand beside you every day. And if life ever gets difficult again, I will remind you exactly how stubborn we both are. I love you, Vera Stavros, and I will spend a lifetime loving you.”

Silence followed. Beautiful silence. Then it was my turn. I inhaled shakily and immediately forgot half my speech. Nico smirked as if he knew exactly what I was going through, and I glared at him. Eventually I gathered myself.

“When I met you, I thought you were someone else.”

This was immediately followed by laughter, and Nico looked offended.

“You were wearing sunglasses indoors.”

“It was sunny,” he countered.

“It was an animal shelter.”

“It had windows.”

I laughed despite myself and then looked back at him. The humor faded, but our love remained.

“You changed my life. You taught me what safety feels like. You taught me what love feels like. And even when everything fell apart, part of me still knew where home was because for me home had always been you. So yes, it is true our first meeting was a traditional meet-cute in the movie language and our love story has sizzled and burnt and turned off and burnt up again, but through all of it, I just know one thing. I love you, Nico Romanov, and I will love you for the rest of my life.”

The words settled between us. Simple and true.

The officiant spoke again. Something about rings. Something about marriage. But I barely heard it. Nico slid a ring onto my finger and my hands shook as I slid a ring on his. I was smiling so hard my face hurt and then came the final words. The only ones that mattered. The only ones I had been waiting to hear.