Page 260 of Intense

I nod toward Theo and his brothers, a curt greeting. Enzo is beside them, an unlit cigarette between his fingers. At the end of the day, whatever decisions are made here will rest on Enzo’s final call.

I know what my brothers want. I know what my future with Stephanie looks like. Now we just need the nod.

“Well, London was a shit show.” My voice cuts the silence.

Theo exhales, tugging at his collar. “We had no idea we were dealing with a ghost. Everyone believed James was dead. I’m sorry.”

I understand his point; none of us had a clue James was alive, pulling the strings from a grave.

“It’s done with now,” Declan snaps, cutting him off before sparks can fly. “What matters is how we move forward with this alliance.”

The truth is, with the war on the horizon here, we need Theo’s men with us.

“We’ve spoken to our elders,” Theo says. “We still want it. We have permission to agree to terms today.”

I glance toward the twins. I’m not sure how much Declan has filled them in, but they’ll find out soon enough. Old school. A vow of loyalty.

“Then here’s the deal. Your sister, Bella, will marry Reggie. She moves here, marries him, becomes one of us. Once that’s done, we begin working together.”

Theo looks to his brothers. Kane coughs. Ryder grins like this might actually be a relief.

“You clearly haven’t met our sister,” Ryder smirks.

“This might be the best thing for her,” Kane says. “She needs the real world.”

“I’ll deal with her,” Reggie cuts in, his voice deeper than usual.

Rowan frowns. “Why do you get to?—”

Reggie silences him with a stare sharp enough to cut glass. “You’ve had enough shit to deal with recently. You’re still recovering. Let me take this one.”

Rowan opens his mouth, but Reggie raises his brows.

“I’m the eldest. It’s my duty. I’ll marry Bella.”

The words sound like poison on his tongue, but he doesn’t flinch.

“We’ll make it happen,” Theo agrees, though unease shadows his voice.

I’ve got a funny feeling Reggie has no idea what storm is about to land in his lap.

“And Arthur?” I ask. “Keeping quiet, I assume?”

After Conan went ten rounds on him, my brother let him walk, well only just. Even Conan knows sometimes death is too easy. Conan hasn’t lost his spark. No. He saw that Arthur saved me, and even my beast of a brother has a fucking heart.

We will never, ever, forgive Arthur. But, it’s not his time to die. He’s earned a few more years to survive. Or maybe months, who knows.

Theo nods. “We’ve got eyes on him. Man can’t take a shit without us knowing. Not that he can physically move much right now.”

I chuckle darkly. “Good.”

“So. A union through marriage. Old school.” I smirk.

Theo returns it. “Yeah. But it’s not the elders I’m worried about, Finn.”

I shrug. Their sister will adjust. Maybe she’ll even like her grumpy new husband.

Declan rises, offering Theo his hand. They shake, sealing the deal.