Vengeance Aside (Wanted Men 0.5)(71)
“I’d like to start by thanking you all for joining us tonight. As Lukas said, we’re blessed to have you in our lives to share such a wonderful occasion. Girls,” she looked to the corner where her friends were scattered. “I love you, and I appreciate your support more than you know. I’m going to miss seeing you every day, but Lukas insisted I pass along that you’re all more than welcome to come out here and keep me company whenever you have some free time.”
Kisses were blown and exchanged on the air before she looked around and settled her warm green gaze on her father-in-law.
“Kostya, and Samuel and Farah.” She smiled at the other two. “Thank you for welcoming me…” she cleared her throat and ducked her head to hide by staring at the floor while she fought her emotions, “into your family. You have no idea how…special your acceptance makes me feel.”
Her next pause was longer, and when she lifted her head again, it was to find Lukas in front of her. He couldn’t stand seeing her struggle alone. He wouldn’t let her do it. Not anymore.
She put her hand out. “Oh, thank God,” she breathed, then balked and dropped the microphone to her side as everyone laughed. “I’m dying here,” she said as he drew her into his side.
“You should have told me you were going to do this.”
“I had no intention of saying anything.” She forced a smile because they were still being observed. “But then you were so eloquent, and your father and brother made me cry. I kinda figured I had to publicly tell you how much I love you before I ended up looking like my mother. She would be sitting off alone, resting bitch face in place, making everyone uncomfortable. I’m trying to avoid making enemies in this crowd. Know what I mean?” Her cheeks flushed a gorgeous pink when a smattering of chuckles sounded to indicate that even though the microphone was at her side, they could still be heard.
He cupped his hand over the thing and ignored the feedback that screeched through the speakers. “Would you like to share that with me before you announce it to the world?”
“What?” She looked up at him, and he could see by the strain around her eyes, public speaking was not her thing.
He smiled and kissed her, grateful the time had finally come where he could voice his feelings, even if it was in fucking public. “I’ve loved you my whole life, Magdalena,” he murmured so she knew what he wanted. “I just needed to find you to let you know it. Now, you’ve been claimed, you’ve accepted me, light and dark, and you’ll never forget who you belong to. Who you’ve always belonged to. From the moment you entered this world, you’ve been mine, and you will be until the heart in my chest grows quiet.”
She covered her face with her hands and pressed into his front. “Oh my God, Lukas.”
“Hey, don’t fall apart now. I need something back from you, and my patience on the subject just fucked off.” He pulled her hands away and used his thumb to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Tell me.”
She gave him a watery laugh. “Already dropping commands, Your Grace?”
He winked and put a finger up to the crowd to tell them to hang tight. “Damn right.”
“Okay. Um.” She glanced at their guests. “Should we tell them to carry on?”
“No. They’ll wait.”
“Okay. I’ve, uh, been talking to that higher power you mentioned a while back, and um, I find myself thanking him a lot. For you.” She pressed her finger to the base of her nose and sniffled before finally allowing him to look into her eyes. “When you’re generous, I thank him. When you’re loving, I thank him. When you’re forgiving, I thank him. But I’ve now come to the conclusion that instead of him, I should be thanking you. For being so different from what I thought a mobster would be. And for being so sure this was real, right from the start. If you’d had any doubts and you’d let me walk away, I would have felt your absence for the rest of my life. I’d have mourned your absence, because…you’re right. I do belong to you. I fell in love the moment I looked into your eyes, and you’ve been rewarding me for it ever since. I should have told you…” she swallowed and gripped the sides of his tux tighter. “I was too scared to even admit it to myself. But now? After feeling how happy you truly are that we’ve done this? I don’t feel so afraid to let you know you’ve become the center of my universe.” Her hands cupped his jaw, and she kissed him. “Thank you for not giving up on me.” She kissed him again. “Because I am so in love you, Lukas. Please, just…don’t break me, okay?”
With his life now complete, he raised the microphone and opened his hand enough to expose a patch he could speak into. “She wants you all to know she loves me. Drink, dance, and have a good time, everyone. Thank you for coming.”
He dropped the mic, scooped his tearful bride up, and disappeared into the house to the sound of applause and whistles.
PROLOGUE
Four weeks later…
A quiet knock on his office door had Lukas looking up from his laptop. “Come in.”
The door opened to admit one stunning creature in an emerald bikini the same color as her eyes.
He sat back in his chair. “Wife.” The switch between business and pleasure was smooth and effortless.