“Viktor.” He barely breathed the name. Stunned. Shocked. His voice sounded choked.
Viktor was the most intimidating man she’d ever seen in her life. That was saying something when she knew six of the seven Prakenskii brothers. Even dressed in his suit, he looked more a dangerous, badass biker than a businessman. She doubted that he could ever have changed roles the way Casimir did. Even so, emotion played over his face for just a moment, the green in his eyes going dark. He hooked his younger brother around the nape of his neck and dragged him close, right into a deep hug – something she almost couldn’t believe someone so scary-looking would do.
“How?” Casimir asked as he straightened, his hand still firmly clasped in his brother’s as if they’d both forgotten they were also shaking hands.
Viktor jerked his head at the priest. “You needed a koumbaros, one to watch over the two of you for the rest of your lives. He sent for me.” The smile faded from his face. “This is your woman?”
“Giacinta Abbracciabene, my brother, Viktor,” Casimir introduced, reaching once again for Lissa’s hand. He brought her fingertips to his mouth. “She’s the one. My woman.” He put her hand in Viktor’s.
“Little sister,” Viktor said. “It is good to meet you. Let’s get this done and we’ll have a few minutes to visit before I have to go. I have to be on a freighter in a couple of hours.” He squeezed her hand, his eyes searching her face before he put her hand back in Casimir’s.
Her heart pounded. She had the feeling that he could see into her soul and if she didn’t measure up, he’d slit her throat right there on the spot. In front of Casimir. In front of the priest. Right there in the church. He’d do it without hesitation and walk away, never looking back.
“Your woman is beautiful, Casimir.”
Casimir pulled Lissa closer to him. “She is,” he agreed.
“I’ll need the rings.”
Casimir handed Viktor the wedding rings. “Your being here means the world to me, Viktor,” he said. “I don’t know how…”
“Means the world to me as well,” Viktor said, cutting him off.
He sounded like he was stating the stark truth. Lissa felt her throat close, a huge lump there. Tears burned behind her eyes and she blinked rapidly, not wanting to mess up her makeup, but so grateful that Casimir had his brother there. His oldest brother, the one he – like all the others – worried about the most. None of them had heard from him for a very long time. He was operating deep undercover and hadn’t surfaced in so long they were all afraid something had happened to him.
The priest began the ceremony, reciting Bible passages and blessings. He then made the sign of the cross while he held the rings in his palm, declaring the betrothal. Holding the rings in his hands, he pressed first Casimir’s forehead three times and then followed suit doing the same to Lissa’s forehead. Viktor took the rings from the priest and exchanged them three times between Casimir and Lissa, symbolizing that the weakness of one would be offset by the other.
Lissa’s ring was slipped onto the third finger of her right hand. It was a beautiful, ornate band, matching the thicker band that was Casimir’s. His ring was put onto his finger next. They stood for a moment, Lissa smiling up at Casimir, her heart in her eyes. She became aware of Viktor watching her closely. She couldn’t blame him. He wanted to know that his brother was really going to be happy with the woman of his choice, but still, the direct dark green gaze was disconcerting.
Casimir held Lissa’s right hand and the priest handed them both a lit candle to be held in their left hands. Casimir leaned down to whisper in her ear while the priest continued his blessings as they approached the altar. “We hold hands for the rest of the ceremony, golubushka, to show we are one.”
Viktor leaned down from the other side. “The flames from the candles show you are both willing to receive God’s blessings.”
At the altar, with the priest holding his hand over their joined hands, Viktor presented them with crowns of orange blossoms and other beautiful flowers mixed with semiprecious stones. The garlands were joined together by a white ribbon. “These crowns stay with you for life,” Viktor whispered to Lissa.
The priest took the crowns and placed one on Lissa’s head and the other on Casimir’s while the two of them faced the altar. Viktor switched the crowns three times between the couple in the age-old ritual symbolizing unity.
While the priest read more Bible passages to them, Lissa looked up at the man who was joining his life to hers. He was absolutely confident, following the priest’s every word, his hand firmly in hers.