Page 111 of The Mafia's Bride

Something like pain flashes through her eyes but it’s quickly swallowed. Every emotion my sister ever feels is there, if someone looks hard enough.

I’ve never cared enough to see it before. Too self-centered, too stuck in my own way, to really see someone else. To see other’s pain. If they didn’t give me the attention, the love I demanded right away, then I assumed they didn’t want me.

Maybe Maeve loves me, just in her own way.

“You married me to the De Luca family to save me, didn’t you?” I ask quietly. She rears back as if slapped. “You said Pops had a plan for me but now as the Captain, you got to decide. You married me to Lex to save me from something.”

My sister tries to open her mouth, but I hold up a hand. “It’s fine, you don’t have to tell me.” Standing, I keep the blanket wrapped firmly around my shoulders, Maeve following. “I don’t think I’ll ever forgive you. For forcing me to marry and taking away my free will. It’s the one thing I thought I’d always be able to do. Pick a husband. Decide when I was ready.”

Maeve slips her hands into her pockets and nods. “I know. I don’t expect forgiveness.”

I look over to Lex, who is nodding to whatever the EMT is explaining to him. He’s barely listening, watching me intently. His eyes sear me to the spot, making my stomach flutter with the love we share. A love I never thought I’d get.

“Just tell me,” I say, glancing back to my sister. “It was to keep me safe, right? Everything you did. You did for me, didn’t you?”

A tender look passes over her face as she nods. “Everything I always do is for you, Briar, and Collins. Always.”

That’s as close to an admission as I’ll ever get from Ace O’Brien.

Satisfied, we cross the lawn, as Killian appears at Maeve’s shoulder, jerking his head to the right. Hayes drags a bloody and burned body behind him.

He’s breathing, flailing even in unimaginable pain. One shoe is missing, his shirt is ripped and blackened from soot. There are burns all over his body, and his face is puffy from my hits.

I shudder.Dom. He’s alive, barely. But alive.

Killian and Maeve share an intense look, silently communicating in a way I’ll never understand. My stomach churns.

Wrapping me into his arms, Lex gestures to his cousin. “Nico gave him to you.”

“Took some persuading,” Killian replies, fishing out a cigarette. “But once he realized that Ace wasn’t taking no for an answer, and he didn’t need her as an enemy, he gave him up willingly.”

“I doubt my uncle wanted to torture and kill his own son.”

Maeve adjusts her stance, arms crossed as she looks to me. I can’t read her expression, eyes too dark and calculating. “Do you want to do it, kid? It’s your call.”

Torture and kill the man who tried to take me? Hurt me? Assault me?

I should be able to. Should want to do it. I learned to use a gun, stabbed a man, ruined my ex-best friend’s life for trying to get rich off my messes. I’ve stooped to some low levels recently in order to take control of my life and power.

Yet, I know I can’t do this. I’ve been touched by this life, but I’m not a monster. He deserves all the pain in the world. But it won’t be at my hands.

“No. I trust you to make him pay for what he did.”

The sinister smirk turns my blood cold. Oh, Maeve is certainly going to make him pay.

Without another word, my sister and Killian stalk across the lawn and shove Dom’s battered body into her G-Class. They don’t look back, and I don’t ask any more questions.

Sometimes, it’s best not to know.

An overwhelming sense of relief washes over me, and my shoulderssag against Lex. After this, no one will dare lay a hand on me or Lex.

“Your sister is terrifying.”

“Good thing she’s on our side.”

Lex chuckles, kissing the top of my head.

“Come on, my little menace. That’s enough blood and mayhem for the night. Nico has a hotel suite booked for us and I need to kiss every inch of your damaged body as penance for ever letting you out of my sight.”