I do!

Alina's Pov

"Come on, Alina. Everyone is waiting for you," Vladi shouted from outside the door into the changing room.

"It's okay. I will be sitting in the front the whole time, Alina," Olga said and stroked my arm. "Thank you, Olga. Thank you for being there for me my whole life," I mumbled, and she nodded, "It was destiny, Alina, and I will forever be grateful for being a part of your life," Olga replied and opened the door.

"You look beautiful, Alina," Vladi said when I came through the door.

"Here, grab my arm, and let's get this over with," He continued, and I did as he told.

Olga hurried down the aisle and sat down, and seconds later, the piano began to play and alerting everyone of my arrival. Vladi began to lead me up towards the alter. My heart was racing within, and I focused on not falling on my face in these stupid heels. We stopped before the two men and the priest before Vladi reached one of them my hand to hold before he stepped to the side.

My hand was shaking with nervousness, and I didn't dare to look at the man holding it during the ceremony. The priest spoke, but my mind was clouded with thousands of thoughts and scenarios. I was terrified. As soon as this wedding was over, my life would be over too. Even though I didn't have much of a life before, but I had still belonged to myself.

I know how these kinds of weddings went down. I knew that the bride often left everything for the man, and he saw her as his property. His word was the woman's law. Whatever he wants, he gets. His needs were the needs that mattered. And now I would become that woman. Force to move away to a foreign country with a language I didn't speak with a man I didn't know.

"You may reveal the bride," The priest spoke, and I turned slowly to face the man beside me. He fumbled with my veil for a second before he lifted it, causing me to look up. And then our eyes met.

I was shocked by what I saw. This man looked good, Jakov. I couldn't deny that. But his brown eyes were cold, and his square-shaped face was roughly defined and harsh. He had casually combed back his light brown hair, and his navy blue suit was sharply fitting his muscular body. All of a sudden, I winced back when he reached out his hand towards my face. "Hey, it's okay. You have a sling of hair between your eyes," He leaned down and whispered after pulling me back before him. My body trembled by hearing his voice, and I swallowed when he reached out again and pulled it back behind my ear.

"Now Jakov, repeat after me: I, Jakov Aleksander Kostic, take you, Alina Sheila Sokolov, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

"You have declared your consent before the Church. And Now, Alina, repeat after me," The priest said and turned to me: I, Alina Sheila Sokolov, take you, Jakov Aleksander Kostic, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

"Do you, Jakov Aleksander Kostic, accept Alina Sheila Sokolow as your wife?" The priest asked Jakov, "I do," He replied calmly, "Do you, Alina Sheila Sokolov accepts Jakov Aleksander Kostic as your husband?" The priest asked, and I felt hesitant, but then Jakov squeezed my hand, "I do," I mumbled, feeling the panic come over me.

"You have now fully declared your consent before the Church, and you may now kiss the bride!"

Jakov turned to face me, and I felt myself being flushed red when he leaned down and grabbed my chin. But before I had time to freak out some more, he slightly let his lips brush against mine for a moment, and all air left my lungs when they did.

And then, just like that, it was over. I was now married off to a stranger.

"Now that this has been settled, we will need to fly back to Serbia within an hour," A man said next to Jakov, "My daughter is having her first child, and I will like to take part in that," He continued and Vladi nodded, "Yes, family comes first," He replied and shook hands with the men, "Your things have been shipped over, Alina. And Olga will join you now on the plane," Vladi said and padded my back. "Okay," I mumbled back and he gave me a quick hug.

We left the church after I had changed my clothes and jumped into a waiting car surrounded by men.

"I didn't mean to be rude before. My name is Aleksander Kostic, leader of the Serbian mafia," the man introduced himself sitting across from me in the car. "Nice to meet you," I replied nervously after hearing the masculine and raw tone in his voice.

He screamed power, and I was equally intimidated by him as I had been of Vladi my whole life. "What is your relationship?" Jakov asked Olga, who was sitting next to me, "I was hired to take off Alina when she was a baby after her parents died," Olga replies, and Jakov frowned. "Oh, okay. How did they die?"

"It's not my story to tell.." Olga uttered with sadness, and I felt my heart sting as she did. I never knew my parents, and I have no memories of them either. Vladi never speaks of them. He ignored me whenever I asked. All I had was a picture of my mom as a teenager. "All I know is that they died when I was three months old. My uncle didn't want me to know any details, and I respect my uncle's decision." I mumbled and Olga held my hand. "I'm sorry for your loss," Jakov replied.

Jakov's Pov

We parked at the airport and boarded our private plane and soon left the Russian ground beneath us. We had remained silent since the car ride and it was getting ridiculous now. Dad had been on the phone most of the time, and Olga had mumbled something to Alina from time to time.

"So. You just turned eighteen?" I asked and Alina looked at me frowning, "Yes, today, "

"Happy birthday," I mumbled, feeling like a douchebag. "Thanks," she replied.

"How old are you?" Alina asked, "I'm twenty-four," "Oh, okay." She replied and remained silent. "You don't like to make conversations?" I asked, a little bothered by this silence. "Oh, excuse me for being a little taken off guard from being married to a complete stranger and brought to a foreign country against my free will. It's not something that just happens normally, is it?" She said harshly, "Yet you're sitting on this plane?" I replied and she laughed a cold laugh. "Yes. That's the power of how emotional blackmail works after being neglected and put down all my life!" She said, but not as harsh as before. I searched for eye contact, but she kept her gaze out the window.