A life with Maksim is no life.
Alessandro stands next to me, ready to hand me over to my fate. To my death, most likely.
“I hope this is worth it,” I murmur.
Next to me, Alessandro closes his eyes, and I see what I hope is guilt. “There are no weapons here today.”
“Why lie? I see your gun.”
“Just me and Maksim. That’s the deal.”
I look up at him, wondering what the point is. “Will you kill him?”
“Not me. No.”
I suck in a breath. I guess it will be me, then.
We step into the room. Maksim waits at the altar, his smile smug. He thinks he's won.
As I walk toward him, I play in my head all the ways I can kill him.
During the vows, I'll get close enough to slide the blade between Maksim's ribs.
If there are no other weapons here, maybe I can get away with it.
I do the deed and run, not just anywhere, but to Chicago.
To Cristian.
I scan the faces in the church, part of me foolishly hoping to see Cristian, though I know he's hundreds of miles away.
At least Luca took him in, the only kindness any of my brothers have shown me.
Luca is here, and I know why he didn’t bring Cristian.
It’s out of respect for Alessandro.
But maybe he can tell me how Cristian is doing.
Maybe tell him I still love him.
Tell him I’ll find him if I succeed in killing Maksim, or maybe later in Heaven.
Perhaps Luca will help me disappear.
Despite his loyalty to Alessandro, he was always the brother who respected me, protected me.
I pray I'm right.
If I fail, at least Cristian will know I tried. But I won't fail. I can't.
As I near the altar, my mind spins with more violent fantasies.
I imagine slipping poison in Maksim's champagne, watching his eyes widen as he realizes what I've done.
Or perhaps I'll wait until he's sleeping, take one of his own guns, and put a bullet through his black heart.
And I still have my blade.