Page 28 of Malicious Marriage (Mafia Lords of Sin #9)

CLOVER

“ Y ou’re getting married today.” Bobby stands in front of me with a small bouquet in his hands. “And you look absolutely beautiful.”

“Do I?” Maybe it’s the nerves churning inside me at the fact that after today I will be Mrs. Savoy and I will have all the wealth and reach I need to find Hailey. It’s the start of my brand-new life.

So, why don’t I feel more excited?

I should be over the moon, ready to knuckle down and track down my sister to get my family back. I should be incredibly eager to walk down that aisle in front of a small collection of friends and seal the deal. Instead, I’m terrified.

“Of course you do,” Bobby says. He steps up beside me and takes my hand, then guides me around to look in the mirror. “Just look at you.”

My ivory white gown clings to my body at just the right angle thanks to the boning of the corset and the pinched, ruffled fabric at my hip and just under one arm.

The sheer material that stretches across my shoulders glitters in the light and the fabric is so fine that it barely even looks like clothing.

It looks like someone has painted glittering stones all over my skin.

My red lips and curled hair complete the look, but even as I stare into the mirror, I feel like someone else is looking back at me.

“Talk to me,” Bobby says gently. “What’s making you frown?” He reaches up and smooths his thumb lightly over my forehead.

“I’m thinking about Dean.”

“Good, as you should.”

“Not like that. I’m thinking about how he was after he came back from talking to Trisha.

He didn’t tell me exactly what went down between them but he looked so unhappy.

He kept thanking me for telling him the truth and talking about trust. And then he got swept away at work so I didn’t have time to say anything. ”

“What do you want to say?” Bobby’s head tilts until he catches my eye. “Are you thinking now is the right time to tell him the truth?” He almost looks hopeful.

I play it out in my mind like I have done for the past three days, but no matter how I try to shape it, things never end well for me.

I tell Dean the truth and explain that without my sister, I don’t have enough claim to get back into the family, that my uncle disowned me and I’m not penniless because of gambling.

I’m penniless because I’m no longer a Byrne.

Each time I play out that rehearsed speech in my mind while begging him to still go along with the wedding, he looks at me with the same pained expression he wore in the kitchen when I told him about Conor. And then he leaves because there is nothing to make him stay.

My entire presence in this deal is to get heat off his back and make those around him think he’s working on securing an heir while also saving him from Trisha. I can’t do that as a nobody.

“No,” I say eventually. “There’s no way this can play out any other way.”

Bobby sighs softly and squeezes my hand. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. No excuse I can give will justify how we targeted him, or how I am like all the others, just after him for his money.”

“As excuses go, it’s a decent one,” Bobby says.

“And yet he’s trying to escape liars. We both know how this will end up. I just need to make sure it falls apart after I find Hailey.”

Bobby grimaces but nods. “I understand where you’re coming from.

Alright, let me go and see if they are ready for you.

” He leans in and presses a swift, soft kiss to my cheek and departs the room, which gives me a moment to gather myself.

It’s simple. I just need to get through today and focus on the exciting fact that I am marrying a gorgeous man.

Then I can finally start properly searching for Hailey.

As I take deep breaths, a jingle rises up from my phone as an unknown call connects.

“Hello?”

“Clover Byrne? It’s Doctor Stevenson. We spoke a few days ago when you were in after the car accident?”

“Oh, yes! I remember. Is everything alright?”

“I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. I have the results of your full workup that your husband requested?”

“Oh, I forgot about that.”

“Understandable, you had quite a shocking night. I wanted to let you know that everything came back fine. I have no concerns about your health and all your superficial wounds will heal quickly.”

“That’s good to know.” I glance in the mirror and slightly stick out my lower lip where the healing cut is hidden under lipstick and concealer. “Honestly, I can barely even feel anything anymore.”

“As for the painkillers I prescribed to you, have you been taking them?”

“Yes. I haven’t felt any pain in my neck since that day.”

“Good. You’ll be relieved to hear that they won’t affect your baby, although I do wish you had informed us you were pregnant before I prescribed them.”

My stomach falls right out of my ass. “What?”

“It’s important to disclose that kind of information, Clover, so that we don’t prescribe anything that can affect fetal development, regardless of whether you plan on keeping the baby or not.”

Pregnant.

I’m pregnant?

No. There’s no way. I can’t be. Dean and I didn’t even… I mean, that was only what, three or four weeks ago? “There must be some mistake.” I laugh awkwardly. “I’m not pregnant.”

“Yes, my dear. You are. It may be the very early stages and your way forward is your own choice, but you very much are. Did you not know?”

“How?” I gasp hoarsely. “How can you even tell?”

“Your husband ordered a full workup which included every test on blood and urine.”

“There must be some mistake!”

“There is no mistake. Mr. Savoy was clear. If you would like to come back in and I can run some more?—”

“No, no, thank you!” I cut her off quickly. “I have to go, I’m sorry!”

Hanging up, my phone slips from my fingers and hits the floor.

Pregnant.

No way.

I can’t be.

Before I have time to process it, the wedding march drifts through the door and Bobby reappears with his elbow cocked and a wide smile. “Ready to get married?”

The ceremony itself passes in a complete blur and I have never been more thankful that we kept it small.

I walked down the aisle with Bobby by my side while Jack, Frankie, Thomas, and Don sat on either side as our witnesses.

The only other people in the room were Dean’s security team who were keeping an eye on everything.

I’m handed off to Dean who looks absolutely stunning in his dark rum suit, and with his warm hand in mine, everything else melts away.

There was his touch, and the doctor’s words flashing around my mind while the minister recited words I didn’t hear.

I blink and I’m facing Dean, who was saying things to me, vows he’d likely prepared, but he might as well have been speaking another language.

When it comes to my turn, I stumble over all my rehearsed words about how kind he is, how thankful I am we found each other and how excited I am for the future.

Through it all, one word remains in my mind.

Baby .

By the time I make it through my vows, tears fill my eyes and Dean’s hand becomes my anchor through the storm of emotions in my chest. Rings are exchanged, words are shared, and suddenly, everyone is on their feet clapping and cheering while Dean’s warm hand touches my cheek and guides me in for a sweet, gentle kiss.

It brings me crashing back to reality and I remember to react in time to make the kiss believable, not that it’s difficult. My attraction to Dean has never been the issue.

“Congratulations, Mrs. Savoy.” Dean’s smile radiates from him like a beacon all the way home and it doesn’t fade until we’re back in Byrne manor with Dean chuckling as he tries to help me out of my dress.

“I think that went rather well, don’t you?”

“I do,” I reply, staring at his reflection in the mirror. “Do you think people will buy it?”

“I made sure a few sneaky pictures were taken to make it into the news, so even if people have doubts, it will be all over the internet within a few hours. Dean Savoy is off the market. Those who matter will assume the next step is a baby, but we don’t need to worry about that.

You have no idea how much breathing room this arrangement has given me, so thank you, Clover. ”

A baby. The next natural expected progression in Dean’s world, and mine, if my family were of a higher stature.

“You’re welcome.” My voice trembles slightly and I release a deep sigh as the ribbon finally slips free from Dean’s fingers and my tight corset eases. “Wow, speaking of breathing room!”

Dean’s warm fingertips run over my shoulder, mapping out the netting and tracing some of the crystal jewels. “You look beautiful. When I saw you walking down that aisle, I almost couldn’t believe my luck. How fortunate we are to have met.”

Fortunate . As if I didn’t insert myself into his life with an insane plan.

“Although you seemed so distracted that I was worried.”

“I wasn’t distracted.” Turning to face him, I catch his hand as it slides from my shoulder. “I was just… focused. I wanted to make sure it was believable in case anyone still carried doubts. I really want this to work out for you.”

“And you.” Dean’s handsome, weathered face melts into a happy, blissful smile. “I promise that once the dust settles and we’ve tracked down your sister, I will take you on a real honeymoon.”

My racing heart that’s been beating like a drum ever since that phone call skips in my chest. “But we’re not really married. We’re not really in love.” Saying that out loud feels so alien when I’m standing in a wedding dress and Dean’s shirt is halfway open.

“Maybe not,” he says. “But I want to thank you for doing this for me. I know we’re keeping things professional and this is a partnership where we both benefit, but you’ve shown more care for me in this past month than anyone has in my entire life.”

The truth rises inside me like a tidal wave and I can’t control it.

I don’t want to break his heart, not now of all nights and not when I might be carrying his baby.

I don’t want to be another woman who’s lied to him and caused him pain while carrying his child, but the urge grows so strong that it almost escapes me in a sob.

Almost.

I surge forward suddenly and smother that urge by grabbing him by the shirt collar and dragging him down for a kiss. Our mouths meet with a bump and he grunts in surprise, then his arm snakes around my waist and he pulls me close.