Nik waited for the agreement. That was all he needed. Then he'd take out Igroek, leaving Chan for Pavel.
"Is that everything? Money, power, revenge?" Igroek shook his bald head. "I used to think so. Now, I want more. I want more for my granddaughter. No, Chan, she'll marry Kaerta's heir, that's decided."
Nik let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"That's a mistake, old man." Chan didn't take the rejection well, approaching Igroek. "I was being polite. I don't need your permission to take what I want."
A flash of movement and Chan was thrown against the wall, Igroek's hands around his neck. The bodyguards pulled guns. "You underestimate me, Chan."
He wasn't the only one. Nik stared. Fuck, the old man was fast.
"You do need my permission. You now need my permission to breathe." Chan's face was red. "So, here's how today will go. The Kaerta boy marries my granddaughter. There will be no drama, no reason to upset the bride, understand?"
Igroek shook Chan until he nodded.
"They marry, they give me great-grandchildren and they both live to a ripe old age. If they don't, you don't, understand?" The two were nose to nose.
Another nod.
"Good." Igroek gave Chan a tight smile as he released him, dusting off his shoulders. "You'll want to take your seat now, Chan, or you'll have to stand. The church isn't large enough to hold all those supporting this marriage."
Nik studied Igroek as Chan slinked away. He looked weak as though restraining the rival groom had taken everything in him. But he had earned Nik's respect. He was worthy of Tatyana.
"Thank you for that." Nik stepped out from the shadows.
"For what? Choosing you?" Igroek snarled. "Don't flatter yourself, boy. Chan killed his last wife. Despite what my granddaughter thinks, I'm not a demonic bastard."
Igroek had been protecting Tatyana. "She doesn't think you're a demonic bastard." She thought he was a crazy gnome.
"She does." Lines deepened on the old man's face. "And I'll prove her right if you ever hurt her. I'll kill you with a smile on my face, understand?"
"Understood." Igroek wouldn't make that threat if he didn't care. "And I'll be happy for that death because once Tatyana gets through with me..." His life wouldn't be worth shit.
"She's a hellion." Igroek grinned proudly. "Like her mother." His humor faded. "I won't lose her, too."
"I'll protect her." Silence stretched before Nik realized that wasn't what the old man feared.
"It'll take time, but once she gives her loyalty, it is for life. She'd defend her parents to the death." Igroek would do well not to insult them.
"And you. You have her loyalty."
Did he? He vowed never to do anything to lose it. Music drifted through the air. Nik's stomach fluttered. "It's time." He paused. Tatyana's grandfather was alone. No one should be alone today. "Will you walk with me to the vestibule?" They would wait for his bride there, for the blessing of the rings.
"No." Igroek looked back at the closed door, yearning on his face. "I'll stay here. She might need me."
Down or up? Tatyana stared at her tulle hazed reflection. Down was traditional and good luck. She'd look more mysterious and there'd be that big dramatic moment when her veil was lifted. Up, she flipped the veil; she'd be able to see Nikky's expression when he first spotted her. She could properly pause for full effect. She could mouth sinful thoughts to her groom while Father Kaerta droned on and on about redemption.
"I'm leaving my veil up," she announced to the room. The aunties buzzed around her.
Nikky's mom, usually the calm in the storm, was missing. There'd been some sort of boutonniere emergency. Damn men. Didn't they know the bride needed her?
"A wise choice, granddaughter." Nikky's grandfather entered the room, dressed even more dapper than usual, rings on every finger. "You look beautiful."
"You think so?" Tatyana took his hands, kissed his cheeks, then twirled for him, her dress billowing out like a bell.
"I know so, but if you wish, we could ask for a second opinion. Igroek is waiting outside."
The crazy gnome. Tatyana's smile faded. "I doubt his opinion would be favorable."
"Granddaughter."
"No." She turned to stare at herself in the mirror. She was the bride. "This is my day. I want it to be happy."
"Leave us," Nikky's grandfather barked. Everyone left without a murmur of protest. She may be the bride, but Sergei Kaerta ruled the family.
Tatyana straightened her shoulders. He didn't rule her. She would not be bossed around. "I don't want him in here. He isn't happy for Nikky and me."
"He's concerned. I would be, also." Nikky's grandfather pulled a cigar out of his jacket pocket. "His enemy arranged a wedding between the heirs."
"You didn't." When Nikky gave her the stunning pendant, she fingered the tiny egg, he mumbled some nonsense about his grandfather not wanting the engagement.
"No, I didn't." Nikky's grandfather flicked his lighter. Was smoking in the church allowed?
"But Igroek wonders why I didn't stop Nikolay. I suspected who you were, Granddaughter.
Yet I allowed the engagement to go ahead."
"You couldn't stop it." They were meant to be together, like her parents were meant to be together. A destined love. To last for all time.
Nikky's grandfather puffed on his cigar. "I know that, you know that. Igroek does not. He sees his only granddaughter being tricked into a marriage."
"And he worries about my feelings?" Tatyana laughed without humor. Never had Igroek asked her what she wanted. Never. "He doesn't care about feelings. He disowned his own daughter."
Smoke filled the small room. "He wanted the best for his daughter. He made a mistake deciphering what that best was. I almost made a similar mistake with Nikolay's father, forcing him into a role he hadn't the heart for."
Taking over the family business. "That would have been a fuck up of biblical proportions."
Tatyana opened a window.
He winced. "My wife was less restrained with her opinions." Tatyana would have liked Nikky's grandmother. "And yes, it would have
