Page 92 of Married to the Devil

“Then we’d all be dead. But instead, you saved our lives, you stepped up, you raised us when we had nobody else.”

“I did a great job, right? Silas is a charming sociopath, Cassian’s psychotic, you and Devlin⁠—“

“Are perfectly well adjusted.” He shows his teeth and pounds a fist against the garage door. “You did your best. We all love you for it. You can forgive yourself for being imperfect whenever you’re ready. I know I did a long, long time ago.”

I grunt in reply, avoiding his gaze. I made so many mistakes with my brothers. I treated them too roughly, I was impatient, I was angry. I taught them killing, ruthlessness, and death. I did everything wrong, and I’m terrified I’ll do it all again with Hattie.

I became a Lord of Ash. My brothers took the pledge and tattooed it on their hands. We swore we’d burn this world before we let it hurt us again.

But do I want that life for my daughter?

I don’t, I really, really don’t.

There’s a knock and June comes in through the door. She offers to help clean up but Kellan declines for me. “You didn’t make the mess, you don’t have to fix it.” He seems comfortable around my wife, which is good. He’s a gruff one and hard to read sometimes, but he’s absolutely loyal, and I think he likes her. Which means he’d kill for her.

“I was actually thinking about your problem,” she says casually, frowning at the bloodstain near the drain. “Do I even want to know what that is?”

“Melted water-ice. Cherry flavor.” Kellan drapes an arm around her shoulders. But he quickly pulls away when he notices the look I give him.

“What problem, wife of mine?” I roll my shoulders, cracking my joints, trying to ease some of the stress.

“From what I’ve gathered, you have a traitor problem.” She starts to pace, hands behind her back, warming up to the topic. I marvel at the way she moves. Her body is lean and lithe, curvy where it needs to be, perfect in every way that matters. Her hair is long and touches the space between her shoulder blades with a slight, lovely curl. Today, she’s in jeans that hug her ass, flats, and a simple tight shirt, cut low, with sleeves to her elbows.

“Among other things,” Kellan says amiably. “But hey, who doesn’t have a few rats in their walls?”

“You need to get this company merger thing going, right? And it seems like someone inside the family wants to block it?”

“Ignazio,” I say darkly. “But he can’t be alone.”

“No, he’s got support,” Kellan agrees.

“You need to force their hand. Make them stand up and say what they think.”

I stroke my chin. “Sounds like it could easily backfire.”

“Hear me out.” June pauses beside a dark BMW parked on the far end of the four-car garage. “You invite everyone important to a meeting. You make it clear that the meeting is about this merger. You tell them it’ll be put to a vote. Anyone against it can put up their hands and speak their mind. Get it out in the open. Make it clear where everyone stands.”

“And if the majority is against?” Kellan asks, sounding amused. “I don’t know. Seems like a terrible idea. We’re not a democracy. That’s not how families like ours work.”

“Even authoritarian states run better when their people are bought in.” June keeps going. “I can set it up for you. Same venue where we got married. Everyone at a big table, make them say it out loud, force their hand⁠—“

“And then what?” I feel a slight rumble in my chest. “Kellan’s right.”

“You convince them.”

“If I can’t?”

She gives me a withering look. “Then you shouldn’t be Don.”

Kellan bursts out laughing. “Holy shit, bro! There’s no way she just said that.”

June raises her chin defiantly. I glare at her, a storm in my body. “Kellan, would you mind giving me a moment with my wife?”

“Sure, but, uh, if I hear screaming, I’m coming back.”

I cast him a look. “I would never touch my wife that way. Now get out.”

“Whatever you say.” He beams at June. “I’m a fan of you right now.”