Page 50 of Married to the Devil

“My balls you are,” Kellan says gruffly but flinches at the look I throw. “Sorry, sorry, not used to watching my mouth around kids. I’m Kellan, nice to meet you.”

June shakes Devlin’s hand. “June. The unwilling wife.”

Devlin bursts out laughing. “I love it! The unwilling wife! I’m going to write a romance novel with that title. I bet it’ll be a best seller. You ladies are absolute sickos for psychopaths, right?”

June’s locked jaw softens. “You don’t seem like the romance novel type.”

“Why not? Especially the dark stuff.” Devlin swoops over and crouches beside Hattie. “And who are these beautiful creatures?”

“That’s Lord Cornish of the Unicorn League and that’s his arch rival King Chesterton.”

“I like the stars. Is that a jetpack?”

“Blastbomb shooter.”

“Sick. You’re cool, kid. Can I draw too?”

Hattie gives him the blue chalk very seriously. “Be careful. They’re in a war.”

I watch in bewilderment as Devlin gets to work, he and Hattie chatting at each other as he sketches what she tells him to. June wanders to my side and Kellan dismisses himself to go get something to eat.

“Your brothers seem…” She trails off, finger to her chin.

“Nice probably isn’t the word.”

“No, but… look at them.” She smiles and for the first time, it looks like some of the weight on her is lightened. My heart sings, real joy in my chest. This is what family is meant to be. Not a burden. Not a problem to be solved. But a solution.

“Devlin’s good with kids. I think he’s still a kid himself.”

“Doesn’t look like one.”

“Don’t let it fool you. He’s got a good heart.” Somewhere underneath all the black rot, hate, and ash.

“He’s got letters on his fingers—“ She squints at Devlin’s hand. “Same word you have. Ashes.” She turns and looks curious. “What’s that mean?”

“Another time.” I put my hand on her lower back and steer her from Hattie and Devlin. I don’t want to start talking about the fire right now, but I’ll have to tell her eventually. “I made you a promise yesterday.”

She lights up when I press a phone into her hands. “Is this for me?”

“There’s one number in it. You can reach Marnie’s guard. He’ll put her on for you.”

Her face falls. “Her guard?”

“I’m protecting the people you care about. I won’t let what happened last time happen again.”

“Really? You’re doing that?”

“You’d hate me if I didn’t.”

She gazes at me and there’s no anger for a moment, but she quickly turns away. “Damn right I would. I’m going to call her now. Would you… take care of Hattie?”

My guts clench. “I’d be happy to.”

“Thank you.”

June walks off the driveway toward a big tree growing nearby. I turn to watch my brother and my daughter drawing together. Devlin laughs at something she says, and Hattie punches him in the knee, which only makes him howl louder.

I haven’t felt like this in years. Watching my daughter and my youngest brother together wakes something in my heart. I thought that part of me was long dead… but there’s warmth in my stomach…