55. Wedding Bells
55
WEDDING BELLS
AIDAN
K oen appears in my doorway. His eyes drop to the little Russian in my arms.
“Family meeting.”
Rory startles at the sound of his voice, pulling away from me.
“Both of you,” he says, before disappearing into the hall.
Solemnly, I reach down, taking Rory’s hand in mine. “Come on,” I tug her after me, but she’s apprehensive. “It’s okay,” I reassure her, squeezing her hand to remind her of the promise I made.
Still unsure, she allows me to tug her down the hall, her hand gripping tight to mine. We walk out to find both of my brothers, Koen and Liam, on the couch. Alex is holding up the far wall with his back, and Reagan is even present, curled up in the armchair by the window. Rory stiffens at the sight of her former bodyguard.
“The Bratva know the Irish have Rory.”
“Jesus, Koen.” I run a hand down my face. “Good morning to you, too.” I find a spot on the couch and tug Rory down next to me.
Koen ignores me, “Adrik has spun a story claiming the Irish kidnapped his daughter and murdered her fiancé.” He frowns. “If it wasn’t war already... It is now. The Mafia is all fired up over Carroza.”
I nod, well aware of the shit storm about to come down on us. Only accelerating the inevitable war with the Bratva and Mafia with my actions last night. Throwing gasoline atop the flames of an already roaring fire.
“Nikolai Kostalov has promised to inflict a slow death upon all the O’Rourkes unless his sister is returned immediately and unsullied.” Rory’s eyes widen, shocked or afraid by her brother’s proclamation—I can’t tell.
Koen’s eyebrow raises when I let out a laugh, leaning back further into the cushions. “Well, I don’t think it’s a secret that quite a bit of sullying went down last night.”
Rory stiffens beside me at the same time Koen’s gaze hardens, and Liam grins, shooting me a sly wink.
Reagan winces across the room, “Gross.”
Clearing his throat, Koen attempts to rein this conversation back in. “You know I have your back, no matter what…” His eyes drop to Rory at my side, our hands still linked, before returning to mine, and I nod.
“We all do—” Alex adds from behind us.
“All that is to say, a war is coming. The Irish are fierce and they are loyal and will fight to the death to protect their own .” Koen’s eyes bore into mine, full of unspoken words. The silence drags out as I tumble over them. My jaw works as I try to think of any other way…
“I don’t understand,” says Rory slowly, looking between Koen and me.
“There’s no other way?” I ask.
My brother slowly shakes his head.
Rory watches our silent exchange anxiously, and it’s me who answers her, “He means the Irish won’t protect you— us … We have to get married.”
“No—” Panic breaks out instantaneously across Rory’s face and she pulls away from me, pleading with Koen—with me. Scooting further down the couch. “No, please. Don’t make me—I don’t want to get married…”
“We won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.” Koen’s jaw is tight and his eyes don’t leave Rory. I’m watching the two of them carefully.
She’s quiet for a moment, coming to the same cool realization I did only moments earlier. “But if we don’t… it’ll endanger everyone in this room.”
Koen confirms with a dip of his chin.
She lets out a shaky breath, avoiding my gaze before launching to her feet and backing down the hallway. “I just—I need a minute,”she mumbles, disappearing toward the bedrooms.
After fifteen minutes pass with no sign of Rory—at Reagan’s urging—I go after her. Finding my little Russian angel perched crossed legged on my bed, eyes boring down into the chestnut hardwoods.
I join her. The two of us sit in silence for I don’t know how long.
“I don’t want to get married,”she whispers quietly, her eyes glued to the floor.
I look up at the sound of her voice.“Neither do I.”
She looks my way, and I sigh, running my hand a few times through my hair. “Look, your father is dead set on marrying you off, Rory. If he gets his hands on you— again —that’s exactly what he’ll do. Likely to the next in line after Carroza. It could be better, it could be worse…” I search her eyes, trying to guess what she’s thinking. “They’re going to keep coming.”
She closes her eyes, looking an awful lot like she’s going to be sick. Suddenly I sit up. “Do you need your medicine?” Concerned her spiraling might lead to an attack…
Her mouth tightens. “No,” is all she says.
Another tense moment of silence passes before I try again. “I can give you money—ship you out of the country. But this is the Russian Bratva we’re talking about here… Not to mention the Italian Mafia think they have some sort of claim on you as well…” My words end in a growl and Rory looks up. “It’s not a matter of if they’ll find you—it’s when.”
“I know,” she concedes, sighing softly.
“There are few things the Mafia respects, loyalty, power and family. If you become family—their claim on you dies. You’ll be Irish. One of us. They will have to respect that. Marriage is sacred in the Mafia.”
“They won’t just let it lie…”
“No, they won’t,” I admit, because she deserves the truth. “They’ll still come for me, but we’ll have the full weight of the Irish mob at our backs. Their claim on you will die. No one can touch you once you belong to me.”Her steely gray eyes soften for the first time, but she shakes her head.
“I can’t be the reason for a war between our families. What if something happens to one of your brothers because of me? What if something happens to you?” The anxiety and distress melts what’s left of the ice wall around my heart. She’s worried about me. My family. Wanting to put us first, even if it compromises her own safety.
I cup her chin, bringing her head back up. “The war is already here. They’re coming for us either way. It’s time to choose a side princess. Will you stay the Russian Angel? Or will you trade in your halo for the Irish Devil?” I smile softly.
Rory still looks undecided, so I change tactics, ignoring the fact I’m trying to convince her to marry me.
“You want to skate.”
Rory looks up, confused by the subject change. “Of course I want to skate, obviously! What does that have to do with?—”
“I want to play hockey,” I cut her off, “Keep playing in the league… A nice, long career. You want the Olympics. Neither of us wants this life. I was already out, I was—” My jaw clicks as I think about how many more timesthe Irish will draw me back in. And what it might cost me…
I reach out, taking her hand in mine, running my thumb over the little silver scar she has across the back of her left hand.
“Marry me, and I will keep you safe. I will get you out. And when we’re free and clear and past this, we can go our separate ways, get a divorce—” Her eyes widen in shock. “—If that’s what you want. I’ll give you that.”
“But a made marriage is forever…” She repeats the words quietly, words I’m sure she’s been told a thousand times. ’ Til death do us part.
“The Irish… we do things a little bit differently.”I’m lying and I wonder if she can tell. I don’t even realize it until the words are out of my mouth. But that’s only when I realize once I make this girl mine—I don’t know if I can ever let her go. I might also be lying when I tell her I can let her go. I’ll divorce her—if that’s what she wants… but even if we’re living apart, I’ll always look out for her. She’ll always be mine .
Rory chews on her bottom lip, her eyes conflicted.
I release her hand and stand, backing away, toward the door. “Think on it. Stay the night. The guest room is yours, though I think you know where I’d prefer you.” My eyes flicker over the bed she’s still sitting on. I can’t overlook the fact that when she ran, she ran to my room.
“You don’t have to decide anything right now.”
She nods, hearing me, but she’s deep in her thoughts.
When I reappear in the living room, everyone is exactly as I’d left them.I crash back down on the sofa, my hands locked over my head, staring up at the ceiling.
“Well?” Koen asks after several minutes of silence passes. I can feel the weight of all of their eyes on me.
I blow out a breath, slowly dropping my gaze to his. “She’s going to think about it overnight.”
Koen works his jaw and slides a look over to Liam, whose jaw tightens but remains shut. “I want you to know, no matter what, we’re here for you, but if she doesn’t marry you…” He shakes his head, concern flickering in his eyes as he runs them over Reagan. “It’s going to get ugly. We should take some extra measures…”
I nod. Extra measures like securing our sister, so should anything happen to us, they won’t be able to get to her. “We’ll do what we have to.”
“That won’t be necessary.” The sound of Rory’s voice has everyone on edge. I twist in my seat to find her standing at the entrance to the living room, her eyes on mine.
“I’ll do it. It’s the best chance we have… I will marry Aidan.”
Shouts and excited cheers rise around us from everyone but Koen.Ideas for the wedding ceremony come tumbling out of Reagan’s mouth and it’s clear why she’s been so quiet this whole time. She’s been busy making plans.
Liam stands, sweeping Rory up into a crushing hug, swinging her around before setting her feet back on the floor. “Welcome to the family, little Kostalova.”
Alex finds her next, her eyes watering a little as the two come face to face. Her former bodyguard nearly fully healed from what he suffered at the hands of her family. He smiles at her reassuringly, “You’re making the right choice Ro. Aidan— the O’Rourkes…” he trails off, but Rory nods in understanding, wrapping her arms around him.
“I know.” She lets out a breath, putting on a brave face, though I know she’s terrified. She steels her spine, releases Alex and looks around at all of us. “What now?”
With his phone already pressed to his ear, Koen is halfway out of the room as he says, “I’m ringing Father Lucent, he’ll be here within the hour.”
Rory pales, looking a little like she’s going to be sick. “An… hour ?” She swallows hard, her eyes darting to mine. I try my best to give her a reassuring smile.It’s all moving so fast.
“Can’t afford to waste any time. Let’s get you two married and everyone out of the city while we plot out our next move. Before the Russians and Italians make theirs.” Koen’s face is grave. “I suggest everyone start packing.”
“I think I have a dress you can wear,” Reagan offers, moving to sweep Rory up. “It’s not much, but it’s better than Aidan’s stinky boxers.” She sticks her tongue out at me as she pulls Rory away with her, and I return it with a face of my own.
“You sure you’re ready to be one of us?” Koen asks, watching the three of us. His question directed at little Kostalova, an unexpected softness in his hard eyes.
If Rory’s startled by his sudden question and the fact he stands only a few feet from her, she doesn’t show it. Instead, the corner of her lips tilt up in the slightest hint of a smile. “I think there are worse things.”