Page 91 of Monster's Edge

Dangerous.

I’m not really sure how Ian learned to be so smoldering. Is that a thing? Maybe there’s a place where criminal guys go to learn how to be both completely evil and entirely delicious at the same time.

Although we didn’t have any sort of rehearsal last night, everyone seems to know what we’re doing. From what I can gather, Georgetta is my bridesmaid and Eduardo seems to be serving as a groomsman. At the very least, this lets me know that they’re both people Ian trusts, if not respects.

He guides me up a couple of stairs until we’re standing directly in front of a priest.

Then the ceremony begins.

I have no idea what happens. There are a few moments where my eyes scan the crowd, but I don’t see my father at all. He’s definitely not here, but a couple of people who work – or worked – for him are in the faces I see. I want to ask Ian about this. I want to ask what’s going on and what he really did last night, but I don’t.

Instead, I force myself to stay quiet and to try to listen to the words the priest is sharing.

I can’t, though.

I can’t focus on anything, and I feel like I’m watching someone else’s wedding the entire ceremony. Finally, Ian and I recite vows to each other. We didn’t write them ourselves. Our relationship isn’t that special or romantic. He places a ring on my finger and Georgetta hands me one that I slip onto Ian’s. We’re pronounced man and wife, and then it’s over.

That’s it.

Ian kisses me and guides me back down the aisle and out of the church as people clap. We don’t wait for people to throw birdseed or lavender at us. Instead, he takes me into the backseat of a limo and the driver pulls out.

“Where are we going?” I whisper.

“Wherever I want,” he chuckles. He grabs my throat and tugs me to him. Then he kisses me deeply, passionately. It’s wild. When he pulls back, I’m worried that my hair is messed up, but he doesn’t seem to notice. “You look beautiful,” he tells me firmly.

It’s the closest thing to a compliment I think Ian has given me, so I’ll take it. I know he finds me fuckable and I know he finds me slutty enough, but beautiful? That almost feels real. It almost feels like this entire thing isreal.

I have to keep reminding myself that it’s not. I have to tell myself that this isn’t the kind of story that’s going to have a happy ending. Ian isn’t going to wake up tomorrow or in a week and decide that he loves me and wants to build a life with me. He wants to own me, to dominate me, and I’d do well to remember that.

“Thank you,” I find myself whispering. I still want to know where we’re going. Are we going to have a reception? Will there be a party? Finally, I decide to ask. “Will there be a reception?”

“Yes,” he tells me. “It’s starting in thirty minutes.”

“Are we...going?” A quick glance out of the window makes it seem like we’re driving back to the house instead of to a party.

“It’s at the mansion,” he says. I suppose that explains everything. Still, Ian and I are alone for the first time in a long time. At least, it’s the first time in a while that doesn’t involve the bedroom.

“Thank you,” I tell him.

He’s surprised. “For what?”

“For a wonderful wedding. For...making sure that there were no interruptions.”

He knows what I’m trying to say. “You mean that your father wasn’t there.”

I nod.

“He won’t be around anymore, Rose.”

“Ian?”

“Yes, Rose?”

“Did you kill my dad?”

For a long time, he just stares at me. I think that he’s going to lie to me or to simply refuse to answer. There’s a part of me thatalmosthopes he’ll do that. Maybe I don’t really need to know about my dad or the type of person who managed to kill him.

But Ian eventually nods, and he takes my hands, and then he tells me.