Salina waited for Dominik as he worked with the tailor to get together his suit. It was just the two of them today with Gabe and Fern. Dominik only wanted to show his wife attention after finally being let out of the house.

Unfortunately, he was stuck dealing with the tailor. Salina typed away on her phone, finalizing more wedding details. When she glanced up, she saw that the tailor was still outside of Dominik's room.

She frowned, they'd already taken his measurements and shown her the basics of what he chose... why was Dominik taking so long in the dressing room?

Pouting her bottom lip, she stood up and brazenly went to retrieve her husband.

"Is he finished?" she asked the tailor off handedly as she passed him.

"He got a phone call."

Salina rolled her eyes, of course business would distract him. Coming up to the door, her hand reached for the handle before she paused- overhearing the conversation.

"If we could just have a conversation I'm sure we could come to some agreement-"

Dominik hissed quietly before it sounded like he was interrupted. There was a moment as whoever was on the other end responded.

"Ma'am I really think if you take a second to think- this is an important day we're talking about."

There was another pause.

"Don't-" Dominik snarled before stopping himself and taking a deep inhale, softening his tone just barely. "Don't talk about my wife like that. I don't give a damn who you are- If you hang up I'll make an appearance to have this discussion in person."

Finally, Salina pushed the door open gently. Her head peaked in, obviously conveying her confusion while stepping inside.

Dominik was only in his slacks, pacing in the large dressing room. His gaze immediately softened at the sight of her, before he looked at his phone guiltily.

"I'm putting you on hold- don't hang up."

He was confident that whoever was on the phone would obey, because he did just that before tossing the phone besides him. He opened his arms and watched her fall into his embrace.

"Sweet girl," he cooed against perfectly styled hair.

"You didn't sound like yourself on the phone," Salina hummed against his bare chest. She kissed over his tattoos before flitting her eyes up to his own. "You sounded like you were trying to kiss ass and failing. It doesn't suit you, honey."

Dominik sighed quietly, feeling her hands massage his tense lower back. "I know, it's not as fun when it isn't yours," he spanked her lightly.

Salina huffed, raising a brow at him expectantly. "Wanna tell me what that's about?"

"Not particularly."

"Dominik."

The two stared at each other, moments passed.

"I was working on something for you, it's not going how I would like it to. It was for our wedding day."

Salina's face fell in sympathetic confusion, her skeptical eyes widened a bit and her lips jutted out. "It's okay baby, as long as you're there with me I'll be happy."

He sighed through his nose, caressing her hips. "I wanted to make it special for you. You deserve this."

Cupping his face, she ran her thumbs under his eyes gently. "You've given everything I deserve and more. What are you working yourself up over?" She pushed onto her toes and pulled him down to kiss him firmly, murmuring the question against his mouth.

He pulled away, staring down his nose at her intensely as he usually does. But there was hesitance in his gaze this time.

She thought he wouldn't tell her for a second before he blurted it, "It's your mother on the phone."

Salina inhaled sharply, her stomach dropping to her ass as that was the last thing she expected him to say. Her hands on his face tightened to avoid the shake of them.

"W-What?" Her eyes were widened, her brows were risen, and her jaw had went slack. Dominik frowned tightly.

"I... uh- found her. Started looking around the time I proposed and got her number and address yesterday. I got a hold of her today, wanted to see if she'd be willing to come to the wedding as a surprise."

Salina blinked once, rolling her lips before her eyes fell to his phone. The call was still running on.

"She won't then?" Her voice was quiet, her eyes began to sting.

Dominik exhaled as he closed his eyes, leaning forward to press his forehead against her own. "News got back to her about us... about Laurent. Or what they think happened to Laurent."

"She-She doesn't want to see me?" Salina rasped.

Her husband nuzzled against her neck, "I'll talk to her."

Sighing roughly, Salina pulled away and wiped under her eyes. "Let me."

The two looked at each other, Dominik searched her face for any hesitance. He didn't find any but it didn't matter because she was already reaching for the phone.

As soon as she resumed the call, Salina's breath hitched before her mothers voice came through.

"Don Ivanov this is really getting ridiculous-"

Salina's brain faltered entirely, hearing her mothers voice for the first time since her 18th birthday. Silence permeated the call as it seemed even Elodie felt a shift from the previous demeanor.

"Don?"

Licking her teeth, Salina tucked her chin down as she exhaled slowly. "You took quite the tone with my husband, maman."

There was a sharp inhale on the other line. "Salina," her mother croaked after a moment. The younger woman only hummed in response.

"I didn't- I don't know what to say," Elodie rasped after a moment of silence. "Don got ahold of me- I never reached out myself. I want no part of this-"

"Why is that?" Salina asked slowly. "You haven't spoken to me in... going on six years now. You haven't checked in- my husband is generous enough to invite you to our wedding and your refusing?"

"You know I can't be apart of this anymore. That's-That's why I had to leave. I couldn't take the death and the blood and the dirty money... it was weighing on me so heavily, mon doudou."

my cuddly toy (pookie)

"Don't call me that," Salina hissed after her breath had hitched at the sound of the childhood nickname. "You didn't have a problem taking the dirty money in the divorce. At least he stuck around," she spat.

Elodie swallowed loudly over the phone, her quiet sniffles were loud in the tense silence.

"You're just like him. Don't think I haven't heard what you've been doing- who you've married. What you became."

"What did you fucking think would happen when you left me with him?" Salina snarled as her teeth bared.

Elodie wept pathetically into the phone, "I thought I taught you enough to make the right decision. Obviously not." Salina's nostrils flared, feeling as if the words were a slap to the face. Dominik, who listened with a glare on his face tried to take the phone. Salina pushed his hands away as angry made her face flush.

"What is that what you think of me? All of a sudden I'm the devil now? I worked with what I had- none of which included you. I dealt with dad, I dealt with fucking scumbag assholes, I've been taken and all no thanks to you. I got engaged and I got married no thanks to you!"

Salina's voice had risen into a sharp yell, growing tired of her mothers weeping.

Elodie could barely stand the the sound of her daughters voice at this point. "And it's my fault you went and killed your father? That's my fault too?"

"Why don't we just add it to the god damn list while we're at it."

Both the women were huffing as emotion overtook them.

Sneering to herself, Salina cleared her throat while steeling her face. "You don't deserve to be at our wedding. My husband was nice enough to extend the offer, you should thank him for gracing you with the time of fucking day." Salina's fist tightened around the phone.

"I'm sure this was just who you wanted to hear from today but unfortunately don't plan on hearing from us again. Keep in mind how easy it was for Dominik to find you, unless you plan on running once again I'd keep the cops out of this. We all know what happened to dad after he pissed me off."

"Salina..." Elodie whispered. "I'm sorry."

"Fuck you."

With a growl, Salina threw the phone to the side and finally spared her husband a glance. He'd been holding her waist firmly, the two stared at each other. Salina craned her head back to meet his eyes.

"моя любовь," Dominik murmured. His forehead leaned down against her own, his nose nudged her own, before his lips pressed to hers briefly.

my love

"I shouldn't have found her without talking to you." Dominik was fuming. His fists clenched tightly, his mind already churning with when and who he should send to that bitch of a womans home. He was thinking about how long he should make her suffer.

His mouth twitched at the thought of making her pay for upseting his wife.

"Stop it," she whispered against his jaw. "None of that was on you. That was the nicest thing anyones ever done for me, just the fact that you tried for me. It's not your fault she's a cunt."

Dominik grunted as she ran her hands over his side, the tender skin of his wound brushed against her palm.

"Do you still want to marry me after I threatened my mother over the phone?" Salina snorted sadly as she buried her face in his chest.

With a growl, Dominik gripped her jaw. Roughly, he tilted her head up while sliding his grip to her slender throat.

"You're already mine, жена. There's nothing changing that. But if anything, that makes me want to marry you even more," his accent thickened as his voice lowered. "I could prove it to you. Right here, right now. I could prove it to you long and hard."

Salina cracked a reluctant grin, wrapping her arms around his neck while he kissed at her jaw. She was still reeling from talking to her mom, but she didn't let herself dwell on it for now. That was something to unpack later on, not in a random dressing room. For now, they'd have to be put on hold and processed later. She was done with her parents ruining things.

"C'mon baby, let me show you how much I love you." Dominik dropped his grip to grope her ass and hike her up against him.

"Mm," she moaned as he sucked on her throat. "Later, mon cœur. I know you love me. I love you so much," she caressed his face while trying to calm him down. She could feel his hands shaking from the anger he was trying to mask from her. But she knew him too well.

While holding his cheeks, Salina admired his muscular frame. "You look so handsome, we need to decide on what you're wearing. No more distractions."

Dominik narrowed his eyes for a moment, squeezing her throat for a brief moment. "I kill her later, yes?"

Salina peered up at him through her lashes, "We'll talk about it later."

But he didn't let her pull away when she tried, instead he leaned down to brush his mouth over her own. Inahling her scent, "Tell me yes," he husked softly.

"Maybe."

Their dark pairs of eyes clashed when, as if he couldn't help himself, Dominik kissed her hard. He kissed her like he'd never get enough of her in this lifetime, soaking in her essence in the wet kiss. Everytime either pulled away for air he dove right back in as he rumbled and licked at her sweet taste.

"Fine," he relented after kissing the life out of her.

Salina blinked blearily, gathering herself as her lips tingled and bruised. She could only nod for a moment.

Dominik smirked as he kissed her cheek before glancing around the dressing room.

"Change your mind about the bow tie yet?" He tried to slip in.

"You're wearing it," she held strong even if her legs felt like jelly. He chuckled and nodded at her, pecking her softly one more time before she stumbled her way out for him to put the final outfit together.

Finally, it felt like they could move on with their wedding right around the corner.

•••

tying up loose ends with the chapter
it was a long time coming 😌😌

now that we've met and seen the last of dumb ass Elodie we can fully move onto the wedding !!