Oisin slumped back, dead and gone.
I ran out from behind the altar. “Cassie!” Erick called out, but I ignored him.
Roman turned. His gun hung loosely in his hand. His eyes were fierce and burned at me like he wanted to stride across the room and take me then and there. I reached his side and grbbeda his free hand between both of mine, squeezing the fingers.
“Are you okay?”
He nodded once. “I think so.”
I chewed on my lip. “You did it.”
“I did. Oisin’s dead.”
“Does it fix anything?”
He let out a long breath. “No, it doesn’t.” Then he turned to my father and raised the gun.
“Wait.” I pushed his arm back down.
My father stared at me with utter fear in his expression. I’d never seen him look like that before and I wanted to savor it, but something in those pathetic eyes twisted a knife in my guts.
He was a vain, weak, selfish, power-hungry piece of garbage—
But after what happened here, we were going to need allies.
I stepped up to my dad and looked down at him.
“Do you want to stay alive?”
He nodded. “Yes. I do.”
“Will you swear loyalty to Roman?”
His eyes darted over to my husband. “Yes. I will.”
“Can you take control of the MacKenna family?”
“I believe so.” He hesitated, mentally calculating. “With Roman’s backing.”
I turned to Roman. He gazed at me with a curious expression—part rapture, part obsession. “What do you think?” I asked.
“I think he’d be useful. But are you sure? I can end him here and now. We don’t need him.”
“I’m sure.” I studied my father. He wasn’t the titan I remembered, not even close. He was diminished and weakened and broken—like I used to be. “You won’t forget this. You’re alive because I say you’re alive. But the second you’re not useful anymore, I’ll change my mind. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand.” He smiled tightly. “I’m proud of you.”
I turned my back on him. “Don’t speak to me ever again unless spoken to first.” Then walked toward the altar and sat down. I put my head between my knees and hugged myself, eyes squeezed shut, feeling sick and horrified.
So much death and blood.
When did it become normal?
Roman sat by my side. I leaned against him and he wrapped his massive arms around my shoulders as Erick barked orders at the remaining soldiers. They began cleaning up and taking stock of the injured and the dead. My father slipped away at some point, but he was irrelevant now.
Just a tool for my husband.
“I keep meaning to tell you something.” He sounded exhausted, but his eyes shone as he tilted my chin up toward him.
“Yeah? Another surprise on my wedding day?”
“I love you.” He leaned down and kissed me gently. “Your part in all of this is over, Cassie. But I love you and I want you to stay with me. I might need your help in the next few months.”
I blinked at him rapidly and tried to process. My thoughts spun, and the room stank like blood and death, but Roman’s arms were around me and his chest was close and his breath came in deep and steadily, and the panic that once threatened to swamp my emotions was only a dim memory.
“I love you too,” I said and looked into his eyes. Those ice cold, gray-flecked eyes. “I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
He kissed me deeper t hen held me tight and for the first time in a while, I felt like I had a future—
Even if that future would be hard and bloody and uncertain, at least I had one with Roman.
“Don’t forget to help the priest,” I said absently, leaning on his shoulder. “I bet he’s still terrified.”
Roman chuckled. “Good thinking. I probably would’ve left him back there.”
“What a wedding.”
“I can give you another, if you want.”
“I doubt anyone would come.”
“That’s a good point. How about just the presents then? As many as you want.”
“I’ll take you up on that.”
He hugged me tight, and I laughed until I couldn’t laugh anymore.
