Guests shuffle into the grand entryway two dayster, theirughter and voices bouncing off the marble floors. But none of them really interest me, my eyes constantly flicking toward the stairs, waiting for Tessa to walk down.


    She’s been quiet since the day at the store, understandably shaken, and I me myself for taking that business call. If I hadn’t, no man would haveid a finger on her. It’ll never happen again as long as I live.


    Every time I close my eyes, I can’t get her expression out of my head. The way she looked while she choked the life out of him, like she wasn’t really there. I don’t even think she heard me calling her until I touched her.


    My fingers curl at my side. Whatever she’s been through, it left an impact, and I will do everything I can to give her a better life.


    More guests begin to pour in, drawing my attention, and soon, the Quinns appear at the entrance. Tynan, head of the Irish family, steps inside first with his wife, ra, on his arm.


    “Congrattions.” There’s a hint of amusement as he says that. “Can’t say I ever expected to see you tie the knot.”


    ra quickly elbows him, offering a warm smile in contrast. “What he means is, we’re truly happy for you. We can’t wait to meet her.”


    “Bolshoye spasebo, dorogaya.” Thank you very much, darling.


    Tynan’s brother Fionn and his wife, Amara, follow with their congrattions, more genuine and polite. Then their youngest sister, Eriu, steps in with her husband, Devlin.


    “A bloody congrattions, you fecker,” Devlin says with a sharp grin, pping me on the back hard enough to jar bone, while Eriuughs, clearly amused.


    And then Iseult Quinn-Marino struts in with her husband, Gio of the Messina crime family, right beside her. Her eyes lock on to mine as she strides toward me, that trademark smirk ying at her lips. I pity any man or woman who underestimates her. She’s a force, the oldest sister in the family, and one of the deadliest assassins I’ve ever encountered.


    “Well, well, well, Konstantin,” she drawls, her toneced with mockery. “Never thought I’d see the day you got married. I could’ve sworn you’d die alone. I was almost getting sad for you. Almost.”


    A grin spreads across my face as I approach, wrapping my arms around her before greeting Gio with a nod. “You tter me, dorogaya.”


    She steps closer, her smile ice cold. “I’ll offer my condolences to your wife as soon as I meet her.”


    “She’ll enjoy that.”


    “Oh, then we’ll get along so well.” Her eyes sweep the room. “Where is she, anyway? She’s like a mythical creature. One has to see her to believe she’s real.”


    Laughter ripples through the room, mine included.


    “She’s getting ready. Should be down soon. In the meantime, head outside. There’s food, drinks, and more than enough to keep you entertained. I promise she’ll make her rounds.”


    “Can’t wait.”


    Then Cillian Quinn steps through the doorway with my cousin, Dinara, on one arm and her sister, Tatiana, beside them.


    “My girls.” I pull them both into a quick embrace.


    They used to live under my roof, but everything changed when Dinara married Cillian and Tatiana decided to live on her own, which has been good for her.


    “It’s nice to see you too,” Tatiana says warmly, while Dinara fixes me with a re.


    “A phone call would’ve been nice to let your family know you were getting hitched.”


    “She’s not wrong,” Kirill chimes in from behind us. “We didn’t even know until after.”


    “It all happened fast,” I say, brushing it off. “But let’s not dwell on the past. Go and enjoy yourselves.”


    Dinara’s eyes narrow. “I know you’re just trying to get rid of us.”


    “Can you me him?” Cillian scoffs.


    “Never thought you’d ever defend him.” Fionnughs.


    “Me either.” I grin. “But I told you one day we’d be good friends, Cillian. And look at us now.”


    I p him on the back, earning a scowl.


    “Too much?” A smirk settles on my face.


    “Yeah, a little,” he mutters.


    “Alright, alright,” I chuckle. “I’ll learn to keep my excitement to myself next time.”


    “All jokes aside…” Iseult says, her smirk softening just enough to pass for sincerity. “I think I speak for all of us when I say we’re happy for you, Konstantin.”


    I incline my head. “Spasebo.” Thank you<span>.


    “But…” She tilts hers, one brow lifting. “I do wonder…”


    “Wonder what?”


    Her eyes gleam. “How much did you have to pay the poor woman to get her to say yes?”


    Before I can fire back, Fionn cuts in with a grin. “Please. He didn’t pay her. She was thrilled to marry him…right after he put a gun to her head.”


    A fewughs ripple through the group.


    “That’s not exactly what happened.”


    Cillian snickers. “Which part? The gun or the marriage?”


    “Well…” I shrug. “Let’s just say the courtship was…persuasive.”


    Tatiana shakes her head,ughing. “You’re lucky she hasn’t stabbed you in your sleep yet.”


    “There’s always tomorrow.” My mouth tips up.


    That earns another round ofughter.


    But it all fades, every sound melting into background noise as something inside me shifts. I feel her before I see her. As if some invisible thread pulls my gaze toward the stairs.


    And there she is. Standing at the top, haloed by soft, golden light, wearing a white gown of silk andce that hugs her body like it was made just for her. Those luscious waves are half-pinned, dark curls cascading down one shoulder, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe. She doesn’t look like she belongs here, yet she owns the space, casting everyone else into shadow.


    But it’s her eyes that tear me wide open, that burning gaze cutting through me like it’s carving something deep into my soul. I can feel the weight of her stare, like she’s searching for something—some hidden part of me I’ve buried. And in this instant, I feel exposed.


    For the first time since I can remember, the vulnerability I’ve spent years running from creeps in, and that’s when I remember what my father once said. That love is a weakness.


    But he was wrong. There’s power in it too.


    And in her eyes, I find that power.


    It’s then I realize something I’ll never admit: I’m not in control anymore. And it’s the most alive I’ve ever felt.


    I start toward her as she begins her descent, one step at a time. By the time she reaches me, I’m already taking her hand. She ces it in mine without hesitation, and I pull her in, not giving a single fuck who’s watching. My lips find her cheek, warm skin that smells like vani and danger.


    “I think my heart forgot how to beat,” I murmur against her skin.


    She turns her face, her smile jerking at the corner. “Might want to get that checked, husband. Doesn’t sound normal.”


    Augh rumbles out of me, unfiltered and real.


    “Nothing about this is normal.” My thumb brushes across her cheek. “But for the first time, I don’t want it to be.”


    Her eyes meet mine, holding me in ce, and the world outside of her doesn’t even exist. She’s the only thing that makes sense in this mess, the only thing worth holding on to. And somehow, for the first time in a long time, I find myself hoping.


    Not for peace, nor for power. But for a future that includes her.<hr>


    EMILIA


    The night air is cool against my skin as I sit beside Konstantin, his palm heavy and possessive on my thigh.


    He’s always touching me, no matter where we are. It’s as though he needs to make sure that I’m real. And I realize I like it. Maybe it’s that quiet protectiveness, the ownership, the im. Whatever it is, I don’t want him to stop.


    Guests dance andugh as I scan the scene from our long table beneath the stars, the estate sprawling out before us like a kingdom. A good few hundred people have gathered for the reception, enjoying the endless food and entertainment. Glittering vases with hanging Swarovski crystals adorn each table. Acrobats twirl and flip, suspended in the air like circus performers. It’s hard to believe all this is for us.


    Us.


    It seems strange to think of Konstantin and me as an us, but for all intents and purposes, that’s exactly what we are.


    A sharp pang hits my center, the betrayal crashing into me. Because that’s what this is. I’m betraying my brother by even allowing myself to think of Konstantin as anything other than the enemy.


    But what if I had it all wrong? What if he didn’t do it? What if I’ve built this entire mess on a lie?


    Does that change anything? I’m a fed, he’s a criminal. What future can we possibly have together?


    “Are you enjoying yourself?” The question cuts through my thoughts like a de.


    Startled, I turn toward him. “What? Oh…yes. Everything is beautiful.”


    His gaze sharpens, as if he can see straight through to my subconscious.


    Then, just as quickly, a tight and unreadable smile tugs at his mouth. “I’m d. I want to make you happy, Tessa. I want to give you everything you could ever want.”


    My heart twists in my chest, caught somewhere between longing and confusion. Who could possibly say no to that?


    But I know better. Nothing he offerses without a cost.


    And I don’t mean the billions he has. I mean the kind of price that can’t be measured in money. Only in the pieces of yourself you lose trying to survive someone like him.


    But I want him. My God, no matter how wrong it may be, I want Konstantin Marinov with every fiber of my being. And if there’s a way that I can keep him and save my brother at the same time, I’ll take it. Because being with him has been more than I ever thought it would be.


    My pulse skitters, and I take a long drink of ice water to cool the fire rising in my body.


    “This dress is beautiful on you.” His fingerszily roll up my thigh.


    I nce down where his touch brushes the delicatece. It fits like perfection, hugging my body in all the right ces.


    “I hope so. It cost you thirty grand.”


    He chuckles, the sound low and rough. “I’d give it all up to have you.”


    His fingers tug at my chin, gripping tight, and a jolt of heat runs through me.


    “Every penny I have,” he says, slower this time. “Just to keep you.”


    A tight knot forms in my stomach, twisting painfully.


    “Then you’d be poor,” I try to joke, but my voice is too thin. “And trust me, that’s no fun either.”


    He leans in, his forehead brushing mine, hand still wrapped around my jaw like he’s anchoring me to him. “I’d be the richest man alive with you beside me, moya lyubimoya.”


    The words don’t just knock the air from my lungs. They crack something open inside me. Because beneath all the fear and the lies, beneath the badge and betrayal, a part of me aches to believe him.


    And that part—that foolish, reckless part—might be my undoing.


    His eyes search mine as he pulls back, devouring every flicker of hesitation.


    “What does that mean, lyubimoya?”


    “My love,” he answers softly.


    My heart stammers like it doesn’t know what to do with that.


    “Does that word scare you, Tessa?” His thumb brushes over my lips, sending a current through me that makes my skin burn in its wake.


    “No,” I whisper.


    Yes.


    He may not have said he loves me, but this? This is as close as he’s evere. And the prospect of him ever loving me… I don’t know what to do with it. I don’t even know what love means, let alone from someone like him.


    “Just so you know, I don’t need expensive things to make me happy.”


    A sh of a smirk pulls at his lips, but his eyes burn with something more. “I still intend to give you the world, Mrs. Marinova. Whether you want it or not.”


    I want it. With you.


    But I don’t say that. Instead, I let the hunger in his eyes swallow me whole as he leans in and crushes his mouth to mine.


    The world falls away. The party, the people, the music…it all disappears when his lips devour me, greedy and full of promise.


    It’s not just a kiss. It’s a deration. A brand. And I let it consume me.


    When we finally break apart, I’m breathless. Drunk on him.


    “I thought you two were going to start undressing right here.” Iseult cuts through the fog like a knife.


    I turn to find her and Gio beside us, two sses of wine in her hands.


    “You have impable timing,” Konstantin mutters, his tone clipped as he keeps his arm tightly wrapped around me, like he’s daring anyone to try to take me.


    “Don’t I always?” She grins, handing me a ss. “Here. Hydration is key. You’ll need it to survive tonight.”


    Augh escapes me. “I actually don’t drink.”


    Her eyes widen. “Oh. Well, lucky me.” She raises both sses. “Double the fun.”


    My grin spreads. I like her.


    Settling into the empty seat that was upied by Aleksei earlier, she throws a leg over the other side, eyes twinkling. “So, tell me about yourself. What do you do for work?”


    Something that could get me killed if you knew the truth.


    “I’m Konstantin’s assistant. That’s how we met.”


    She lifts a brow. “Interesting…”


    “Yeah… For someone who didn’t have a lot of options, I guess I haven’t done so bad.” I swallow hard, tamping down the flood of memories threatening to surface.


    “So, life liked to knock you around a bit, huh?”


    “Sometimes.” I shrug, feeling Konstantin’s eyes on me. “I didn’te from much. A shitty mom. No real stability. I did what I had to do.”


    She leans back in her chair, eyes sharp. “And look at you now.”


    “You should see her with a gun,” Konstantin cuts in, full of pride.


    Iseult perks up, her expression lighting with interest. “Really, now? Do tell…”


    I shift in my seat, a little uneasy. “Yeah. My older brother taught me.”


    Iseult’s lips curve into a sly, dangerous smile. “Well, then I think it’s only right we test your skills with a little shooting contest.”


    My eyes widen. “Wait, what?”


    Before I can fully process, her gaze flicks to where her siblings have gathered nearby, mischief dancing on her face.


    “What’s going on?” Fionn asks, brows raised.


    “My wife just challenged Mrs. Marinova to a shooting match,” Gio pipes up, sounding far too amused.


    Fionn lets out a bark ofughter. “That sounds like my sister.”


    “Come on.” Iseult shrugs. “It’ll be fun.”


    Konstantin chuckles beside me. “I say we do it. What’s a wedding without a few bullets between friends?”


    Honestly? It does sound fun. And it’s not like this will somehow out me as a fed just because I know how to hold a gun.


    “Alright.” I get to my feet. “Let’s do it.”


    Iseult throws her hands in the air. “That’s what I’m talking about! Let’s go, people.”


    Gio’s eyes trail her body with open admiration. “You with a gun and five-inch heels? Sexiest damn thing every time.”


    She elbows him, but there’s affection in the move. “Behave.”


    He groans with a smile. “That’s how she says she loves me.”


    Iugh. “No judgment here. Whatever works.”


    They’re chaotic, a little unhinged, but honestly? Kind of adorable.


    Konstantin takes my hand and leads the group to the far edge of his estate, away from the lights, theughter, and the rest of the wedding guests. With the grass beneath our shoes, we move through the lit-up path. One of his men steps forward onmand, lining up empty ss bottles along the fence line. Eight in total—four for me, four for Iseult—set at a distance that’s clearly meant to impress.


    Iseult flips her bright red hair off her shoulders and pulls a sleek pistol from the holster strapped to her thigh, hidden beneath her long ck dress. Her grin is razor-sharp as she rolls her neck and flexes her fingers. She lives for this, doesn’t she?


    Konstantin hands me his weapon. The metal is cold and unforgiving, like the world I’ve chosen to infiltrate.


    “Four shots. Four targets. One winner.” His gaze bounces between us.


    The tension tightens around me like a noose. I’m incrediblypetitive. I don’t lose.


    Iseult stands at one end of the line, posture wless, her gun already raised and waiting. I steady myself on the other side, heels nted, grip firm.


    “Ready?” Konstantin’s voice rings out.


    We both nod.


    “Go.”


    My breath slows. I block out everything. The brightness of the lights above, everyone’s stares. Just me and the bottle.


    We fire at the same time.


    ss shatters in unison.


    She turns her head, smirking. “Nice shot.”


    “You too.”


    “I never miss,” she tosses out, like she’s trying to make me nervous, but I only admire the cockiness about her.


    “Neither do I.” My mouth curls.


    We fire again. Both bottles shatter cleanly.


    Then two more.


    Only one bottle remains for both of us.


    She turns her head, shes an arrogant smile, and fires. The bullet goes wide.


    And she misses.


    Whoops…


    I try hard to hide my grin, but fail miserably.


    “Fuck!” she hisses, the gun falling to her side.


    Now it’s my turn. I take one steady breath, center the target, squeeze the trigger, and…the ss explodes.


    A low whistle escapes Gio. “She’s gonna be pissed.”


    “She’s dangerous when she’s pissed,” someone mutters behind him.


    Iseult shakes her head, pacing once in frustration before spinning to face me. “How the hell can you shoot like that? Shit, are you a cop or something?”


    My pulse stalls for a fraction of a second, but I force augh. “I sure as hell hope not. Don’t think that’d end well for any of us.”


    She narrows her eyes at me, then snickers like it’s all just a joke. “Rematch? I think you owe me one.”


    I start to answer, but Konstantin cuts me off, a hand winding around my hips.


    “How about you let my bride rest? That’s enough for tonight. Wouldn’t want people wondering where we’ve gone.”


    He plucks the gun from my hand and slides it into his holster.


    His palm presses gently against my back as we begin the walk back to the glowing lights of the reception. I nce over my shoulder at Iseult, her eyes still sharp and calcting.


    They’re all watching me. The most dangerous people in the world.


    Sooner orter, one of them is going to figure out who I really am.


    And when they do, I won’t see the bulleting.