“This is not going to change me marrying you, Maeve.You’re going to be mine, and I’m not letting you go.I will let you get to know your real parents, because you have a right to that, but if you think I’m going to let you go, you’re mistaken.”He held my face and stared into my eyes.“I love you.”
“And I love you too,” I said, feeling the strong emotions he evoked inside me.I loved him and wanted to be with him, and only him.Cupping his face, I kissed him hard, feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and I didn’t even know why.
I loved this man.I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, and even better, I was not the blood of the family that had turned against him in the past.
****
Draven
The Taylors attempting to kill their own flesh and blood didn’t make sense to me.The way they were as a family started to ring alarm bells.Considering they were a fucked-up family, all with some real serious issues, they were actually pretty tight.It started to bring up questions.
I had a feeling if Lilliana had been born in time, they would have fought the trade.The way they were with Maeve, their complete lack of care.They hadn’t tried to talk to her or keep in touch.They had simply passed her off like she was nothing.Like she wasn’t their flesh and blood.To a certain extent, I could understand why they would keep her at arm’s length, but it just didn’t sit right with me.
Learning the truth, I felt for Maeve.I felt for Isabella and Luca Barbieri.They had lost a precious daughter.They had three other children, but there had been a small headstone for the one they lost.It was heartbreaking, because through my digging, I found they were good people, an amazing family.Their eldest son, who was eighteen, was off to college to study to become a lawyer.Their other two, a girl and another boy, were kind souls, also working their asses off at their education.
Isabella owned a food blog, while Luca had several mechanical businesses.They were not hurting for wealth, but they were also not greedy for more.They were happy.Maeve would have been a perfect fit.
Everything about my woman was the opposite of her family.
Now, as I stood in one of the basements where I had rounded up the whole Taylor family, Maeve had a choice to make.
They were all on their knees, their mouths bound, arms tied behind their backs.I had made sure Maeve knew the truth about the family.There were so many victims.So many lies they had told.
The Taylors had a way of using information to their advantage, but this was one mess they couldn’t clean up.They had been willing to sell off a stranger, let her possibly die, and they didn’t care.Now, I looked at them and saw fear.
They had been angry that day at the restaurant, when I had them removed.The night of the party where I proposed to my woman, they had been concerned.Now, I saw real fear, and I liked it.
They had treated my woman like crap.They hadn’t cared about her.They had used her.And now, the tables had turned.My wife was the one with all the power.I had a lot of plans in store for Maeve.She deserved happiness and love, but first she had to make this decision.
Maeve was on my cell phone, where she looked at the long list of shit they had done.None of them were innocent.
I looked at her now, her hair curled around her face.The engagement ring I had given her decorated her hand.She wore a small amount of makeup.A little eye shadow, some foundation, and lipstick.
My Maeve looked like a queen.Stunning.Beautiful.Breathtaking.
I watched as she looked over the people that hurt her, and I saw the look in her eyes.She knew there was a family out there who had suffered, had grieved for her.The Taylors didn’t consider anyone else but themselves.
“I don’t owe you anything,” Maeve said.
She turned to look at me, and she nodded her head, then with the turn of her heel, she left the room.
The Taylors started to scream.They had thought Maeve didn’t have it in her.
No one would mourn the Taylors’ passing, and I didn’t allow anyone else to do the job.I pulled out my gun, and one by one, I killed each of them.Another time, I might have enjoyed the process more.Today was not about enjoying the process.
I had another surprise for Maeve.Once they were all dead, I gave the signal to my man, and it was time to burn this warehouse to the ground.The past was over and done with.
I made my way to the car and climbed in the back.My driver knew where to take us, and I looked at Maeve as she held the picture of the Taylors in her hand.
“Do you think I made the right choice?”
“Yes,” I said.
Maeve turned to look at me.“You don’t think of me any differently, even though I just killed someone?”
“You didn’t pull the trigger,” I said.
“But you killed them because I told you to.”She nibbled her lip.
