Page 62 of Unholy Masks

“Don’t you dare, Re-re.”

“You know, Enzo, it’s common sense not to propose to someone in the middle of a literal bloodbath.”

“What do you—” Enzo blinked, looking at Irene like she had lost her mind.

Ryden gasped, clutching his chest as if she’d just stabbed him right through his heart. He looked at me, his eyes accusatory.

“You’re a fucking traitor, Red.”

“Oh, shit. Oh. Don’t tell me you… No, you fucking did not, Ryden!”

“I didn’t ask her to marry me,” Ryden said, looking defensive. “I just asked if she would ever want to marry me. That’s not exactly a proposal.”

Enzo looked between us before he burst out laughing.

“Wait, wait—Ryden, you actually thought a murder scene was the perfect backdrop to talk about marriage? Did you give her a kidney or maybe a heart?” He shook his head as Ryden cursed. “I’m ashamed to call you my friend.”

“I told you it wasn’t a proposal.” He shot me a glare. “You’re going to pay for that, Yara West.”

I smirked. “He’s right. It wasn’t a proposal.”

Enzo raised a brow. “So? What did she say?”

Ryden scowled and knocked back his beer. “No. She said no. Okay?”

Enzo grinned, looking very amused.

“Ooh. Brutal, Doctor Death. You’re brutal.”

Ryden ignored him, gulping his beer down and slamming the bottle on the table before grabbing another.

I bit my lip, studying his flushed face. Yesterday he looked completely unbothered, like we had been discussing the weather. Like he’d asked if it was raining and I had said Nope. Now? Not so much.

“We’re perfect the way we are,” I said. “Why mess with something that is already so perfect?”

Enzo slapped his hands away when Ryden reached for the third.

“Alright, that’s enough beer for you.”

Ryden shot him a dark look. “You’re not my mom.”

“Is he throwing a tantrum right now?” Irene whispered. “Look what you did to him?”

“Seems like I’m pissing off everyone I love lately.” Standing up, I pushed my hand toward Ryden. “Come on, Turtle Mocha, we should get you home.”

Ryden was still sulking when he stood up.

Enzo nudged Irene. “You never know when to shut up.”

“Well… I was just trying to be helpful.”

“Very helpful!”

With a wave to them, I walked out. I had just made up with my sister, and now I had made my man angry.

We settled in the car. He pressed his face against the window, and I drove. We didn’t say a word.

“Are you angry?” I asked as I opened the front door. He walked in, climbed the stairs, and I followed him. “Come on. I was just joking.” I grabbed his hand as he entered the room.