Page 113 of Auctioned to My Bratva Boss

I looked up into those deep gray-green eyes.

Tomorrow I'd walk toward him in a wedding dress and place the rest of my life in the hands of this man who'd laid his whole heart bare for me.

"No," I said honestly. "I've waited too long for this."

His breathing deepened. He cupped the back of my head and kissed me.

"Riley Bykov," he murmured against my lips. "Sounds perfect."

I smiled. It really did.

After a while, my phone buzzed. A text from Evelyn.

"Riley, I'm bailing. Refuse to be the third wheel killing your vibe. Just ran into this absolutely gorgeous guy outside who's exactly my type, and he's insisting on buying me a drink—my luck is through the roof!"

I typed back quickly. "Control yourself. Don't forget tomorrow's my wedding. If my maid of honor shows up hungover with dark circles, I'm never forgiving you."

She replied instantly. "Relax. Even if I can't get out of bed, I'll be there on time."

Damn it. Why did she always go there?

"Have fun tonight. Use protection."

I put my phone away, laughing.

Chapter Thirty-One

Matvey

"I've been with you for over a decade." Anton shot me a sidelong glance, amusement tugging at his mouth. "I've seen guns pressed to your head at the negotiating table. You didn't even blink."

"But now—" He dragged the word out, jerking his chin at my hand hanging loose at my side. "You're shaking."

I glanced down at my hand. Shit. He was right.

The same hand that had pulled a trigger countless times, steady enough to drop a target from a hundred meters out, was trembling.

"Shut up." I ground the words between my teeth, fingering the cufflink I'd already fastened perfectly.

Anton laughed but had the sense not to push it.

I drew a deep breath. This was too good. So good it felt like a dream I'd wake from any second. I was terrified that if I closed my eyes and opened them again, my love and our two children would all vanish into smoke.

The church was packed. Every seat was filled with the most powerful people in New York. But I couldn't spare them a single thought.

I'd never been this nervous in my life.

I'd witnessed countless deaths, controlled too many fates. I'd thought nothing in this world could stir a ripple in my heart anymore.

Until those heavy carved wooden doors swung open and the organ music swelled.

Then I saw her. Riley.

She wore white, her arm linked through Evelyn's, walking toward me step by step.

Everything else blurred into the background. All I could hear was my own heartbeat hammering faster. With each step she took closer, my heart pounded harder.

Her cheeks flushed pink. Her eyes shone bright enough to hold stars. The wedding dress cleverly disguised her swollen belly, but couldn't hide that soft radiance of impending motherhood. When she looked at me, that shy, blissful smile nearly melted me where I stood.