‘Dad has invited Eddie.’
Despite the overwhelming din in the bar, my worldseems to reduce to that one word.Eddie. Fucking Eddie Stewart.
‘Why?’ I bark out the word, louder than I meant.
Eliza shrugs, taking the wine bottle and topping up both of our glasses. ‘You’re nearly thirty. You know Dad’s rule. If you can’t join the family business, then you need to marry someone who will.’
Dad and his old-fashioned, corrupt bull. Forced marriage went out in the UK a long time ago. For most people. The only place it lingers is in twisted religious communities and the elite. But of all the rich little psychos my dad could choose, he picks Eddie. We dated once, when I was younger and dumber, and he’s exactly everything I don’t want in a man.
Dad bloodylovesEddie.
There’s no way on earth I’m going to align myself with that slimeball. I’d rather kill someone. And Ireallydon’t want to kill anyone.
‘Taking this guy home won’t quash Dad’s rule,’ Eliza says, resting her cheek against one hand. ‘What’s your game plan here?’
‘You don’t fall in love with a game plan.’
‘Oh, so it’s love, is it?’
Pass me the shovel, because I’m digging myself a trench to perish in.
‘No. I don’t know. I need some time. Someone to take to this wedding to stop Dad hooking me up with his criminal nepo brats.’
‘Like us?’ Eliza’s fingers tighten on the stem of her glass, a dangerous look crossing her features.
‘Yeah. Like us. Don’t you ever want something different from the life we’ve been dealt? All I want is to keep working at my office job. Maybe get a dog. Fall in love with a man who doesn’t compete with me for the sickest kills. Just a normal life.’
‘Normality is just the lens through which you view the world. Our world might not be normal to some, but it’s all we’ve ever known. You can’t fight your nature, Maggie.’ Eliza reaches over the table, her fingers cold from the condensation on her glass.
Does a secret killer lurk inside me? Does it get easier to stomach after the first kill? Everything in me screamsno, that it isn’t what I want.
But can you fight what you are born into?
‘And how do you think this normie is going to fit in at home? Stuck in a village full of retired mafia men and the young families of contract killers? It’s hardly the fucking Lake District. You’re being unrealistic, and I get it. He’s fit.’
He’ll have little choice.
Being that I intend to kidnap him as my plus one to Dad’s wedding and blackmail him to play along.
A truly insane plan. But what choice did they all leave me?
TWO
ROMAN
‘Can’t I stay?’Anna croons, wrapping her arms around my neck. ‘Just for the night. It’s getting so late.’
Her offer is tempting. A night wrapped in warm limbs and having the comfort of her soft breath on my chest? It would be heaven.
‘I’ve got to be up early, I’ll get you an Uber.’
‘Alright, Mister mysterious. I bet your name isn’t even Chris…’
I cut her off with a kiss, losing myself for a few more minutes in the sweetness of her touch. Going down the inquisition route would only bring disaster. Best scenario, she doesn’t get anywhere. Worst? She finds out who I am and uses it against me.
No.
Keep to the routine.
