Chapter 170 170

Chapter 170 170
I can’t look away. Like, physically. “Remind me to send her a gift basket,” I mumble, too dazed to really think. “Guys, this is… incredible.” I can feel my eyes growing teary. “Thank you so⁠—”

“Oh, nope, nope, nope!” Kallie rushes to get tissues.

“No tears!” Nik orders in a panic. “Absolutely no tears! You just had your makeup done!”

“Who’s crying away her makeup?” Ginny asks from the doorway, coming back in with a freshly changed Kira in her arms. Then she sees me. “Oh, hell no. Now’s not the time to get emotional, Sis.”

“I’m getting married!” I yell. “I’m allowed to cry!”

“Absolutely not!” they reply in unison.

“Agreed,” Reese comments, walking in with a brimming jewelry case. “Think of your poor makeup artist. Do you want to give her a stroke?”

Somehow, being ganged up by all my bridesmaids at once manages to cure me of my tears. “I take it back,” I mutter. “You guys are awful.”

“That’s why you love us.” Kallie grins.

I do. I love them so much, if I let myself think about it, I’ll start crying all over again.

“Is the groom in position?” Nik asks into her receiver. It’s the same one I’ve seen her use on all of Yulian’s Bratva operations—I’m not sure how to feel about that. Then again, the pakhan’s wedding probably requires top-notch security, too.

“Just landed,” Maksim confirms on the other end. “Had to change his shirt, though. Kirochka threw up on the other one.”

Figures. A smile bubbles up to my lips. Look at us—messy to the end.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Love isn’t clean. It isn’t the pristine white of new constructions or bleached hospital tiles. It’s a messy splash of color on a blank canvas, and no one else can decide what picture it’ll end up painting. No one but the people involved.

And this love story involves everyone here today.

I glance at my gown one more time. At a first glance, it might appear white, but the fabric shimmers with every step I take. Blush pink, pastel blue, soft lilac—a symphony of colors hidden in plain sight, almost like a rainbow.

“Look at the time!” Kallie gasps. “I’ve got to check on the cake. I’ll see you at the altar, okay?”

“I’ll help,” Reese says.

“I’ll come drop off this lovely little girl,” Ginny adds. “See you out there, Sis!”

Once everyone’s gone, Nikita bumps her shoulder with mine. “What do you say?” she smirks. “One last trip with me as your bodyguard? For old times’ sake?”

“Of course.” My smile turns bittersweet. “You’ve decided, then? You’re leaving?”

“Yup. Right after this.” She mimics tossing her receiver behind shoulder. “I only became Bratva to avenge my sister. Now that her killers are no longer around…”

“You’ll enjoy some hard-earned PTO?”

“Something like that.” Her gaze wanders around with a nostalgic air. I can’t blame her—we picked the Lozhkin mansion as our wedding venue. She must have many memories tied to it, some better than others. “Maybe I’ll try my hand at teaching. Wax on, wax off. Get some kiddos to call me sensei.”

“But you’re Russian.”

“I have a Japanese great-grandmother.” She winks at me. “I’m a woman of the world, Nurse Winters. And soon, you’ll be, too.”

I roll my eyes with fondness. Yulian has planned the most lavish honeymoon known to mankind. He wants to see everything, and he wants to do it with me.

No—with us. Our family.

“I’ll miss you,” I complain.

“Me, too.” She squeezes my shoulder. “But…”

“I know, I know. You have to find your own path.” Privately, I can’t help but agree. The Bratva life has been brutal on Nikita, especially over the last year. And with her health still compromised by her kidnapping… As her nurse, I can only recommend a good, long break from anything criminal. “But you’ll visit?”

“Oh, you’re not getting rid of me that easily.” She flashes me a cheeky grin. “Kirochka’s gonna be spoiled rotten. To say nothing of Eli. I’ve already promised him a thousand ice creams when you guys return. And a Bond marathon.”

“He’ll love that.” I let her hook her arm through mine. “Lead the way, Miss Double-Oh-Seven.”

“The eagle is leaving the nest,” she says playfully into her receiver. “I repeat, the eagle is…”

We walk the rest of the way laughing. It’s a good distraction from the wild hammering of my heart, that much is for certain.

We step out onto the grounds.

Green grass grazes my ankles as I walk. Trees line the path, their leaves dotted with yellow and red, but still holding on to the vitality of summer. Yulian worked tirelessly to restore this place inside and out, but most of his focus went to this portion of the estate, where he knew our wedding ceremony would be held.

It couldn’t be more beautiful.

“Break a leg,” Nikita encourages in my ear before letting go of my arm. “Though, you know. Not literally.”

I snort and wait for my dad to take over.

He’s not a man of many words, but he doesn’t need to speak to tell me how much this means to him. After losing each other for five years, he must have thought he might never get to see me like this. Wearing a wedding dress, getting married to the man I love.

But here we are. All thanks to Yulian.

My gaze meets his at the altar. He looks even better with his replacement shirt, all clad in midnight black. Someone might say it’s bad luck, but I say it suits him perfectly.

He’s given me so much. I fight against the tears, but it’s hopeless. He’s given me everything.

And I’ll give him everything, too.

The march starts playing. I take the first step across the aisle, on my dad’s arm, my mother’s eyes watering the whole time. Eli is bouncing excitedly next to Maksim—Yulian’s best man—who’s holding a black velvet box in his hands with our rings in it. The rest of my entourage is all up at the altar: my bridesmaids, by best friends in the world.

My family.

At the last step, Yulian offers me his hand. His comforting smell washes over me, cedarwood and amber and a thousand unbreakable promises. “Ready to do this, kotyonok?”

I fight off a smile. “I’m ready.”

I’m ready to start our life together. To finally say “yes” to you.

To be yours.

I say it, and I am.