I cup her face as gently as I can. “I hope someday you get your happy ending, too.” I know her marriage to my uncle was a good thing and that they cared for each other. But she’s been alone for quite some time now, and it hurts to see.
She waves a hand dismissively, scoffing. “I’ve got it. Right here with you and Amy. I’ve got my gals, I’ve got my Bunny, I’ve got everything I could need.”
“Right,” I say quietly as I chuckle. Maybe thatisall she needs, but there’s a flash of a haunted look in her eye that makes me think she doesn’t actually believe her own words. “Well, then, whatever that happy ending looks like for you, I hope you get it. You deserve all the good things in the world, and no one is more hopeful to see you get it than me.”
She swats my arm and dashes away her tears. “Stop making me cry, Kerry, you’re going to ruin my makeup. Let’s go. We can’t keep your bride waiting.” She shakes her head, as if to ward off the tears, and pats my arm one last time before heading to the master bedroom to go assist Amy.
Excitement dances in my chest again. I can only imagine how beautiful my leannán will look, all dressed in white. Marjorie’s been taking her dress shopping the past few weeks, and I’m eager to see what she’s chosen. Each time, Marjorie would come home and smile so brightly when I asked how it went. “She’s beautiful,” is all she’d say, much to my frustration and delight.
I jog down the steps of my home to go find Jack and Liam. I find them both leaning against an idling car in front of the house, waiting to take me to the local parish. Their eyes widen as they see me. “You’re looking clean and polished,” Liam says with a grin.
I huff and wipe off nonexistent dust on my suit jacket. “I wear a suit most days. This isn’tthatunusual.”
Jack chuckles. “No, but this is a whole new level, boss, and you know it. You look good.”
I admit, their praise soothes my frayed nerves. “I want this day to go perfectly.”
Liam pats my back. “That it will, boss. But that includes us making sure you get there on time, so get in the car, will ya?”
I chuckle, sliding in the car and taking a deep breath. Everything I’ve ever wanted is within reach. I just have to hold out another hour or so.
There’s a plethora of security details around the church as we pull up. In the distance on rooftops, careful placements around the perimeter, even a man at the door. Alessandro really has out done himself.
Liam hops out to open the door for me before I even have a chance to. He grins at me and winks. “Don’t want you lifting even a single finger on your big day, boss.”
All I can do is laugh and shake my head. He’s a good friend, even if heisan eejit sometimes. “Thank you, Liam.”
The man at the door nods and opens it for us as we approach. I step in first, Jack and Liam flanking me. There’s not many people here, mostly just members of the Nameless and a couple distant family members of mine. I see O’Neil, the man I have a deal with about the docks, is in attendance with his wife and daughter. I invited him on short notice, so I frankly didn’t think he’d be able to make it. The grin he gives me as we shake hands makes me think he’s quite thrilled to be making a holiday of it.
I wish Amy could have family here, but they had to go and be fecking dopes and lose the best thing in their lives, so they don’t get the honor. Amy doesn’t have many other friends, either, and what friends she does have couldn’t exactly fly to Ireland last minute.
But the most important person in her life is here. I see the young woman in the front row, and as if she feels my gaze on her, she turns to look at me, eyebrows raising. She has light brown hair, a strong jaw, and a sharp nose. There’s something striking about her, her gaze intense as she stares me down. She’d be intimidating if I wasn’t the Irish Demon.
She stands up, and a man in the seat next to her stands up with her. He’s a tall and bulky man, wearing a blue sweaterthat looks a bit too small on him, like he had to come up with something nice to wear in a rush. He gives the distinct feeling that he’s a bear dressed up in a sweater, trying to blend in with the humans. I recognize him immediately, as Alessandro and I have been talking about him a lot lately. This is Ruslan Rostova, the man that Lily had to elope with to escape her father.
“You must be Lily Morin.” I hold my hand out to the woman.
She raises her eyebrows, looking me up and down. “Yes. And you’re not bald.”
I throw my head back and laugh. She relaxes a bit at my reaction and shakes my hand. “No, I’m not bald or elderly.”
The man next to her narrows his eyes, a muscle in his jaw twitching. I turn to him and hold out my hand to him next to shake. “And you must be Rostova.”
He grunts and shakes my hand. “Irish Demon,” he acknowledges me, and you’d think I’m his worst enemy with how he’s looking at me. I suspect that’s just his nature, though. It’s not an uncommon thing in our line of business to be rough around the edges.
I adjust my wrist cuffs. “Thank you both for coming. I know Amy will be so happy to see you, Ms. Morin. She’s been very worried.”
Lily’s expression softens. “I’m excited to see her, too. You better treat her right.” There’s an unspokenor elsein her tone that I don’t miss.
It makes me smile. “I wouldn’t dream of giving Amy anything less than the best. It’s what she deserves and more.”
Lily lifts her chin, assessing me for a moment. I can see the bold fire in her eyes that I heard in the phone calls between her and Amy. I can see why Amy’s so comfortable with her. It’s clear that she’s protective of her dearest friend, and I’m happy to have her around. Whatever I can do to make Amy safer in every way,I’ll happily make it happen. “I agree with you.” I give her a nod, and a look of understanding passes between us.
The priest and old family friend, Father O’Donnell, steps behind me and clears his throat.It’s time.“Excuse me.” Both Lily and Rostova nod in acknowledgement as I turn and get into position, standing in front of the priest.
Father O’Donnell clears his throat and leans in. “You owe me for the blood splatter. We had to put a rug over it.”
I wince. “Feck.”
