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“And you would come with me, right? For the start of it?” I’d have to get the full crest before the wedding.

“I’ll come for every sitting for the crest,” he turned, grabbing my hand. “And when you get my name, I’ll be getting yours right beside you.”

Yeah, and a thousand or more people will be watching us.

I slowly nodded. “Okay,”

I’d made peace with what we had a long time ago. The way he loved me now was more than I ever thought I’d get.

“Okay what?”

“Okay, I’ll marry you.”

The shock on his face, as if there was ever a chance I’d pick his cousin over him.

CHAPTER 21

Vince

Nikolai handed his menu back to the waitress after ordering. Bastion and Luca shared a look. The two of them were acting strange tonight. When one wasn’t staring at me, the other was.

“So, um, I changed the menu. Added a heap of new dishes.” Luca said, tapping the table.

Glancing at Nikolai. Had he noticed how weird the twins were acting tonight? Bastions knee was jumping every few seconds and Luca had word vomit. Though the longer I looked at Nikolai, the more I got concerned about him. He looked sick.

“I’ll have the same as him.” I handed the waitress the menu.

“Nik ordered steak.” Luca said, staring at me.

“And?” I checked my watch. It wasn’t like her to be this late.

“Unfucking believable.” He muttered before asking the waitress just to bring the whiskey over.

“What is going on with them?” I muttered under my breath at Nik, who seemed to be in his own weird mood.

“So Rome can’t make it. Said um, he was real busy.” Bastion gulped a full glass of whiskey down, “So I thought um, if you need someone tonight, I’ll come with you.”

Why would I need someone? And when did we start to consider hiding at the brothels as real busy? Had the boyslost their minds? So this is what happens to them, when I’m unavailable for a week.

“What did you let happen to them this week?” Looking at Nikolai. “One week. You had to look after them for one week.”

“What? How is this my fault?”

“Romes hiding at the brothels. Luca has word vomit. Bastion has a nervous twitch and is volunteering to come with me to torture people.”

“Right, of course. Blame me.” Nik took the whiskey off the waitress.

Bastion started cursing under his breath. Following his eyeline. Finally, she is here.

Pointing between the twins, “Whatever this is, stop it.” Looking at Nikolai. “You and I will talk about this later.”

“Oh hi Maddy,” Bastion quickly spoke, as soon as she reached the table. “Are you by yourself tonight? If not, there is a better restaurant across the road. Great for um celebrating and real romantic too. Great for couples. Better than, um, this one.”

What the fuck was wrong with him? There was a theater across the road. Had he started using drugs? Madeline stared at him, confused. Like any sane person would.

“Just ignore him.” I got up, pulling the chair out beside me for her. Before they could scare her off.

So much for no serious damage could happen with me taking one week off.