Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 59738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
We follow the clerk into a small room set up with a few chairs and the officiant who is already waiting. The walk up the aisle is entirely too short, and I still don’t know if I can do this. But then I catch sight of our reflection in the mirror on the wall in front of us. Conor in his white button-down shirt and black vest, and me in the white lace dress he picked out for me.
It isn’t a traditional wedding by any means, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at us. From the outside, we look like any other bride and groom about to take the plunge. A little nervous, a lot flushed. But there’s one thing about this picture I can’t deny.
Conor hasn’t taken his eyes off me. And when the vows are read, he repeats them back word for word like they really mean something to him. It scares me even more than the idea that they don’t. Nevertheless, I find myself caught up in the moment, repeating them back just the same.
The ceremony is short, simple, and to the point. It’s over before I can really grasp what I’ve done. And then the officiant pronounces us husband and wife.
Mr. and Mrs. O’Callahan.
She tells Conor he can kiss me, and nervous laughter bubbles up my throat but gets caught there before it can escape. He’s staring at me like he didn’t think about this part. I’m trying to think of something to say, but Conor surprises me when he steps forward and slides his hand up to rest on the back of my neck.
“Just a wee one,” he whispers. And then his head tilts toward mine, hot lips brushing against my mouth that currently feels like the desert.
I’m too stunned to think about it. I can’t understand what’s happening when Conor lets out the smallest of groans, and I start to kiss him back. My lips part, and his tongue invades my mouth as his grip on me tightens. My head spins, and I feel off balance, almost drunk as I melt into his body. He’s so bad for me, but nothing else has ever felt so good.
He tastes of whiskey and mint and danger. So much danger. Surely, I should remember that. But I can’t seem to think of anything else when my hands curl into his vest, adhering to him as our simple kiss turns into an almost x rated show for the officiant.
Conor is the one who finally pulls away, breathless and stunned as his brows pinch together and he examines me like he doesn’t know what just happened either. Neither of us acknowledges it as we put ourselves back together and look anywhere but at each other.
At Conor’s request, the clerk snaps a few perfunctory photos of us, and then we are free to leave. Or in their words, free to start our lives of wedded bliss together.
Outside City Hall, the rest of the bleeding world carries on with their lives as if they don’t have a clue how badly I’ve just fucked up mine. I offer Ivy a smile for her benefit, but she doesn’t notice. As soon as we stepped outside, she shut down, opting for despondency as we drive in silence.
I want to assure her again that everything is going to be alright, but I can’t find it in me to do it. Telling Crow that I’ve gone behind his back and married the girl I was supposed to kill is not a recipe for good things to come.
The enormity of what I’ve done hits me in waves. I don’t suspect Ivy is all that clued in on our mafia culture, and I probably should have warned her that when we marry, that contract lasts a lifetime. It doesn’t matter if she hates the sight of me, we signed our names on the dotted line and now she’s mine and I’m hers. Forever.
When I sneak a glance at her, pale and uncertain, it occurs to me that I like the idea of that a little too much. As fecked up as the whole situation might be, the man in me is satisfied with the fact that I’ve laid claim to her. At least, in my own mind. It will take some time before I confess to Crow. I need to let him get used to the idea before I drop a bomb like this.
There are rules we all have to abide by. And if there’s one thing I can be certain of, it’s that I’ve saved Ivy’s life and secured her protection from the brotherhood.
Wives are off limits.
Maybe it’s cheap, but Crow will have to honor that sacred agreement. It doesn’t mean he can’t and won’t have me killed for it though. What I’ve done is a betrayal of our trust, and I’ll remember that every time I look myself in the mirror.