Page 40 of Thorns of Deceit

By the time the credits rolled, my head rested against his shoulder. His steady warmth, the quiet steadiness of him, wrapped around me like a shield. I felt safe, more than I had ever felt, and it surprised me considering we’d both been somewhat forced into this marriage.

On the drive home, the city lights blurred past the window, but all I could focus on was the connection that had been building all evening.

“I had… a really nice time tonight,” I whispered, my voice almost drowned out by the hum of the engine.

“I did too,” he said, and there was a gentleness in his tone that made my heart flutter. “I want more nights like this. Just us. Just…” He trailed off, then smiled faintly. “Just us getting to know each other.”

I swallowed hard, the words sinking in, and I realized, with a slow, warming certainty, that I wanted that too.

I turned to look at him, and in the soft glow of the dashboard lights, he caught my gaze.

“I like you,” I whispered, and even as the words left my mouth, I felt them settle into something solid and undeniable.

“I like you too,” he said quietly, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Then he reached over, brushing my hair back from my face with a careful tenderness, and I felt my chest tighten with happiness.

That night, I didn’t just leave dinner and a movie behind. I left a little piece of my caution at the door, along with my disbelief, and stepped into something real—a quiet, growing love I hadn’t expected but knew I wanted more than anything.

FOURTEEN

RAVEN

Awhole two weeks had passed since I ran into the Callahans torturing the mayor and had been forced to marry Aiden, and my mom was still oblivious.

Yesterday, we’d agreed to visit with every intention of letting her know what had happened and that I was now a married woman.

But things hadn’t gone according to plan. We’d found her drunk on her living room couch—even more than usual—and when we tried to help her sit and drink some water, she started mumbling incoherently. And then proceeded to throw up all over herself.

“Come on, Mom.” I’d sighed, my chest twisting and my embarrassment growing. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

I went to take her arm gently, but Aiden was quicker, scooping her up and carrying her into the bathroom.

“Shower or tub?” he asked.

I eyed the shower, knowing it’d be a more sensible option. But there was no way I could hold her up and wash her on myown. And there was no way in hell I’d ask Aiden to help. He shouldn’t be subjected to something like that.

“Tub, please.”

He lowered her with surprising gentleness, then nodded at me once and made his way out of the bathroom.

When he reached the threshold, he glanced over his shoulder and said, “Just shout if you need help.”

“Mom, I really wish you’d stop this,” I rasped when it was just the two of us, working her out of her vomit-stained shirt, then pants. “You’re killing yourself.”

“Already dead,” she mumbled, her body tilting forward. “Love kills, baby.”

I swallowed and got to washing her. There was no point in arguing with her or trying to make her see that she was only harming herself. This wasn’t the first time I’d found myself in this situation, and it wouldn’t be the last.

After her bath, I dried her off and then got her dressed in clean pajamas, although it was only two in the afternoon. Considering how much she’d had to drink, she’d probably sleep right through the night and into tomorrow.

I held her upright as we came out of the bathroom, stopping abruptly at the sight before us. My eyes traced every surface of the gleaming bedroom, and through the open door, I could see the living room was just as spotless. There was no trace of vomit, the clean disinfectant overpowering the stench of alcohol.

I blinked, my eyes burning with emotion.

Aiden had sat on the couch, tapping away on his phone, probably handling some mobster business that he wouldn’t discuss with me, when he lifted his head and found me standing in the middle of Mom’s bedroom. Our eyes connected while I blinked profusely, trying to stop any tears from making an appearance.

He flashed me a warm smile, winked, and then went back to work.