Page 28 of Mistaken
“The giant boxer-type dude getting a blowski?” Tania laughed heartily until she saw my expression.
“When I got in the SUV, there was a woman sitting there. We met at the Morgan Library fundraiser last week. Maksim was making out with me to piss her off and spark a confrontation so he could make it clear he was off the market. Her name’s Cat… uh, Katya, that’s right, Katya Sokolov. She seemed to think she was getting engaged to Maksim and lost her shit when he flaunted my ring. Anyway, she locked down the car and flashed a gun at me. Telling me to get out of town or she was going to shoot me and paralyze me or put me in her family’s whorehouse or- it’s all getting mixed up in my head. But she’s here, Tania! She’s here and I’m supposed to, what? Shake her hand and thank her for coming to the wedding?”
I was desperately blinking back tears because I could not picture what Karida would do if I smeared my makeup.
Tania apparently had the same idea, eyes widening and frantically plucking tissues out of the fancy gold dispenser. “Oh, shit, oh shit don’t cry!”
“Even when Maksim kidnapped me and sent me on that insane run through the woods, or threatened to kill all my loved ones? Even he never held me at gunpoint. She’s my first held at gunpoint experience and I didn’t handle it well.”
“Oh, honey…” her arms were around me and I thrashed loose.
“Don’t! Don’t be nice to me or I am so screwed!” My voice was high and a little hysterical but I felt it was not unreasonable. “If you’re nice to me I’m going to cry!”
“Okay, okay,” Tania placated, waving her hands around a little. “Okay, listen here, little missy! You just suck it up, do you hear me!” I burst into laughter as she knew I would. Her mother was a stern woman who tended to yell that out when things got all emotional. She quelled many of our budding hysterics when we were teens.
“Look, fuck her. She can’t hurt you here. Aside from Ass Face Lurch and his blowjob adventures, Maksim’s got security clogging this whole venue. In fact, I can’t believe your bodyguard outside isn’t blasting through the door with his gun out, since we’ve been in here like six minutes.” As if on cue, there’s a sharp rapping on the door.
“Mrs. Morozov, they are calling for you.”
“She’ll be out in a minute!” Tania shouts, “So look, get through this shitshow, eat some cake - oh, and make sure you take a giant chunk home because that looks delicious - and then tell Maksim-”
“Mrs. Morozov you will come out now.”
“In a minute!” Tania and I shout together.
“Tell Maksim though, I’m sure he knows how to handle the Sokolovs who are clearly seriously fucked up. Okay?”
The door slams open and there is the extremely large man who followed us here, his gun out.
“Will everyone stop pulling their guns out for just one afternoon!” I’m shouting and I sound crazy and at this point, I don’t care. “I’m coming, okay?”
Stowing his gun back into his jacket, the man sniffs and lets me pass before more or less herding me back to where Maksim and his family await.
Maksim…
My blushing bride is, looking a bit pale and has clearly pasted an insincere smile on her lovely face. Sliding my arm around her waist, I lean close, smelling her sweet vanilla scent. “I know this is not easy, but you are doing well. Just smile and remember the names from your dossier, and we will be done soon and you can relax.”
Ella’s smile is definitely forced, but she nods and the stream of politicians, local celebrities and most of the kings of organized crime began to flow past us. Several of the Bratva families don’t bother to switch to English when they greet her, until I refuse to speak Russian to them. I’m questioning Alina’s guest list, which includes several of the women I’ve slept with; models and socialites who were only after a good time. I’m displeased by how unhappy they seem to be when greeting my new wife. But I’m feeling proud of Ella, she’s greeting the most important Bratva families by name, nodding and smiling with a poise I hadn’t expected.
Until the Sokolovs are in front of us. She takes a step back and another closer to me, and her smile is looking a little frayed around the edges. I put my arm around her and narrow my eyes at them. “Pavel, we are so pleased your family could join us today and share in our happiness.” I sound less than pleased and they look less than happy that I’m warning them that there will be no tantrums from Katya here.
Ella handles Pavel and his wife perfectly, but Katya gives an odd, high-pitched squeal and leans in to hug her. My wife’s elbow comes in to block her, but Katya still manages to hiss something in her ear before I step in front of her.
“Katya,” my voice is colder than the ice sculpture at the buffet table, “my lovely bride and I are so pleased you could share in our happiness.” Her glaring father drags her off and I kiss Ella’s cheek. “Just a few more people. You are doing fine.”
Ella…
I just want this to be over. At this point, I don’t even care what Maksim does to me as long as it’s somewhere other than here. I’m ready to weep with gratitude when he leans in to whisper that it’s time to go.
“You’re leaving already, son?”
I close my eyes in defeat. We were so close.
Maksim turns with the slightest of sighs. “Yes, mother. It’s time. I know you’ll be a wonderful hostess for our guests, yes?”
She huffs slightly, but I can tell she’s delighted to be the Morozov Matriarch in action. Maksim’s sisters say goodbye, and Ekaterina even gives me a hug. “I’m glad you’re going to be our sister,” she whispers, “it won’t feel so lonely now.”
A straight punch right to the heart, I thought, and hug her back.
