"Nikolay."
And judging from Nikky's grandfather's face, he hadn't known. Nikky had done this on his own, because it was what he wanted, not the family.
If he could do that, she could make it right with his family. Tatyana took his grandfather's ringed hand, not making eye contact with the red-faced stranger standing beside him. It was best not to look crazy people in the eyes, she knew that from experience. "Grandfather, I'd love it if you'd stand up with me." She could think of no one else, other than Nikky, she'd like by her side.
"What game are you playing, Kaerta?" Igroek demanded.
Tatyana dropped Nikky's grandfather's hand. She'd had enough from the gnome. "Look. I'm sorry to hear about your daughter, I really am, death is hard to deal with, but this is a happy day." She returned to Nikky's side, needing his reassurance. "Our wedding day. We'd appreciate your well wishes."
"You're a fraud."
What the hell? Tatyana stiffened.
Before she could respond, Nikky stepped between them. "She's a fraud. Yes, we hear you.
So tell your friends in New York City there's no need to send any more men."
Any more men? To do what? Damn it. "You killed my parents?" This crazy old man was responsible? She'd kill him. "You damn..."
Nikky held her back. "A happy day, Brat," he reminded her.
Later. She'd kill him later. She narrowed her eyes at the man. "I ought to..." Take her gun and...
"Tatyana."
"A happy day." She forced herself to calm down. "Our wedding day."
"Wait!" Igroek's voice rang with authority. "What's this about killing?"
"Someone has been trying to kill her since birth," Nikky shared.
"He doesn't need to know our business." Not until she was ready to put a bullet in him.
Then she'd tell him what she thought of him killing her parents and Ivan and... No, it was a happy day, her wedding day. Revenge could wait. She had other things to do. "We have a half-hour and I want to fix my hair."
That snagged Nikky's full attention. "A half-hour isn't enough time to do that, Brat." He curled a lock around his finger and pulled.
"You're a funny man, ass." She smiled in appreciation. She enjoyed his dry sense of humor.
"Why I'm marryingȄ"
"No one is getting married," Another declaration from this so-called guest. "I want a DNA test done first."
"I don't know who you think you are," Tatyana turned on this Igroek person, irritated and hostile. "But this doesn't concern you, so please shut the hell up."
"Language, Brat." Nik said more from habit than dismay. He smoothed back her frizzy hair.
He admired her passion. Tonight, he would coax a more pleasing passion from his wife.
"Nikky."
"There is no reason to wait," he reassured her. No longer a reason. Igroek had rejected Tatyana, eliminating any complications. The old man was an idiot. It was clear to everyone in the room the two were family. They were alike, right down to that hair trigger temper.
Nik was not an idiot. As long as Igroek denied his connection with Tatyana, he could have no say about whom she married. Nik would take advantage of this temporary reprieve to secure her. "We marry tonight." She'd be his wife. He'd deal with the consequences tomorrow.
"Not tonight, Nikolay," Grandfather advised. "You'll have a proper wedding."
"I don't need a proper wedding, Grandfather," Tatyana piped up, never shy about offering her opinion. "As they say 'Love and bread are best when they are fresh.'"
"Eggs, the proverb is love and eggs," Igroek amended. The way he stared at Tatyana, doubt etched on his face, made Nik nervous. "My daughter always got that wrong."
Tatyana frowned. "No, she had it right. My mom said bread, too."
"If you flatter the mother, you will hug the daughter," Igroek said quietly.
That wasn't a random comment. Igroek was fishing. Nik squeezed her hand, warning her to stay quiet. It was a trap.
Tatyana didn't heed the warning. "Kiss the daughter." She never followed instructions. The brat.
She turned to Nik, puckering, tilting her chin up. He sighed and obliged her with a kiss. He couldn't stay upset with her. She didn't know the game they played.
"I get my own kisses." She smiled, appearing quite pleased with herself. "I need to fix my hair before we go down to the chapel, Nikky. Time's ticking."
"Nikolay." Grandfather shook his head.
Grandfather wanted them to wait. Nik glanced at Igroek. The old man's eyes were glassy as he watched Tatyana as though she might disappear. Nik didn't want to wait. If he waited, he could lose her.
But what was best for Tatyana? She frowned, her hands running over the hideous white lace concoction, trying to smooth out the flounces. She planned to fix her hair. She asked Grandfather to stand up with her. She wanted to be a proper bride.
Nik inhaled until his lungs were full, counted to ten, then released his breath. He'd do it.
He'd give her a day to get ready, risking it all to make her happy. "Grandfather is right, Brat.
We should have a proper wedding."
Eleven
"A man who betrays family will betray anyone."ȄSergei Kaerta
"What are you thinking about for flowers?" Nikky's mom quietly asked.
She wasn't thinking about flowers at all. She was thinking about Nikky and the wedding night. Tatyana's face heated. "I was hoping you'd help me with that. Since my own momȄ"
"Your mother knew a lot about flowers?" Mrs. Kaerta's eyes glowed.
"Well, no." She had to be honest. "My dad used to say she could kill plastic plants." It was just as well. They moved too often to keep a garden.
Igroek snorted. Tatyana did not appreciate his listening in, and narrowed her eyes at him.
He narrowed his right back and her hands balled into fists. She was trying to be civil to the old geezer. The only way to do that was to ignore him, but he made it difficult.
She leaned closer to Nikky. "Your grandfather's friend is staring at me." He had watched her all
