Kat
‘Truly. You’re a vision.’ Courtney beams as she fluffs my veil, her fingers brushing the lace that once graced my mother’s hair on her wedding day.
I adjust the poison vial hidden in my bouquet.
‘Your hubby’s going to want to consummate at the altar.’ She giggles, oblivious to the vial’s click against my thigh.
I almost laugh.
If only she knew.
He’ll get his climax. Just not the one he expects.
The dress is exquisite—a masterpiece of revenge stitching. Courtney altered every seam to highlight the curves Pavel once worshipped.
Now they’ll be the last thing he sees before he takes his final breath.
‘So?’ She tilts her head. ‘What do you really think?’
I meet her gaze in the mirror. ‘It’s perfect.’
And it is. Every pearl, every stitch, every drop of toxin nestled between roses—all leading to the most poetic ‘I do’ in Bratva history.
My brother Piotr’s plan is clear: I marry Pavel Fetisov, convince him to trust me, then kill him in his sleep.
A kind of poetic justice.
My family deserves revenge, and Pavel needs to pay for what his family took from us.
Six years ago, I thought Pavel was my future. I believed everything he said and trusted him unequivocally.
Until Piotr revealed the truth.
He told me Pavel and the rest of the Fetisov Bratva orchestrated our parents’ deaths.
I immediately ended it. That night, I crushed everything we’d built, and swore I’d never look back.
A few months later, I found out I was pregnant.
Piotr didn’t take the news well. Furious doesn’t even begin to cover it. He sent me south to our Aunt Irena’s estate, far away from prying eyes and any chance of the Fetisovs learning the truth. There, I gave birth to Ana, my beautiful, sweet girl, who deserves to live her best life, one not hidden in the shadows.
When we returned to the family home two months ago, I thought I’d feel a sense of relief. Instead, it feels like I’ve traded one cage for another. Piotr and I agreed that Ana’s paternity must remain a secret.
Especially from Pavel.
As I gaze at my image in the mirror, I exhale slowly, trying to ignore the gnawing doubt at the back of my mind. This is the right thing to do. Pavel deserves this. His family deserves this. And yet…
Courtney takes a step back and looks me over one last time.
“Absolutely perfect,” she says with one final approving nod. “Don’t want to toot my own horn, but your dress might be my finest work so far.”
“You’ve done an amazing job.” I plaster a bright smile on my face, doing my best to look the part I’m playing.
But my mind’s a million miles away.
Courtney cocks her head to the side. “You OK? I know I’m just the stylist, but you seem too distracted for a woman about to get married.”
“It’s nothing,” I say. “Just a few nerves.”
“Ah, totally normal.”
“Yes, that’s it, just last-minute butterflies,” I add with a smile in a cheerful tone.
“Good.”
A soft knock at the door interrupts us. I turn, waiting for the person on the other side to speak.
“It’s time.” The deep, resonant voice of my other older brother, Vlad, comes through.
“I can tell him I’m not done yet, if you need a few more minutes,” Courtney says.
The offer’s tempting, but I shake my head.
“No, but thank you. Time to get this show on the road.”
I steal one more glance at my reflection before turning and striding toward the door.
Vlad stands on the other side, his expression warm but serious. He has always been my anchor, my quiet support, when Piotr’s fire becomes too overwhelming.
Vlad is tall, handsome, and solidly built, with the same blue eyes as our father. His dark hair is slicked back. He’s dressed in a perfectly tailored tux, looking every bit the supportive brother.
He looks me over, his lips curving into a faint smile.
“You look beautiful,” he says softly. “Mother would be proud.”
“Don’t start,” I reply, waving him off with mock irritation.
He chuckles, holding out his arm. “Ready?”
Not even a little, but I take his arm, straightening my back. “As I’ll ever be. Let’s do this.”
We walk in silence for a moment, his presence grounding me. I know what’s on his mind. Unlike Piotr, Vlad is totally against this plan.
He sighs heavily as we make our way through the halls of the church.
“You don’t have to do this,” he finally says.
“Yes, I do,” I reply firmly.
He shakes his head. “I know your reasoning. I know you want revenge. And I know that Piotr has put pressure on you to—”
I pause, turning to him. “You think this is all Piotr’s doing?” I ask, my voice low. “Like I’m some naive little girl who can’t make my own decisions?”
Another sigh. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Then tell me what you meant.”’They’ll kill you the second they suspect,’ Vlad growls, crushing my hand in his. ‘Pavel’s not some lovesick boy anymore—he’s Pakhan now. I can’t lose you.”
“You’re not going to lose me.”
“I don’t doubt your confidence,” he says, “or your ability. But things can go wrong. And Pavel…he’s not exactly an easy mark. Satisfying your vengeance might be too high a price to pay.”
A flash of anger hits me. “This isn’t just about petty revenge. This is about family, our family. This is about Ana. She’s not going to be safe until that fiend is out of the picture for good.”
“I know, I just don’t want to lose you.”
I take his hand, squeezing it gently. “You won’t. By this time next week, Pavel will be dead, and our troubles will be over. Have faith, brother.”
Vlad doesn’t push further, but there’s a lingering concern in his eyes. For now, I push it aside. There’s no room for doubt, not today.
“Come on,” I say with a smile. “You have a sister to give away.”
“Indeed I do. Let’s go.”
I grip Vlad’s arm tightly as we step into the hallway, my nerves twisting into a tight, merciless knot. My stomach churns, threatening to rebel, but I hold my head high. Despite my tough talk, I am scared.
My brother is right. There are all sorts of ways this plan could go awry.
But this is no time for weakness, not when I’m walking into the lion’s den, wrapped in white satin, pretending to be a willing lamb.
Vlad’s presence is steady beside me, his hand resting lightly over mine.
When we reach the entrance to the chapel, I pause. My grip tightens on Vlad’s arm. A faint murmur of voices filters through the wooden doors, and my breath hitches.
“It’s time,” he says. “Are you sure you want to do this? You could still play runaway bride and hightail it out of here.” He chuckles. “I’ll have to tell everyone I tried to stop you, though.”
I smile slightly in spite of my nerves.
“No. I’m going to see this through.”
“Well, in that case, good luck, sister.”
With that, he pushes the doors open.
The chapel is large and beautiful, but only one side is fully occupied. Most of my family did not approve of this marriage, and many refused to attend. The Fetisov family is out in full force, however, their gazes locked onto me, a sea of dark hair and ice-blue eyes.
I glance toward the altar. Pavel is standing there, tall and commanding, exuding power the way he always has.
His tailored suit hugs his broad shoulders before tapering down his lean, powerful frame. His dark hair is threaded with a touch of silver now, a feature that only adds to his appeal.
A wave of heat rushes through me, and I hate the way my pussy clenches at the sight of him, the wetness quick to pool between my thighs.
I hate the way my pulse quickens, the way my body remembers how his hands felt on me all those years ago. I recall keenly the way he felt inside, stretching me, filling me full, bringing me to orgasm again and again.
It’s been six long years. How does he still have this effect on me?
Piotr is standing beside him, playing the role of loyal friend, like the seasoned liar he’s become.
Six years of deception and carefully constructed lies have led to this moment. Piotr’s ability to wear his mask of betrayal, to laugh and drink with the man he’s about to deceive, has always impressed me.
I swallow hard, my hand gripping Vlad’s.
“You good?” he asks, low enough so that no one else can hear.
“I’m fine. Let’s go.”
I look around at the church architecture, the crowd, anything but Pavel. I can feel him watching me. The heat of his gaze seems to drag over my skin, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop the warmth creeping up my neck and blooming across my chest.
Damn him.
Why couldn’t time have been crueler to his looks? Why does he have to be so goddamn handsome, so perfect?
I grit my teeth, furious at the way my body reacts, at the heat curling low in my stomach.
This is the man who took everything from me.
My parents. My freedom. My chance at a normal life.
He doesn’t deserve my attention, and he sure as hell doesn’t deserve to be desired.
But my body betrays me.
As we reach the altar, Vlad releases my arm, his grip on my hand lingering for just a second before he steps aside.
Pavel’s eyes lock onto mine. My knees feel slightly unsteady under the weight of his gaze.
“Kat,” he says, his voice deep and rough, sending a shiver down my spine.
Damn him. Damn me.
My jaw locks as he threads his fingers through mine like a trap, but I force myself not to look away. Pavel’s expression is unreadable, though there’s a knowing smugness. His lips twitch, the ghost of a smirk forming, which, God help me, I want to slap right off his face.
The officiant speaks, but the words barely register. My world has narrowed to the solid warmth of his hand in mine, to the maddening way his thumb consistently brushes lightly against my palm. The touch is so faint, but it sends heat licking up my spine, setting fire to every rational thought in my head.
I swallow hard, reminding myself why I’m here, why I agreed to this, and why I must go through with it.
My parents are dead because of him.
My daughter has lived her entire life in hiding because of him.
Pavel leans in slightly, his voice a quiet murmur between us. “You’re breathtaking,” he says.
Pavel’s thumb strokes my palm like he remembers every inch of my skin. I squeeze back harder. Let him think it’s passion. The tighter he holds on, the easier it’ll be to slit his throat.
