Chapter 75
ROWAN
The minute the jet lands, the air shifts.
Reggie’s quieter than usual, and Bella’s holding his hand like she’s trying to anchor him to the ground.
By the time we reach the hangar, Declan’s already waiting. Black suit, black mood, that Quinn command stitched into every movement. Conan’s leaning against a steel pillar, cigarette between his fingers, looking bored but dangerous.
Finn’s the only one who looks calm, but it’s the kind of calm that makes everyone else nervous.
We file inside the private meeting room. Drago following in behind us, texting on his phone as he walks.
“Alright,” Declan starts, arms crossed. “Let’s talk about Madame Eve.”
Drago flicks the screen toward us, showing a list of Russian names and transaction routes tied to trafficking circuits.
“I’m looking into connections to the Russian guard that Bella identified. And Enzo is tapping into the location Madame Eve let slip.”
Reggie tenses beside me, jaw tight. “Do we think this will lead us closer to The Preacher?”
“That’s why we need to start tracing the money,” Finn cuts in. “We bleed the operation first, not the people, they’ll soon emerge once they start to struggle.”
“Spoken like a surgeon,” Conan mutters, smirking. “You always go for the arteries.”
Finn doesn’t even blink. “That’s where the truth is.”
Declan looks between us, assessing, then turns his gaze on Bella. “Good work, by the way. Your infiltration held up longer than I expected. You’ve got guts, kid.”
She gives him a faint smile, her hand still resting near Reggie’s.
Then Declan drops the grenade.
“Let’s meet at Inferno this afternoon to do some digging. And since we’re on the topic of future logistics, we also need to settle who’s marrying Bella by Friday.”
He glances to Reggie as if he knows he wouldn’t have told me this.
My head snaps up. “What?”
Reggie doesn’t flinch. Of course he doesn’t. He already knew.
Declan sighs like this is the most normal thing in the world. “The alliance needs to move forward. Quinn-King relations are fragile. The deal with Theo King still stands. But if the two of you are sharing her now, it’s a conflict. I can’t have chaos inside the family structure.”
Bella’s lips part, but no sound comes out. My pulse spikes.
“I don’t understand. I was never meant to be the groom?” I ask, voice hard.
Bella looks away from me, and I know I’ve fucked up. Shit.
“Well, perhaps you shouldn’t have gone after the bride.” Declan’s eyes cut sharp. “Theo agreed that either one of you could stand for the alliance. It’s Bella’s decision who.”
Drago whistles low under his breath. “That’s gonna go down real smooth.”
Conan grins. “Place your bets, gentlemen.”
“Enough,” Declan snaps, and the room falls silent. “Figure it out. But do it quickly. The Kings want confirmation as soon as possible.”
The meeting dissolves after that, tension following us out like static.
As we’re walking out, Bella all but runs to the car. I catch her wrist before she gets in, spinning her to face me.
“What I said back there. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to be. Not by a long shot. If you want this, I’m all in, baby. I-I was just shocked. I’d prepared myself to be the extra on the side, just there to be yours.”
She sucks in a breath, her hands landing on my chest.
“You aren’t just my bit on the side, Rowan. I don’t want you to ever feel like that about me. I-I don’t know what to do. This feels like an impossible choice. One that tears us all apart. My heart is yours, just as it is Reggie’s.”
I rest my forehead against hers.
“We will figure it out, precious. We have to. I don’t see any possible way I could ever let you go,” I whisper, my voice breaking.
“I’m sorry I’m putting you both through this,” she sniffles.
The honesty in her voice guts me. I close my eyes and draw in a slow breath.
“Don’t apologize for making me the happiest I've ever been in my damn sorry life. And I think that’s the same for Reggie, too.”
I press my lips against hers, this time just to show her that I’m here. A quiet way to tell her that I’ll never leave her.
“I’ll choose you, over and over,” I tell her.
And I mean it. She is it for me. Regardless of what happens next.
My heart belongs completely to Bella King.
The ride home is silent at first.
Bella sits in the backseat between us, her hand tangled with Reggie’s, her head resting against my shoulder. I can feel her exhaustion, the weight of all of it pressing on her chest.
When she finally falls asleep, Reggie exhales.
“She deserves a choice,” he says quietly.
I turn toward him. “You knew about this.”
He nods once. “I didn’t want to say anything until I talked to Bella. This was her decision. I wanted to figure out why.”
My jaw flexes. I can hear the hurt in his voice.
“And what did you figure out?”
“That there’s no right answer.” He looks out the window. “ This marriage, the politics—it changes everything.”
I lean back, eyes on her reflection in the glass. “And do you think we can share her like we did last night? When a ring gets involved?”
He shakes his head slowly. “It’s a ring. She’s still ours.”
Silence again. Only the hum of the road beneath the tires.
I drag a hand over my face. “If she picks you, I’ll stand by it. But I won’t walk away completely. I can’t.”
He glances at me, something almost like understanding flickering in his eyes. “I wouldn’t ask you to.”
“Then what the fuck do we do, Reg?” I mutter. “You really think either of us can handle watching the other marry her?”
His jaw ticks. “No. But we don’t get to decide this part.”
I stare out the window again. The city lights blur past like sparks on water.
“Yeah,” I say finally. “We’ll let her decide. But whatever she chooses… someone’s heart is going to break.”
He nods, voice low. “Maybe all three.”
Maybe we should just enjoy existing like we are now for a few more days before the bomb drops.