Page 69 of The Devils' Darling

For a split second, I’m about to throw all that back at him in rage. How dare he love a woman other than my mother? But then I hesitate.

I realize something profound. “What if they’d both agreed to be with you? What would you have done then?”

His eyes narrow. “I’d have been a very happy man, of course, but that was never going to happen. Your mother never wanted to share. She was extremely jealous.”

“But you’d have been happy if she’d said she would?”

“Of course. Any man would be happy with that situation.”

“Then why can’t you understand our situation with Mackenzie? We all love her. She loves each of us, equally. It’s the same situation, except ours is an amicable one, and it won’t end in someone dying.”

His mouth opens and closes. “She’s your stepsister.”

I hold my ground. “No, she isn’t. You and Lucia don’t need to marry. The police aren’t looking for Mackenzie. She doesn’t need a new identity, and neither does Lucia. This can work, Dad. Don’t let anyone else die because you’re being stubborn. It’s pretty fucking simple. Just let us be happy.”

“You expect me to stop my marriage for your little poly experiment?”

I sigh and pinch my nose. “Dad, we want to be together, and it’s either that or we’ll leave. You can’t control everything. This is one of those things.” I suck in air and say what I’ve been dreading. “If you want me to be a part of your life going forward, you have to do this. You lost my mother. Do you want to lose me too?”

He hesitates, and for the first time, I see a chink in his armor. He knows I have a point, and he’s considering my proposition.

I push the advantage. “You and Lucia can be very happy as you are. I think Lucia will agree to this because she knows it means we are all with her daughter and can keep her safe. There are still men out there after them both. One day we might find them, but we may not. If we don’t, what better way to ensure her safety than being with us?”

He shakes his head, and his mouth is set in a hard line, but eventually he gives a deep sigh. “I’m not going to say I’ll support what you’re doing, but you are all adults. The best I can do is turn a blind eye, but if I do, you have to give Lucia a chance, too.”

I press my lips together and stick my hand out to him. “Deal.”

He lets out another sigh but clamps his hand against mine. We shake once.

“Don’t make me regret that, Domenic.”

“I won’t.”

Chapter 28

Mackenzie

The sun beats down, and a happy atmosphere fills the air. For once in my life, I don’t feel like a misfit, and I’m feeling kind of happy, too. It’s strange to have this little fizzing of joy inside me after all that’s happened, but the sun is shining and fun is afoot, and I’m with my men.

It’s been a few days now since Dom’s confrontation with his father, and things finally seem to be on an even keel. I know Mom and Nataniele aren’t happy about our relationships, but, other than the occasional disapproving look, they haven’t brought it up again.

I haven’t had any more creepy messages from Paxton either, which is a relief. I was tempted to destroy my SIM and get a new phone, but there’s also the part of me that wants to keep track of him. Lola has promised she’ll get in touch if she hears he’s returned home, but so far there’s been nothing. I hope he’s crawled into a hole somewhere and he’ll stay there for the rest of his life. After dealing with the likes of Grigoriy and his men, Paxton now seems like nothing more than a pathetic irritation. I’m not sure why I allowed him so much of my headspace.

“Hey, girl.” Camile plops down beside me on the blanket.

I smile over at her. “Hey.”

We’re on a slope, overlooking the sports field. The four houses of Verona Falls University are playing each other in a baseball game, and, right now, Dom seems to have hit a home run. He’s only seconds away from home base, and I start to clap and cheer. Tino, who’s on the other side of me, whistles, and Kirill, who is also playing, jumps up and down on the field.

The crowds are slowly gathering, and apparently, from what I’ve been told, as the afternoon progresses, things will only get increasingly fun and rowdy.

“It’s the one day all the different factions take a break from trying to beat one another up,” Camile says with a giggle. “Our version of the famous soccer match on Christmas Eve during the First World War.”

“What soccer match?” Tino asks. His fingers idly brush up and down my bare arm.

The sun warms me, and I tilt my head up and smile.

“There was a Christmas truce in 1914,” Camile says, “and the German and British soldiers met in no man’s land and exchanged gifts and played soccer.”

---