Page 4 of Scandalous Kingpin

Wynter squeezed my hand before drifting away with her husband, replaced by Davina and her husband, who wrapped their arms around me and said, “Want to come back with us?”

I barely had time to open my mouth when my eldest brother, Aemon, replied, “We’ll need Ivy here with us.”

Bren and Caelan muttered their agreement, sharing furtive glances with Aemon, and I sighed with resignation. Whatever they were hiding, those three would never share it with me, but little did they know how determined I was to find out.

“It’s okay,” I murmured, pressing a kiss on Davina’s cheek. “I’ll call you later.”

Someone cried. A Hail Mary traveled in the wind like a caress. More weeping.

I watched my friend and her husband drift away when I noticed Juliette out of the corner of my eye, standing with her husband, Dante DiLustro. I frowned, surprised she hadn’t come up to me. Usually she was the first one to comfort me and vice versa.

“You ready?” Bren asked.

“Just a moment.”

Caelan took my hand before I could take a step and squeezed it gently. “Just remember, we need you home. We don’t want you going off with your friends until we eliminate this threat.”

“What threat?”

He winced like he’d let something slip. “Nothing for you to worry about. You just need to stay in Ireland and out of trouble.”

Slipping my hands into my dress pockets, I headed through the cemetery, the frost crunching beneath my boots.

“Hey,” I greeted, kissing Juliette’s pale cheek, closing my eyes and breathing deeply as her dark hair curtained us in.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t be, we all know this life always brings death.” My voice cracked, and I wiped a stray tear from my cheek.

“Not always,” Dante protested.

“Maybe so,” I said, flashing him a tight smile. There was a weight in my chest, something I hadn’t been able to shake off since hearing of my athair’s death. “Although, one could argue…” I gestured around at the funeralgoers but stopped short when I noticed the tears glistening in Juliette’s eyes. The guilt instantly flared and I added, “Of course, none of this will happen to you.”

“I have something to tell you,” Juliette blurted.

I raised my brow, waiting for her to continue, when Dante wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “This isn’t the time. We should be going.”

He steered Juliette toward the shiny black car parked beyond the procession, whispering into her ear as they went.

My gaze caught on a suit-clad figure off to the side. There Priest stood, hands in his pockets and his gaze on me. I hadn’t seen him since Wynter’s wedding where he’d turned me down hard and fast. Embarrassment racked my body as I thought back to that day. It was barely a year ago, yet it felt like decades had gone by.

I waited with bated breath for the slow ticking to explode into a full-blown war. And through the whole tense ordeal, my gaze tracked Priest.

He’d been keeping to himself since this reception started, usually in the company of his cousins and brother. Spotting him alone now, I slowly made my way over to him, silently whispering encouragement to myself with each step.

“Hey,” I greeted him nervously. The man looked incredible in a tux, and I couldn’t help picturing him on his knees, my leg thrown casually over his broad shoulder, my fingers slipping through his golden hair.

When he flicked a brief glance my way, my anxiety grew. Maybe he didn’t even remember Philly? After all, months had gone by.

I shifted uncomfortably, then continued, “Umm, not sure if you remem?—”

“I remember,” he cut me off, his jaw clenching.

Surprise washed over me, but before I could relish in the fact, realization sunk in. He was pissed.

“I’m Ivy, by the way,” I said, the catch in my voice betraying my confidence.

Priest shrugged. “I know.”