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He turns us both so that we’re facing Father Francis.

“Let’s get on with it, Father. And hurry, if you would.” His gaze slides my way. “I’d like to get to the part where I get to kiss my bride.”

My pulse jumps at the thought. With his gentle hold on me, he feels it.

And he laughs. “You seem a little eager, too, princess. Good. Because I fuckingdo.”

He does.

But what about me?

FIVE

HOME

ADRIAN

She tastes just the way I remember.

I lingered on our kiss after Father Francis finally gave me his blessing, allowing me to kiss my bride. I tipped Loni back in my arms, holding her tight so that she didn’t fall and couldn’t escape my lips, and I kissed her with all the unsaid promises that come along with the stock-standard wedding vows.

There wasn’t time for us to write our own. I made a mental note that we would have to have a vow renewal before our wedding reception, but once Father Francis announced to the assembled crowd—to Dallas, just Dallas—that he pronounced Loni and me as man and wife, I kissed her, then whisked her right to the car waiting for us in the parking lot.

It was full when I parked. Now? It’s empty, and if she seems surprised that there isn’t an array of squad cars waiting to arrest me for first-degree murder, she’s smart enough not to remark on it.

Ten years away from Harmony Heights has made her forget who owns this town. So long as it happens within the town’sborders, I could walk up to anyone affiliated with the Order, take them out, then flash my palm and it would be like it never happened. We police our own, and even if I wasn’t Jack’s nephew, I had every right to gun down Desmond the way I did.

I swore an oath in blood, and he paid for trying to break it with his.

The way I see it, it’s just another figure to add or subtract. A longtime friend subtracted from my life in order to add the woman I’ve always considered mine. His death was Desmond’s fault. He never should have gone after Loni, and now all of Harmony Heights knows she is abso-fucking-lutely off-limits.

It’ll spread like wildfire through the town. I know that much. Everyone at the wedding was affiliated with the Order, one way or another. While half of the crowd left because they didn’t want to get involved in personal business within the society, the other half must have run straight to the Fortress to tell everyone what they saw.

I’m expecting a call from Jack sooner or later. Dallas stuck around St. Catherine’s, offering to do the clean-up for me, but that’s not all. As a wedding gift to me and Loni, he promised to keep his father off my back until at least tomorrow. That way we have a wedding night before I have to explain myself to the King.

Not that I’m worried. I’m not. I was in the right, and he knows it.

Oh, no. The only thing I’m worried about is Loni. Loni and her reaction to becoming my new wife.

The only comment she had after we left the church was, “I guess Dad decided to go home.” She said it quietly as she took in the empty lot, and when her body seemed to sag under the weight of her bloody wedding dress, I eased an arm around her and helped lead her to my car.

She didn’t say another word until I pulled into the circular drive of my three-story home. A softly whispered, “Yours,” that I answered with a very firm, “Ours.”

I helped her out of the car, looping my arm through hers so that we could walk up the steps together. Then, because I consider us married now, I hefted her up in my arms so that I could carry my bride over the threshold.

That was about fifteen minutes ago. Since then, she’s drifted from room to room, taking in the first floor with a strange expression on her pretty, pretty face. She’s in shock, I know she is, and—if she’s anything like the Loni I remember—there will be hell to pay when she finally comes out of it, but for now, I follow behind like a lovesick puppy dog as she meanders in wobbly heels through the front room, the kitchen, the dining room, the living room, and, finally, the hall outside of the first-floor bathroom.

I watch her take it all in, marveling over our place. And it’sourplace. The moment I walked out of my parents’ home for the final time as a resident, I took the money in my account and found a house that would be the starting point to my future; the future I would one day have with this woman. Deep down, I always planned on making it work out between us. If I couldn’t go after her right away, I would when I had to, and I’d bring her back here.

Just like I did tonight.

If it wasn’t Desmond who I had to eliminate for trying to Claim her, there would’ve been someone else. For Loni’s sake, I kept my interference to strict blackmail and threats of extortion to erase any of her other lovers. With Desmond, I could’ve bought him off if necessary, but because itwasDesmond… he paid with his life instead of cash, just like any other Owed would who crossed me.

In the hall, there’s a large oval antique mirror that I bought because the gilded frame reminded me of Loni’s delicate beauty. Sometimes, I would walk by it, and I’d see myself reflecting back, wishing I could catch a flash of her wavy strawberry-blonde hair, her striking hazel eyes, and those adorable freckles dotting the bridge of her nose.

It’s there now. She’s staring at her face in my mirror, prodding some stray blood spatter that managed to decorate her cheek.

She hasn’t changed yet. A stray lock of hair has fallen free of her elaborate updo. The diamond piece has shifted a little. The dress, of course, is ruined.