She heard it. Of course she did.
Later, she will ask. Or she will pretend not to care and find out another way.
Viktor approaches next and lowers his head once, first to me, then to her. “Madam.”
She nods back. “Thank you.” Her voice is steady.
Sergei comes last. He steps toward her carefully, like he’s approaching an animal that might bite. “Anya,” he says.
She turns her head, but doesn’t move closer. For a long, uncomfortable second, they stare at each other. Then Sergei lowers his eyes. “You look beautiful.”
Anya’s face doesn’t change. “Is that all?”
His mouth tightens. “I wanted to say congratulations.”
“Then say it.”
He swallows. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
That’s all she gives him.
I should not enjoy watching Sergei suffer.
I do anyway.
When the documents are signed, the guests begin to thin. The officiant leaves first with the lawyer. My men return to their posts. Sergei is escorted to a car after Viktor quietly informs him that his debt has been cleared and that his continued safety depends on his continued good behavior.
Anya watches her father leave through the iron gate. She says nothing. Only when his car disappears does she turn back toward me. “So that’s it?” she asks.
“For the legal part, yes.”
“And the other part?”
I look at her.
Her cheeks color faintly, but she doesn’t look away.
I step closer, lowering my voice so only she can hear. “The other part begins when you decide you want it to.”
Her breath catches.
Then her expression hardens because she hates that I saw it.
“You’re very pleased with yourself,” she says.
“I just got married.”
“To a woman you barely know.”
“To a woman who keeps surprising me.”
That stops her.
Only for a second.
Then Alexei calls from across the courtyard, “Are we celebrating or standing around looking dangerous all day?”