32. A Storm at Whitby Rose #2
“Your money don’t do you no good when you’re outnumbered,” Bossie says. “And after the Lost Cove massacre, your daughter and Orion owe debts money can’t repay.”
Dad’s eyes narrow before he finally grits out. “Then we’ll side with you.”
My jaw drops so fast it clicks. “ What ?”
“I pledge our loyalty. My family walks out of here unharmed, ‘debt’ paid. Do what you want with the Fury?—”
“No!” The word tears from my chest, and I surge to my feet, not caring about my ankle. “Dad, what’re you doing ?”
He doesn’t look at me, gaze hard as steel on Bossie as he drives a knife into my back.
“The Furys have only brought my family grief. You don’t need my daughter. Go back to your feud. You’ve got your life for life and the truce you wanted.”
“She’s playing you, Bordeaux,” Orion says evenly. “Luna won’t be safe. She’ll always be a bargaining chip to them.”
“Just like she is to you,” he lashes out.
My chest caves in.
“It’s not like that, Dad, and you know it.” My voice cracks as he blurs in my burning vision. “You can’t throw Orion to the wolves. I’ll never forgive you.”
He shakes his head, finally looking at me, but I see no cracks or weakness in his hard gaze. “You’ll get over it, Luna. You hardly know him.”
“ What ? Who even are you right now? You always talk about Fate.” My voice shakes, but I refuse to yield. “What I feel is Fate.”
Bossie cuts in, smug. “What you feel isn’t Fate . It’s the Furys. They can con even the smartest of women, slick as the snake in Eden. I hate to say it, child, but you fell for their wicked ways. Sure as Eve to the Devil.”
“ You are the Devil,” I spit?—
Crack.
My head whips sideways before the pain even lands, the force making me collapse.
I gasp, ears ringing, heat trickling down my cheek.
I press the tender flesh lightly, grimacing at the sting.
My fingers come away crimson, my mind zeroing in on the sight while everything else around it becomes a hazy nightmare.
When my vision finally realigns, Bossie’s watching me impassively. Her face is calm while her knuckles and gold ring glisten red. A drop of blood plops onto the warped wood, a sound I think I imagine in my muffled head, but it snaps the world back into focus.
Voices clash like swords as the men in my life roar their threats. Their rage is deafening, yet all I hear is Bossie.
“Let that be a learnin’ to you, child. That mouth a’ yours is gonna get you in trouble. That ain’t no way to talk to your elders, least of all your future kin.”
My hand trembles as I wipe my cheek, but I force my shoulders straight, meeting her eyes.
She nods toward Dad and Nox, both restrained by three men each. Their faces flush red as they strain uselessly against the grip. Orion’s not much different, except for the new slash across his brow.
“I trust your ‘loyalty’ about as far as I can throw you, Bordeaux,” Bossie replies like the church isn’t on the verge of imploding. “Marriage is the only way to ensure alliances. Luna will marry my grandson. That’s final.”
I hate the trembling waver as I plea. “But Ozias doesn’t want this either, Bossie.”
“You’re right.” Her bony hand waves toward Bart. “Another grandbaby of mine will do just fine.”
My stomach lurches.
Dad snaps. “You can’t do this.”
“Actually, I can. I’m ordained and everythin’.
” She levels him with a glare. “If you want peace, Bordeaux, then you’ll bear witness while your daughter wins it for you.
You should be grateful I invited you here at all.
I didn’t get the same courtesy for my daughter’s wedding thanks to the Furys.
And you.” She points at me, her long nail gleaming like a talon. “ You will do as you’re told, girl.”
My cheek burns, blood already going tacky on my skin, but I slowly stand and square my shoulders, raising my chin. “And why on earth would I do that?”
Lightning flashes through the stained glass, splashing muted colors over Bossie’s toothy, malicious smile.
“Because I reckon you like your little Fury boy alive, don’t you? That ain’t gonna last long unless you say ‘I do.’ Right here. Right now.”
Thunder growls, the storm a feral beast rattling the chapel to the studs. It takes me a second to realize the sound is Orion’s bark of bitter laughter.
“There’s no fucking way she’ll do that. Not over my dead?—”
“Boys?”
I scream as every gun whips toward him, one pressing against his temple.
“Stop! Please!”
Bart jerks me backward, stopping me before I can run to Orion, and shoves me to my knees. The splintered wood bites my skin and his grip grinds into my shoulder, but I twist anyway, meeting Bossie’s placid expression with watery eyes.
“Please, Bossie. Please let him go.”
But she doesn’t flinch, eyes cool and lips pressed flat. My lungs catch on jagged sobs as I turn to Orion, my heart physically breaking at the sight of him, one twitch of a finger away from death.
He was seething a moment ago, eyes feral. But when he sees the desperation crumpling my face, his jaw locks and he visibly gulps.
“Luna…” he warns, shaking his head.
“You know what to do, child,” Bossie murmurs.
Blinking back tears, my gaze never leaves his as I force the question through my tight throat.
“If I do this, he’ll go free?”
“Don’t.” The word cracks with Orion’s panic.
“It’s a life for life in our world,” Bossie answers. “Pledge yours to the Wildes, and my boys will release him. You have Bossie Wilde’s word.”
“ No ,” Orion’s rough plea makes me flinch. “It’s a trick, baby. Don’t listen to her.”
“You have my word,” she repeats.
Hot tears fall down my cheeks.
“I’m sorry.”
“ Please , little bird. Don’t.” He battles the ropes, chair rocking violently until one of the men wrenches his shoulder back. “ Luna! ”
Every muscle in him strains, but all the fight leaves my bones.
“ No !” he roars as I turn my back on him to face the matriarch. My voice is steady as my heart breaks.
“I’ll do it.”