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These men are ruthless killers, and I have no Gleb to save me this time.
At least, I hope he doesn’t come for me. Because losing him forever has confirmed one thing for me beyond a doubt.
I’m madly in love with him.
And no matter what happens to me, I don’t want Gleb to die.
Though my body’s gone completely rigid, Vinny pulls me forward, dangerously close to Keoghan’s direct line of sight.
“I’ve found my bride, cousin,” Vinny says boastfully, “and we would like your blessing to get married today.”
Seeming irritated by the intrusion, Keoghan huffs. “And your request couldn’t wait until I finished with my meeting?” He gestures to the lifeless heap slowly staining the floor. “Did you want me to bless your marriage with a traitor’s brains all over my hands?”
My stomach turns as I realize they are quite covered. Meanwhile, Vinny seems perfectly at ease with the grisly situation. Goosebumps rising on my flesh, I take an involuntary step back.
Keoghan’s eyes shift to me as he tracks my movement, and a cold sweat breaks out across the back of my neck. My lips part, ready to plead for my life, though I don’t know why.
But as the light of recognition ignites behind Keoghan’s gaze, the fury roiling around him seems to dissipate. He straightens, curiosity replacing the cold hatred, and he eyes me with a hint of speculation. “You want to marry my cousin?” he asks, his eyebrow quirking as his tone turns skeptical.
“Y-Yes,” I stammer, my heart beating faster than a hummingbird’s wings.
Silence stretches between us, and Vinny gives my arm a slight tug, as if he expects me to be more convincing. My stomach tightens, my chest aching as I try to think of what to say.
He can’t seriously think I need to convince Keoghan to let us marry, can he?
But before I can assess the silent communication, Mr. Kelly shrugs. “Fine. If you’re both in agreement, I’ll meet you at the church for the blessing. When’s the wedding?”
“Well, we, uh… we don’t have a church yet. Or a priest. But we’ll find one shortly.”
Keoghan’s laser focus shifts to his cousin, and for the first time, I can feel Vinny start to squirm.
“You came to me without having secured a priest?”
“We’ll find one,” Vinny repeats, his stance shifting into cocky confidence.
Keoghan scoffs. “Good luck with that. You won’t find a legitimate Catholic priest willing to do a shotgun wedding. Have you completed Pre-Cana?”
What the hell is that?
“We will,” Vinny insists.
I glance toward him, sensing I’m missing some sacred ritual that might actually buy me more time.
“Well, if you can get all that done in a day, I’ll bless you. Otherwise, you’re just wasting my time. And you know how much I like it when people waste my time.”
His pointed gaze is sharper than a knife, and Vinny actually gulps this time.
If I could crawl beneath the floorboards, I would. Though thankfully, Mr. Kelly has stopped directing his questions my way.
The tension in the room grows as Vinny seems to hesitate, unwilling to leave without his blessing he’s so determined to receive. Keeping my chin tucked to my chest, I glance cautiously out of the corner of my eye to read his face.
Fire dances in his blue eyes, like he’s debating arguing.
If he does, would Keoghan kill him? He’d be doing me a favor, though I’m not sure my stomach can take another execution. I’ve been working diligently to keep my gaze pointed anywhere besides the dead body oozing blood across the floor.
Then Vinny’s resolve seems to crumble, and miraculously, his common sense takes control.
“Of course,” he says, inclining his head in a gesture of respect. “My apologies, cousin.”
