Page 129 of Marrying the Billionaire Single Dad

"The Seven instituted that?" I start.

"Yes..." she smiles, "stuff they don’t like to talk about, but which you’ll find out as you get to know them better."

"O-kay." I scan her features, "What are you trying to say?"

"Give Damian a chance. Get to know him. While this is not a traditional arranged marriage, in some ways, you are marrying a stranger."

"Except he isn’t," I say. "Not really."

"Exactly." She pats the space above my heart, "Where it counts, you know."

"Yeah," I swallow, "you’re right. I do know him. I know that he’s not as self-destructive as he wants me to believe, not as cruel as he tries to portray himself, not as…lacking in heart as he often signals with his actions, not as," I swallow around the lump in my throat, "not as much of an alphahole as the persona he portrays to the world." I stare into her face. "So… You’re saying, there’s a chance that things will work out?"

She wipes a stray tear off of my cheek, "Only one way to find out, babe. You ready to go in now?"

42

Damian

I tug on the sleeve of my button down, then glance at Arpad, "How do I look?"

"Your usual sorry self." He grins.

"Jesus, why the hell did I bother to ask?" I glance forward through the now-open doors onto the rippling waters of the pool where I had been unceremoniously dunked and held captive by the rest of my ex-friends… Yep, I’ve officially disowned them, as of fifteen minutes ago— when they’d not allowed me out of the pool until I’d promised I’d go through with the ceremony… Which, to be honest, I had no intention of skipping. Not after that promise I’d obtained from Flower. And while I had been upset with her having sneaked a peek at my work—How the hell had she come across it, anyway?—it had, more, been surprise at her coming to my defense in the face of the rest of the Seven turning on me. Including that bastard Baron.

Bastard knew exactly what to say in his letter. He'd goaded me, knowing I'd do the exact opposite of what he suggested. I curl my fingers into fists.

How the hell had he found out about my upcoming nuptials anyway?

A mystery that Arpad has taken upon himself to track down, given the letter had been sent to him.

I roll my shoulders in the perfectly-fitted tux—which Edward had produced, along with the rest of this tailored suit that I am wearing. Seems this is his wedding gift to me. He’d had it arranged, right down to the formal shoes. I glance down at my feet. I am actually wearing Italian-fucking-loafers. When was the last time I put on such formal wear? At Stella and Riley’s funeral.

I draw in a breath, waiting for that familiar pain to stab at my chest... And it does, and my guts churn, and my belly coils in knots, and yet… Somehow, I also swallow down the taste of my grief and turn to where the rest of the men are lined up to my left. "I’m going to get back at you guys," I warn.

"Looking forward to it, brother," Arpad chuckles.

"Better make sure it’s not an empty threat this time, Savage," Jace laughs, before blowing a kiss across the space to his wife Sienna, who just walked in with their newborn in a sling. The tiny baby looks fucking sweet, I’ll admit. How the hell can I even look at the kid without tying myself in knots like I used to, huh? Apparently, sharing my grief, first with Julia, then with Arpad and the rest of this lot, seems to have loosened something inside of me. Maybe there is hope for me? Perhaps I can get past the darkness that has gripped me for so long?

"You okay, Savage?" Saint asks.

"Yes." I shake my head, "No. Shit…" I drag my fingers through my still damp-hair… Yeah, I’d managed to jump into the shower in the changing rooms by the pool, which is where I’d also gotten dressed. My wedding day and I am actually dressed in a formal tux—something which is so far from my own style that, honestly, I have to ask… How the hell did this happen?

"Also, you’re welcome," Sinclair drawls.

"For what?" I scowl

"For making sure you turned up for your own wedding, you shoe stain."

I wince, "Getting creative with your insults, finally, I see?"

"Getting antsy as the time draws closer, I see?" Arpad chuckles. He pulls out his phone and snaps a shot.

"What the fuck?" I mutter. "You’re in disgustingly good humor."

"Unlike you." Edward smiles from his place in front of me. "Not long now, Savage." He smirks. "Any last wishes before this last step?"

"Hey," I protest, "you’re my priest, for fuck’s sake—"