Page 11 of Betrothed in Fury
I wait for him to distribute the drinks before I tell them about my abduction and being tied and blindfolded, fearing for my fucking life. As I get into it, I’m even more worked up that it was how he chose to tell me the news when there were plenty other ways without having me think last night was my last. I get to the part where Killian told me about the arrangement, but stop myself.
“What did he want?” Wrath presses.
“He wants… It’s gonna sound so ridiculous, so just listen. He wants me to marry him.”
Wrath and Masters shoot each other a look—the sort I never liked growing up because they have a way of communicating without needing to talk, which is great for them but terrible when you’re their brother and want to know what’s on their minds. Finally they break, bursting into boisterous laughs, the room echoing with their amusement. They’re clearly not buying it.
“I’m being totally serious right now.”
“Yeah,” Wrath says. “Well, it sounds like Killian isn’t. He’s fucking with you, man.”
Now that I’m done talking, I sip my martini, but then down the rest because these guys are stressing me the hell out.
Wrath sips on his, leaning his ass against Dad’s desk, something he never could have done while the old man wasalive. And on top of his dismissive comment, it’s pissing me the hell off. “Wrath, I spent the night strung up with a psychopath who felt me up and told me that if I want our family to continue receiving protection from the Lordes, I’ll have to get married, and if that happens, you’re my fucking bridesmaid.”
“Okay, I’d be a groomsman, but—”
“Not in Killian’s fucked-up mind!” I shout, and Wrath’s eyes widen, a grin stretching across his face, the way he used to get when we were younger and he could tell he was getting on my nerves. As I check Masters’s smirk, it’s apparent he’s enjoying this just as much.
I know it won’t make any sense without telling them about the contract Dad had me sign before he passed, and as I explain, their expressions sober up. Just like my own skepticism, it seems they realize there might be some truth to it after all. I must say I preferred it when they thought I was out of my goddamn mind.
“Still think it’s a big fucking joke?”
“Huh, that’s how Dad kept the Lordes looking after us for all these years,” Masters says.
“But it’s just a formality, right?” Wrath follows. “You sign some paperwork, and then it’s done.”
“Killian was very clear that he wants me to be his actual wife, and that’s the last thing in the world I need right now.”
“And you’re gonna do it, right?” Masters asks. “I mean, we can’t be enemies with the Lordes, and we won’t survive Fury without them.”
“I’m not planning on being enemies with them. I just need to find a way out of this damned agreement.”
“Fuck me,” Wrath says. “Killian willing to take a different Wilde as a husband?” He says that in a charming way, like he’s trying to lighten the mood, but as I issue a pointed look, he backs down. “Okay, bro. Sorry. Let’s calm down. Obviously, he’s not planning to have a wedding tonight, right?”
When I don’t respond right away, Masters says, “Right?”
“No, no.”
“Okay, so we need to talk to legal,” Masters says. “See if anyone has an idea what to do about this. Maybe, if we can’t make it mutually beneficial, there’s a way out of this agreement.”
If he’d seen the way Killian was acting with me, how much he was enjoying having power over me, he’d know that’s unlikely.
Masters must read the skepticism in my expression because he says, “Let’s not panic until we’ve put our heads together. And if it turns out you do have to marry the bastard, then that’s the way it goes, right?” He pats my back. “I’ll reach out to the lawyers. They’ll have a copy of any agreement. We’ll see if he can find a loophole to get out of this bullshit deal Dad made as a last-ditch attempt to keep us safe. Really, I’m sure he’s fucking with you.”
“He’s right,” Wrath adds. “Dad and Old Terror were good friends, and that’s why he wanted to keep us safe.”
“Whatever their reason, Killian Lorde is determined to marry me,” I say without a trace of humor.
Masters and Wrath exchange a look, as if seriously considering the implications for the first time.
Wrath forces a smile. “Let’s get you some breakfast. Plenty to do today without worrying senselessly about something that’s probably never gonna happen anyway, right?”
Although, I wish he’d sounded more confident…
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LOGAN
