Chapter 3

1:00 PM 

St. Dominic’s Cathedral— The Wedding Ceremony.

“We are all gathered here to witness the blissful union between…”

Standing beside Dimitri, Lily's heart was pounding in her chest as her quivering hand clutched his. The voice of the priest turned into a wheezing sound in her head. 

Dimitri had somehow magically arranged everything last minute, including her stunning wedding gown, a lace and silk masterpiece with delicate embroidery that hugged her curves perfectly. The delicate veil framing her face added beautifully. Like a true bride.

If only this was real.

She turned her face to look at his, what intrigued her the most asides the sexy aura oozing from him was his long black hair, neatly tied back. The way he was also staring back at her, his sharp features and tattoos snaking down his arms, peeking out from under a sleeve of a well- tailored suit. 

"Relax, Lily," Dimitri whispered, hunching so his hot breath danced across her ear. "It's just a formality." His thin temper was getting stretched out of limit.

A formality? Lily thought, her eyes turned back, glazing through the sea of dignitaries filling the church. It was a living nightmare— she was to marry some stranger, a man who had someone lured her into it for reasons which she still could not apprehend.

Well— it wasn’t really a luring game. They were both knee deep into this.

 Meanwhile, all the time he was looking like Damian, a ghost that haunted her with every turn of glance.

She wasn't listening as the priest spoke because running through her head was all that came right here-the beating of her heart in her chest, wanting to scream, run, or just about anything to free her from this trap.

"Do you, Lily Elenor Hills, take Damian Kalashnikov to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Rev. Fr Thomas repeated himself for the third time that afternoon.

The tension was getting more nerving by the minute. A room filled with people she didn’t know. With Russians!

Rev. Fr Thomas cleated his throat.

As the back of Lily's throat closed up. She looked up at Dimitri’s blank face, barely able to speak, "I… I do”

This was Dimitri’s cue, and he didn't hesitate. In a firm clear voice he said his "I do."

The officiating priest smiled acting completely oblivious to the tension between them. "You may now kiss the bride."

Dimitri turned to her, his hand sliding around her waist to draw her close. 

“Breathe..” The way his Russian accent sent chills running down her spine. As his lips brushed soft and warm against hers, but it was no soft caress. Cold, calculated, every move he made was to serve a purpose. 

The claps afterwards came distantly forced, the crowd whistled, congratulating them.

Lily's lips parted from Dimitri's, a kiss that she hadn’t expected to make her forget her dilemma.

Damn he was a good kisser, she couldn’t even meet his gaze. His breath still on hers..

“LILY FUCKING HILLS!” 

The cathedral's heavy wooden doors exploded open, framing Alicia's furious figure. Her face twisted in rage, Alicia stormed down the aisle, her heels clicking ominously on the stone floor.

Alicia? 

"How dare you! What the hell do you think you are doing?" Alicia shrieked, her voice shattering the sacred silence. "Getting married to my man!!?"

Alicia's hand dove into her purse, bringing out a big golden revolver. Aiming it directly at Lily.

"You're a pathetic," Alicia spat. Screaming st the top of her voice, her eyes blazing with malice. "A weak, foolish girl playing dress-up.."

Lily's heart shattered, her mind reeling. This couldn’t be happening. Not now, not here.

Dimitri swiftly pulled Lily behind him, shielding her from harm as his men surged forward. "Take her down. And make sure she never gets to see the light of day." he ordered, his voice low and deadly.

The scene erupted into chaos. Guests screaming, ducking for cover as Alicia fired a shot. 

Dimitri's men tackled her, wrestling the gun from her grasp. She struggled, still cussing at Lily and every member of the Kalashnikov’s family present, but they overpowered her, dragging her out of the cathedral.

Lily stood frozen. 

Dimitri's grip on her waist tightened. “Hey.. hey.. look at me.” He cooed.

"This is insane.. please I can’t," Lily whispered, shaken. "I don't want to do this. I .. I can’t do this anymore.” Lily’s sobs choking on her.

“I just want to go home!” Her voice broke. 

Unable to believe what just happened.

Alicia thought she was getting married to Damian! That was what everybody would think.

This was a mistake!

Dimitri's expression remained stoic, but his eyes narrowed. Pulling her close to him, away from the prying paparazzi. "It's done, Lily. Look at me! You're mine now."

Ownership.

Lily blinked back her tears.

3:08PM

At last, Lily freed herself loose into the sea of them all, wished she had time unto herself.

Dimitri’s mum had been the sweetest to her, same with the grandfather. She didn’t know how to process all the feelings piled up in her head. And the fact that Dimitri was no where to be found! 

Leaving her all alone. With her ankles still hurting.

As she made her way toward the restroom, Gio— who doubles as her cousin and best friend in the world stared through the crowd at her, trying to get her attention. 

“Lily!!! My honey!” Gio beamed, fastening her steps as she beckoned on her cousin.

Immediately Lily turned and noticed Gio, her hands flew to her mouth. Surprise over took her features. 

 "Gio! Oh my God!! Gigi!" She exclaimed.

“How?.. how are you here? Thank goodness you’re here!” Lily 

The moment Gio walked up to her and smothered her in a tight hug. With tearful eyes.

"Don't cry, lily you'd ruin your makeup; you are such a beautiful bride," saying as she

looked at her, not masking her sad smile.

"A fairytale wedding but not with my own Prince Charming.", lily said wiping up her tears quick as they both burst out laughing together.

“I know you’re wondering how I got here, well let’s just say your groom sent his uhhh.. I think Gabriel man. Yh the huge one, honestly Lily I’m still shocked. What the??!”

“It’s.. a lot Gigi. A lot.” A trailer load of sigh escaped Lily’s lips.

Gio looked around and saw that some guests were still making sly comments, she pulled lily to the side so they could sit and talk.

But lily didn’t want to sit and talk. Her bladder was full to the brim.

“Gio.. Uhmm…” lily began.

The look on Lily’s face was all Gio needed to relax. "You were going to the bathroom right?, let me get you some wet wipes for that mascara smudge", Gio said as she hurried away to get her purse.

Lily went into the ladies' restroom, her wedding gown trailing after her as she closed the door, leaning against it.

What have I done? she yelled silently while staring at her reflection in the mirror.

 For anyone else in this world, she would have been just perfect with her makeup on-to this eye of her mind, all she could feel like was a hot mess. 

Dragging herself over to the toilet, to take a piss her mind wandered around all what had transpired in the last 48hours.

And now?

Some sort of marriage to some sort of man had been performed on her, it seemed, to terrorize her; she had been dragged into a world which she knew nothing about; and now she was supposed to sit back and take whatever came next.

The knock on the door pulled her out of that reverie. 

“Why the hell would Gio knock?” Lily reluctantly went to check.

She opened it to find two men in suits—one tall, one short— their faces somber and hard. The dark shades making them more sinister than anyone should look. At a wedding!. 

But.. she remembered them from the ceremony, standing around the edge, eyes catching everything.

"Mrs. Kalashnikov?" one asked, his voice clipped. 

The sound of that—her new identity— made her stomach churn in turmoil.

“Yes.” She swallowed. 

“Congratulations on your wedding ma’am. You look dashing by the way.” The taller man remarked, offering her a tight lipped smile.

“Thank you?” Lily barely responded. Her brows  knitted together. Confusion played over her face. She stepped out of the restroom, closing the door behind her.

“I’m Agent Jason. And here’s my partner Agent Meyer.” 

Agent?!! Lily’s head was spiraling out of control. 

Dimitri was still nowhere to be found.

“We’re from the FBI. And we’d like to have a word with you.” Agent Mayer, the taller man playing the good cop showed her his badge.

Lily wiped off an invisible sweat on her forehead “I’m.. I’m sorry what?!” 

Agent Jason adjusted his shades, like he was already getting irritated. “Your presence is needed at our office ma’am. Come with us. Now.” 

“I.. I’ll have to speak..” lily stuttered, her eyes locked with Gio who was rushing down to her. But lily shook her head, silently asking Gio not to come closer.

“Now!” Jason seethed.

Lily was too stunned to argue, or protest. She had been boxed into a corner. She didn’t need any magician telling her that these men had waited for the perfect opportunity.

As they escorted her to their vehicle, she felt something was out of place. 

Why were they taking the back exit?