Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
Quinn
Eve pins a rhinestone belt over the see-through corset top. She had the dress flown in from a designer friend in California. The designer friend came along as well, but once he’d stitched the last stay in place, he tootled off for a drink with Jim.
My mind is a whirlwind of excitement and trepidation.
What I’m doing is a terrible idea. I’m about to marry a serial killer who was excommunicated from his homeland for killing a fucking mob boss.
Not to mention the fact that I’ve known him for less than three months.
Not to mention the fact that we’ve only spent a night together.
This would make for one hell of a book plot.
I shake my head and look at myself in the mirror as Eve steps away. For better or worse, for richer or poorer, I’m doing it. I’m marrying the man I love.
“Ready?” Eve says.
I nod up at her. “I think so.”
“Not yet, you aren’t!” Cat yells as she barges into the lobby bathroom. She shoves a pair of earrings into my hand. “You need something old. My brother gave me these for my seventh birthday. Well, technically my parents, but still, they’re important to me. And I want you to have them.”
“And you need something new,” Kindra says. “Since you’re getting married before me, I want you to have these with my blessing.”
I look down as she passes two ring boxes to me, inside of which rest two gold bands. I shake my head. “Girls, I can’t accept these. This is too much. Kindra, these were meant for you and Ezra.”
She shrugs. “We’re planning a destination wedding in California before the summer retreat. We’re taking our sweet time, and I think we’ve decided to have our rings tattooed in place anyway. Please take them.”
I clutch them to my chest as tears fill my eyes. “Thank you.”
“I’ve got you covered on something borrowed,” Eve says with a raised finger. She goes to her clutch and fishes out a long box. “I snagged this from one of the assholes I killed. He bought it for his mistress, and it can definitely be traced back, so I kind of need it back after the wedding.”
I open the box and reveal a stunning diamond chest piece. Eve fastens it around my neck, and it hangs perfectly, stopping at the swell of my breasts.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathe.
“Something blue . . .” Frankie mutters. She looks around the bathroom, then realizes there’s nothing in here for a bride to carry into battle. Then her eyebrows rise, and she smiles. “I realize this isn’t conventional, but it is blue. I used the gun blue on it myself just last week.”
She slips something cold and metallic into my hands, and I slide the small weapon into my dress pocket. “Thanks, Frankie.”
“It’s just a little twenty-two, but she’ll get the job done if you’re ever in a bind.”
There’s a knock on the door, and Grim appears when we tell him to enter. He shuffles into the large bathroom, looks around once, then clears his throat. “Everyone is ready to begin, and I grow impatient. Some of us had other plans today. Could you please hurry up?”
He turns and leaves before I can respond, but my heart swells a little. He said please. My grumpy neighbor never says please.
“Okay, I’m ready now,” I say. “Let’s go get married.”
We’re a gaggle of giggles and excitement as we exit the bathroom. They hook their arms together and snag me in the middle, and as a group, we march toward the ballroom. As we reach the doorway, Gary pulls it wide with a smile. I’m happy to see he’s looking much better after his accident.
“You look beautiful, Quinn,” he whispers as we line up. “Jim has a little surprise for you in there.” He winks at me, and a trill of excitement zips through me. I hope it’s a murdery surprise.
The bridal party begins its slow march inside. The men are already lined up on Aven’s side. My groom is blocked from view, but Ezra, Bennett, Maverick, and Ice Pick stretch out to the left of the room. They each smile at their women as they make their entrance. Ice Pick just smiles at everyone.
And then it’s my turn.
As I step through the doorway, everything around me seems to fade until I can only see Aven.
A black-on-black suit hugs every muscle perfectly.
His broad shoulders quiver a bit when he sees me, and he covers his mouth as he fights back tears.
I’ve never felt more beautiful or desired in my life.
And as I look at all the people here to support us, I’ve never felt more like I belong somewhere.
Rosie plays the piano in the corner. She tickles the keys with a professionalism I didn’t expect.
Grim sits on the bride’s side, and King sits on the groom’s side, each of them acting as witness and support for us orphaned killers.
Jim stands at the head of the party. His smile nearly rivals Aven’s.
Even Kenny is in attendance, perched right beside Jim.
He flew straight to the hotel after escaping the tree house, and he hasn’t left Jim’s side since.
It’s only fitting that he’s part of the wedding, considering how he provided the perfect distraction for me to attack Desmond.
If it hadn’t been for Kenny, I might not be moments away from the happiest moment of my life right now.
Then I spot the surprise nearly halfway down the aisle, and my feet stop moving.
Kneeling in front of Jim, dressed in a white suit, is my father.
His hands have been fastened behind his back, and a white ball-gag keeps him from speaking.
He looks like shit, so I can only assume he hasn’t been very well cared for during his stay in the Cattle barn. How wonderful.
My focus returns to Aven, and I find the strength to move forward again. I feel like I’m carried on wings as I close the distance between us. When I’m nearly there, Aven reaches out for me, and I take his hands in mine.
He gives them a squeeze. “Ach, damn you for being so beautiful. You’ve made me cry.”
I squeeze back. “Damn you for being so sweet, because you’re going to get me started too.”
A gentle laugh eases out of our bridal party, and Grim rolls his eyes.
Jim gets started by telling the group a little about each of us. Aven is so closed off and I’m so new to the group that everyone ends up learning something they didn’t know. That includes me. As it turns out, I’m marrying into a very extensive vintage toy collection. I’m not mad about it.
Aven learns that I have a very extensive collection of my own, though it’s books rather than toys. Granted, if you count sex toys . . .
“I hope that the two of you continue to explore and learn new things about each other for the rest of your lives,” Jim says with a beaming smile, and now he’s crying. He pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and blows his nose. “Do we have the rings?”
Desmond has been sitting quietly through all of this, but knowing that I’m about to get my happily ever after must be too much for him to bear. He forgoes his stoicism and starts thrashing his shoulders as he tries to wiggle out of the ropes on his wrists.
Ignoring his theatrics, I pull the rings from my pocket and pass mine to Aven. “Right here.”
“Wonderful,” Jim says with a sniffle. “Quinn, do you take Aven to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you vow to clean up his kills without complaint and keep his secrets faithfully?”
“Ach, I don’t need her cleaning up after me.”
“I do,” I say with a smile.
Jim turns to Aven. “And Aven, do you take Quinn to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you vow to protect her from the evils of this world and be silent when she’s reading?”
“Aye, I do,” he says.
“Normally, the happy couple would exchange rings and vows at this time, but I thought we’d do things a bit differently, hmm?” Jim looks toward the back of the room and motions for someone. “Gary, bring them in!”
Gary is all smiles as he strolls toward the head of the room with two axes in his hands. I recognize the aged one from the shack in the trees, but the one in his left hand looks brand new. Its handle is white instead of wooden.
“The life of a serial killer is often a lonely one,” Jim says. “The two of you are blessed to have found someone who shares your most secret desires. I am a firm believer that the family who slays together stays together, so it’s only fitting that you begin your new life with a kill.”
Desmond drops to his chest and starts worm crawling across the floor. No one stops him. Gary merely steps over him and pushes the axes into mine and Aven’s hands.
“Congrats to the happy couple,” he says before hurrying out of the room. He already knows this is about to get messy.
Aven smiles down at the ax, then spins it through the air one time. “Feels good to have her back in my hand.”
“Anything special I need to know?” I ask as I test the heft.
“Just don’t get too carried away with the swings and lop off your own limbs,” he says with a laugh. “I’ll love you either way, but I prefer both legs wrapped around my waist.”
“Noted,” I say as I step toward our prey.
Kenny flaps his wings and lets out an excited screech.
Desmond hears our footsteps and rolls onto his back. The entire wedding party files in behind us and closes in to watch. Even Grim shows a moderate amount of interest as Aven nudges the prone man’s head with his boot.
“Looks like you missed your plane back to Scotland,” Aven says. “Such a shame. But no matter. We’ll make good use of your refunded flight.”
Desmond shouts something behind the ball gag. Instead of looking terrified, he just looks pissed.
I raise my foot and bring it down on his groin.
His eyes pinch shut, and he rolls to his side.
With a guttural scream, I raise the weapon and bring it down on his hip.
The ax head breaks through fabric and skin, then gets lodged in bone.
Desmond keeps screaming as I place my foot on his thigh and wrench the weapon free.