Chapter 5 5. Anne - Where is the groom? 4

If they’re here to take me to Dimitri, does that mean they work for the Bratva too?

I peek at them from beneath my lashes. Yuri has a five o’clock shadow now and glasses perched on his nose—it suits him. He used to be shy, blushing every time Isla spoke to him. But that boy is gone. The man standing before me looks like he spends hours at the gym, muscles straining beneath his black T-shirt. His arms and neck are covered in ink, and I can only imagine how many more tattoos lie hidden beneath the fabric.

Yuri isn’t the only one with tattoos. Ivan’s right arm is wrapped in a sleeve of tattoos, and three round silver earrings gleam from his right ear. From beneath the collar of his t-shirt, more tattoos peek out, climbing up his neck. He also sports a five o’clock shadow—thicker than Yuri’s.

Unsurprisingly, Dominick also has a beard, though his dark brown one is longer than Yuri’s or Ivan’s black beards. He has tattoos as well, though fewer than the other two.

Despite their rough exterior, all three of them are devastatingly handsome.

My heart flutters in my chest. Even if I haven’t seen them in so long, there’s still love in my heart, in my soul for them. They were my first loves, but Isla was theirs.

How pathetic can I be for falling in love with the men–boys at that time, who had eyes only for my sister.

They study me as well.

I can still remember the words Yuri said the last time he spoke to me–I will make you pay for what you did to Isla, even if it takes me a lifetime to do so.

I don’t think Yuri, Dominick, and Ivan are here to take me to Dimitri. No. They are here to fulfil their promise to me.

The time has come to pay for her death.

I should be afraid of dying, but I’m not. The only thing I do wonder is if it will hurt or if they will be quick about it. I hope the latter. But I’m sure they will make me suffer until the very end.

Dominick rises. “We have to leave.”

I stand too. “So fast?” I can’t help but ask.

His jaw clenches, but he refuses to look at me. Or even speak directly to me. He tells my father, “Our plane leaves in two hours. We have to go to the airport now.”

A frown creases my father’s brow. “The airport? I thought Dimitri was in Veross City, delayed by work. And he never called to say he wouldn’t make it here in time.”

Ivan gets to his feet and shrugs. “Something came up and Dimitri had to return to Russia earlier than planned.” He jerks his chin in my direction. “We’re to take her to Moscow, where Dimitri will be waiting for her. They will get married there.”

“That’s not what Dimitri told me,” my father protests.

Yuri stares straight at my father. “The moment you agreed that your daughter would become Dimitri’s wife, she became part of the Bratva. She’s no longer your concern. We will take her to Russia. End of discussion.”

My father’s face turns red with rage, but he says, “Very well.”

Narcissa rises just enough to hug me, whispering in my ear, “Bleed your husband dry. Make him spend every last coin on you.”

I cringe. Worse, I’m sure Dominick, Ivan, and Yuri heard her, since she didn’t bother to be discreet. They may hate me, but I don’t want them to think I care about money.

“I don’t—” I start to explain, but Ivan cuts me off.

“Let’s go,” he says, his tone cold. Impersonal.

A knot forms in my throat.

I’m about to return to Russia—a place I once loved because of the three men standing in front of me. A place I swore never to set foot in again, yet here I am, about to be dragged back.

“I’m going to grab my luggage,” I say.

“Great. More delays,” Ivan mutters as I hurry toward the staircase.

I climb the stairs quickly, not wanting to give them any more reason to despise me. I only have a backpack and a single suitcase—but it’s heavy with the weight of my books.

I make sure Arthur is tucked safely inside my backpack and that my passport and wallet are in my purse. I even check for the phone my father doesn’t know I own, hidden deep between my clothes.

After slinging the backpack over my shoulders and grabbing my purse, I wrap both hands around the suitcase handle. It’s heavier than I expected, and I quickly realize I may have packed too many books.

I’m debating leaving some behind when Dominick appears at the top of the stairs, probably sent to check on me.

He sneers when he sees me struggling. “What the fuck is taking you so long?”

“I… my suitcase…” I mumble, trying to explain.

“What about it?” he snaps.

I glance down at my worn-out sneakers. “I don’t think I can get it down the stairs.” I swallow hard before daring to ask, “Do you think you can help me?”

He steps right in front of me.

“I’m not your errand boy,” he says condescendingly as he yanks the suitcase from my hands. His brows lift. “What the hell do you have in here?”

“Books,” I answer automatically.

He snorts before heading down the stairs, suitcase in tow. I follow after him.

Yuri and Ivan are no longer in the living room. Narcissa is gone, too. Only my father remains, waiting for me.

“Can I have a few words with my daughter before she leaves?” he asks. “Who knows when I’ll see her again?” He pretends to be a doting father when he’s not.

The corner of Dominick’s mouth curves in a cold half-smile. “You have one minute,” he says before stepping outside with my suitcase.

“You have no idea how glad I am that I don’t have to see your disgusting face anymore,” my father spits, venom in every word. “You’re solely responsible for your sister’s death. If you hadn’t pushed her into the lake that day, she’d still be here.”

He leans in, his eyes glinting with malice. “All because Dominick, Yuri, and Ivan didn’t give you the attention you wanted. I hope they never forgive you. I never will. They’re part of the Bratva. From what I hear, they have no mercy. They don’t care who gets hurt. Women, children, men–they are the same to them. And they’re going to hurt you.”

Something strange rises in my throat. “I thought I was going to marry Dimitri,” I whisper.

Of course, my father hits me. This time, his fist connects below my right ribs. I suck in a breath and fold forward, winded.

“Who do you think Dominick, Yuri, and Ivan work for? Dimitri,” he sneers, then turns his back and leaves.

My hands tremble. I need Arthur, but I don’t dare take him out of my backpack. Tears swirl in my eyes. I can’t do this. I can’t go to Russia.

I clutch the straps of my backpack. I need Arthur. Only for a couple of seconds.

Breathe.

My gaze stays fixed on my shoes.

Focus on things you can see.

The mahogany floor.

Good. Another one.

My feet begin to move.

The front door.

That’s two. One more.

I grab the handle and pull the door open.

The pavement.

Good.

A black SUV is parked in front of the house. Ivan, Dominick, and Yuri are inside.

“Get your ass inside. We need to leave, now,” Dominick barks.

I slide into the back seat beside Yuri—he’s typing furiously on his phone, pretending I don’t exist. I put on my seatbelt, then place my backpack on my lap.

“Тупая сука,” Ivan mutters as he starts the engine.