Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND” BY BAD OMENS
HUNTER
Iris is subdued, shivering the whole way home even though she has that little fluffy coat on that my sister used to love.
I know the twins are worried about her, they’ve sandwiched her between them, clasping her hands tightly as she looks sightlessly ahead.
I fucking hate that I’m not back there with them, her on my lap, holding her so no fucker can steal her away.
Before Rowan brought her and Roman back to the table, Sergi congratulated me on my recent nuptials, although he said that he was surprised there was nothing registered officially.
The fucker clearly has people looking, so as soon as we got in the car, I sent a message to someone who I know will be able to make our fake wedding official.
Of course I knew Sergi was there, thanks to Nik and my men at the front who told me as soon as he turned up.
I can’t exactly turn him away, he’s a mob boss after all, though to say I was displeased to have him anywhere near Iris is a fucking understatement.
Nikolai was with his father, but the slight widening of his eyes and shake of his head told me that he hadn’t known of the plan to approach us.
The fact that I had a hard-on because I’d been watching Iris with Roman, knowing by what I could see, even in the darkness, that she was getting him off, almost made me want to laugh in the Russian’s face. You know, if he wasn’t threatening the woman who now belongs to me and is a part of me.
The thought that my dick is bigger than his meant that I greeted him with a smirk on my face that he didn’t like one bit.
Tension thrummed across his muscles as he congratulated me on my marriage, and like the arsehole that I am, I revelled in getting under his skin, in knowing that, for the moment, I’m winning.
That was all dashed though when the fucker got up and dared to lay his filthy fucking hands on my wife, and it took more effort than I thought I possessed not to rip his fucking throat out when he laid those slimy lips on her soft cheek.
But I knew that he wasn’t here with just Nik and his one guard, his men were throughout my club, infecting it like a fucking plague of locusts.
Yet I couldn’t do a damn thing to stop him, just grit my teeth and watch as he terrified my girl. Our girl.
My phone buzzes, and glancing down, I see it’s from Kai Matthews, one of the Black Knights who’s helping Willow and who is a genius with tech if his reputation is anything to go by.
He was who I first thought of to help make our marriage official, plus there was no time to mess around and I needed the best to get the job done quickly.
Kai Matthews
It’s official. Congratulations, Hunter, you are now married to Iris in the eyes of the law.
All the paperwork is done, a copy of the marriage certificate is in your inbox.
Your wedding date is New Year’s Day, so she belonged to you before her father gave her away.
You may want to call your sister. Lilly says she’s pissed that you didn’t tell her about any of this.
I snort, rubbing my palm over my face at that shitshow of a conversation.
Not to mention I’ll have to break it to Iris that she’s now officially my wife.
I wonder if she’ll regret her impulsive decision, telling Jessica that we were married.
Jealousy looked good on her though, and now I have a wife, so I’m not complaining.
My cock twitches in my jeans at the thought of owning her for real.
I’m not going to deny that the idea that she’s now lawfully mine doesn’t appeal to me in a big way.
Hunter
Thanks, Kai. I’ll deal with Willow. Consider a debt owed. I’ll call Willow in the morning.
The message shows as read straight away, and then three dots appear as he types a reply. I look up at the mirror to check on my wife, my jaw clenching when I see that she’s still trembling, eyes unblinking and a little glassy. My phone buzzes, so I tear my gaze away and glance down at the screen.
Kai Matthews
If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to ask, Hunter. No favours needed. If we can help with anything, let us know. We will do everything we can to help, no questions asked.
Warmth suffuses my chest, a lump forming in my throat at the offer.
For so long it’s just been the twins and I, our crew always there to help but more of a responsibility than anything else.
To have the Knights as allies, as friends, is more than just a blessing.
They’re rich bastards, set to inherit a fortune five hundred company, and also not afraid to get their hands dirty.
Hunter
Thanks. Just keep an eye on Willow for me, and if anything happens, will you keep her under your protection? Iris too if need be?
My heart twinges when I think of all the things that can go wrong with our situation.
The Russians are not to be easily dismissed, and we may have an ally in Nikolai, but he’s having to wait just like the rest of us.
I fucking hate that we’re all at the whim of that bastard, Sergi, but I know that we’re not powerful enough to take on the Bratva.
Not if we want to make it out of this alive.
The screen lights up seconds after I’ve hit send.
Kai Matthews
Of course, without question, they are both under our protection, whatever happens. Just keep us in the loop, and anything we can do, don’t hesitate.
Hunter
Appreciated, Kai.
I look up as we pull up outside the estate, Rich pulling the car to a stop alongside the entrance.
I open my door, checking around before going to the back and opening the passenger door, Rowan getting out and looking around as well.
Checking our surroundings is too ingrained for any of us to kick the habit, so I’m not offended that he checked as well.
Reaching inside, I hold out my hand, and Iris blinks for what must be the first time.
“Hunt?” Her voice sounds so small, so defeated, and I can’t fucking stand it. She needs her fight back, but for now, we will take care of her. Prove to her that we’ve got her and that we can take care of her.
“Let’s get you inside, Peaches,” I say softly, taking her hand in mine and helping her out of the car. Before she can say anything, I give into my caveman urges and sweep her into my arms, a purr of appreciation leaving my lips when her arms instantly wrap around my neck.
“I can walk, Hunt,” she murmurs but nuzzles into my chest, sending warmth spreading across my limbs.
“I know, doesn’t mean that you should,” I tell her, letting Rowan lead the way, the car door slamming behind us telling me that Roman is at my back. The two Shadows on duty—Karl and Sonny—give us a nod as we pass, and then we’re moving up the stairs, Iris snuggled into me the whole time.
My shoulders loosen when we enter the flat, something inside me easing the moment I step through the door. Keeping Iris in my arms, I step out of my boots, then head in the direction of my room, hearing the twins follow behind me.
Shouldering open the door, I place her on the end of my bed, then kneeling down in front of her, I take her cold face between my warm palms. Her skin is so soft, part of the reason for her nickname, and my thumbs brush over her cheeks in appreciation.
“Peaches?” I wait for her eyes to find mine, and the sadness and defeat guts me as effectively as a blade to the stomach. “I need to tell you something.”
I feel more than see the twins come up behind me, and I know that they will be a bit pissed that she’s my wife now. We’re all possessive bastards, but we can’t all be her husbands.
“What is it, Hunt? I’m not sure how much more I can take tonight,” she whispers, her hands limp in her lap, and I decide that if nothing else, maybe my news will give her some fire back, even if it’s just anger at me and what I’ve done without her explicit consent or knowledge.
“I got the message in the car. According to law, you are Mrs Iris Anderson, my wife. All the documents are with the right people,” I tell her, watching as her brows dip, and then her eyes widen as my words sink in.
“You fucker,” Roman hisses, and I growl a low warning as I feel him approach closer.
“It needed to be done to keep her safe, and it needed to be legit, so shut the fuck up,” I grit out, not taking my eyes from the woman in front of me, my wife, whose lips are parted, her cheeks flushed.
“How can I be your wife? We didn’t have a ceremony,” she finally asks, and I sigh.
“I swear to you one day we will have the biggest fucking wedding if that’s what you want, but for now, I needed it to be official. Sergi was already questioning it, and I will do any-fucking-thing to keep you safe, Peaches. Even if that pisses you off.”
I will her to understand. This need to protect her goes soul-deep. It started when she so selflessly helped my sister, my obsession with her planted like a seed, and it’s only grown into a full-blown strangling vine since she’s been with us, needed us, needed me.
“I— We’re married.” It’s not a question, and I can see her start to try and shut down again. Before I can lose her to her mind, I lurch up, slamming my lips onto hers, tangling my fingers in her soft hair.
She gasps, the sound going straight to my cock as I push her back until I’m lying between her beautiful thighs, my tongue invading her mouth and my body pressing her into my mattress.
“I’ve been watching you for months, Peaches, keeping you safe and all the monsters that wanted to gobble you up at bay,” I growl against her lips, pressing every inch of my hard body into her softness. “And I will keep doing that until they’re all dead and gone.”