Seconds, maybe minutes later, a sudden quiet hush rolled over the church, the silence chilling.
As I rose to my full height, I turned in a full circle again, taking note of everyone who’d survived. Had we lost several in the attack? Yes, but by far we’d managed to keep the loss of life to a minimum.
Even with the powerful destruction of the Russian Bratva, there was no satisfaction in the act. Not with my father rotting in his grave.
“Are you alright?” Sinclair asked.
Nodding, I noticed Montgomery struggling to stand, Jaxon not far behind him. “I’m fine.”
“You’re covered in blood.”
“So are you.”
“Alexander.” Montgomery’s cry was full of pain.
“What?” Turning quickly, I noticed he held her in his arms, her dress covered in blood. And for a few seconds, I was reminded just how dangerous my world really was. “Fuck. This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“She’s alive but just barely.”
No…
A sudden flash caught my attention, an enemy soldier slipping from the shadows.
But too late to do anything about it.
Pop! Pop!
Catherine
“Stop. You’re driving me crazy,” Emmeline said for the tenth time in ten minutes.
“He’s late.” How could he be late today of all days? He was Mr. Punctuality, for God’s sake.
“He had a few things to do. Remember?” Her voice was quiet, full of as much anxiety as I felt. We knew the odds of everyone surviving. We hadn’t been allowed to give our say, although wild horses couldn’t have kept me from telling Alexander what a bad idea inciting an attack was.
As usual, he hadn’t listened to me.
Goddamn the man.
“You mean like burn down a church?” I snapped out, instantly sucking in my breath.
“Now, that would be blasphemy. We are Catholics.”
“Why hasn’t he called?”
She moved closer, her face twisting. “I’m sure he’s okay, sis.”
“Sis?”
“You are going to be my sister-in-law.” She was doing her best to keep my mind occupied. We were both failing. Even her lower lip was quivering, the girl fighting to keep from looking me in theeyes because hers were filled with tears. “Look. He’s a big boy and he had dozens of soldiers with him.”
“But I wasn’t there. I should have been there to help him.”
“Do what? He wanted to ensure you’d be protected.”
“Such a damn arrogant man. This is a nightmare.” With my wedding dress rustling on the floor, I rushed to the window, staring out as I said a silent prayer. “It was a horrible idea. I told him not to do it. Trying to lure the Bratva into an attack was stupid.”
“You should know by now that my brother will do anything he wants. He doesn’t play by anyone’s rules.”
