Page 71 of His Deadly Devotion

“Twice. It’s only been twice,” Aurora says. “And he deserved it both times.”

Aisling glances between us. Obviously confused. “I’m not even going to ask. I do have cake, though,” she says as she stands from the table.

“I can’t possibly eat another thing. Sorry,” Aurora tells her.

“That’s okay. I’ll pack some for you to take with you.” Aisling walks off towards the kitchen.

“She can cook. I think we should swap cousins. I don’t have any who can cook like that,” Aurora says.

“Babe, my cousins are your cousins now,” I remind her.

She grins. “Oh, so all of mine are yours too, then.”

“Fuck no, those assholes are all yours.” I shake my head.

Aurora’s fist hits my arm. A lot harder than I thought she would have been capable of, given her current state. “Don’t call my cousins assholes.” She glares at me.

“Sorry,” I mumble.I’m not sorry one bit.“Come on. We really should leave.”

“I’m coming with you.” Patty stands with us.

“You should go home,” I tell him.

“And miss the honeymoon? No way.” He grins.

Before we make it out of the dining room, the doorbell rings through the house. “Are you expecting someone?” I ask Aisling when she comes walking around the corner.

“No.” She shakes her head. “Let me check who it is.”

Patty follows her to the door, while I keep Aurora hidden in the dining room. As soon as I hear the person speak, I relax. I know that voice.

“I’m just going to get a glass of water. Be back,” Aurora whispers before stepping towards the kitchen. I follow her, of course.

“That’s a knife, not water, babe.” I smirk.

“I know,” she says, her grip tightening around the handle. I grab on to her as she goes to walk past me. “Let me talk to her first.”

Aurora blinks up at me. Something flickers in her eyes. I can’t pin it, though. “Why?”

“Because she wouldn’t have done this of her own free will,” I explain. “Whatever my father made her do, it’s on him. Not Maeve.”

“Did you love her?” Aurora asks.

“What?”

“Did you love her?” she repeats.

“No. I’ve only ever loved one girl, Aurora O’Malley. And that girl is you.”

“Good.” She smiles. “Let’s go and have a chat with the girl you gave your virginity to, then.”

I follow her out.How the fuck does she know that? What the hell did my ex tell her?

Maeve has her back to us when we enter the living room. “I’m sorry about your carpets, Aisling. I will replace them,” Aurora says right before she shoves the knife into Maeve’s spine.

The scream that follows pierces my ears, and my hands shoot up to the sides of my head on instinct. “Fucking hell.”

Aurora pushes Maeve onto the ground. “Tell me… is this the part where you try to take my husband from me? Is this where you try to make him feel sorry for you? Fall in love with you?”