Page 100 of Soft Tissue Damage
I stop what I’m doing and stare at her in surprise. Rosie has only ever called me Layna, and I haven’t encouraged her to call me anything else yet. I haven’t felt certain it’s the right thing to do. “Who am I, Rosie?”
“Mama,” she says again, beaming at me.
Mystified, I look up at Cullan. “Did you teach her to say that?”
“I didn’t. Rosie must have decided all by herself.” He opens his arm to me, and I sit in his lap and nestle into his other side. “My beauties,” he murmurs, kissing first Rosie and then me.
As his hand caresses my stomach, I think of all that we’ve been through together. The good and bad, the chaotic and serene. The emotional pain that has caused us soft tissue damage. Damage that we’re healing together.
“Do two killers deserve a happy ending?” I ask him.
Cullan smiles with mischief glinting in his eyes. “How about we find out?”
When Vivienneand Tyrant offer the gardens of their home for our wedding, Cullan and I immediately accept. Not only is their home beautiful, but it’s a very special place for us, thanks to the work Cullan has done on the property, the days I spent there, and the night he and I shared in the center of the labyrinth.
We spend the night before the wedding in Vivienne and Tyrant’s home, and the day dawns bright and clear. When I glance out the window, I can see people putting up a flower arch, a marquee, and pretty white chairs for the wedding guests.
My stomach fizzes with excitement. It’s going to be a small, intimate wedding, but a beautiful one. I was going to buy a simple dress, but then Cullan asked me if it would make me happy to hang beautiful wedding photographs on the walls of our home that we could look at every day. The answer was yes, and so I bought the wedding dress of my dreams. It doesn’t matter that only two dozen or so people will see me in it. Cullan and I will enjoy it forever.
Vivienne knocks on our door. She’s brought us coffee, and she’s going to help me get ready. As a part-time costume and art design student, she has a flair for creative hair and makeup. Cullan leaves us to get ready in another room, and Vivienne transforms me into a fairytale princess.
“I think I’m going to cry,” I say as I stand before the long mirror, overwhelmed by the sight of myself in a floor-length petal skirt gown that falls gracefully over my baby bump. There are small blue flowers and shimmering decorations woven into my long, loose hair. “Thank you, Vivienne.”
Vivienne hurries forward with a tissue and dabs at the inner corners of my eyes. “It’s my pleasure. I can’t wait to see Cullan’s face.”
I can hear music drifting up from the garden and through the open window. I can’t wait to see Cullan. I can’t wait to be married to Cullan.
Vivienne gives me an excited smile and hands me my bouquet of blue and white flowers. “Guests are arriving. It’s time to go downstairs.”
I feel like I’m in a wonderful dream as I walk through the wide corridors of Vivienne and Tyrant’s home wearing my beautiful dress. The rustle of fabric, the scent of my flowers, even the sunshine itself feels magical.
Vivienne kisses me and leaves me on the terrace. From here I can glimpse the guests through a flower arch.
“We’ll be waiting for you. Whenever you’re ready,” she tells me, and goes and takes her seat.
I take a deep breath and a moment to myself to gather my thoughts. My words to Cullan not long ago come back to me.
“Do two killers deserve a happy ending?”
I emerge through the archway into the garden, and there he is. Cullan Grant, the love of my life. His face beams with love when he sees me. I’ve seen many of his faces, sometimes masked red, sometimes dark and sprayed with blood, but no matter if he has a knife or a gun, a bunch of flowers or nothing at all in his hands, he will always use those hands to worship me. He’s seen all my faces as well, and I love a man whose loyalty means his heart is mine. And he will always help me hide the bodies.
Today he wears a dark suit with small blue flowers in his buttonhole that match those in my hair and bouquet. As I walk up the aisle between the rows of chairs toward him, I feel overwhelmed with emotion. I spot some familiar faces. Justine is beaming at me. My mother is holding Rosie, and they smile to me and wave. Tyrant is the best man, and he’s standing by Cullan’s side. Vivienne is holding Huck in her arms and grasping Barlow’s hand.
When I reach Cullan, he takes my hands, and we lean close to each other.
“I love you,” I whisper to him.
His voice is warm and husky with emotion. His hazel eyes glimmer brightly. “I love you too, darlin’.”
My real, secret vows I already spoke to Cullan last night, and as he looks deep into my eyes I know he’sremembering them, and speaking them back to me in his heart.
I take this man in mayhem and slaughter.
In vengeance and assassination.
Through laughter, bloodshed, and tears, I know Cullan will always love me, and I love him.
For the rest of our deadly, hopelessly romantic lives.