Page 97 of The Huntress and Her Hound

“This is not going to fly as that,” I say, frowning. “I’ll clean it up though.”

“Yeah, you will.” Henry glares at me. However, after a few beats, it dissipates, emotion filling his expression. “But thank you.”

I nod. “No problem.” I pick up my shirt from the floor and slide it over my head. “What a fucking mess, we made.”

Cher bursts into a fit of giggles. “It was kind of fun though.”

Henry groans. “No making a habit of this.”

I exchange a glance with Cher. “No promises.”

***

Twelve hours later, bags are packed and we’re climbing onto a jet, saying goodbye to Vegas for hopefully a very long time. Henry is quiet, Lydia has haphazardly been told the truth, and I’m left trailing Cher as the last one to load up.

Lydia is settling in with Duke, and Cher guides Cash to the couch, patting the cushion. But Henry? Henry is waiting for me at the entrance. My stomach lurches with anticipation. We haven’t spoken much since the cleanup and packing, our focus on the task at hand rather than the reality simmering between us.

“Can we chat?” Henry asks flatly, his voice slightly cold.

“Don’t kill him,” Cher says, looking our direction. “Please. I’d like to keep him.”

“No promises,” Henry quips, though there’s a hint of a smile on his face.

“Let’s go.” I gesture for him to lead the way as the door begins to close. Henry leads me to one of the back bedrooms, shutting us in. I rake my fingers through my hair. “I don’t want to get into another fist fight, Henry.”

“As much as I’d like to, it’s not going to happen.” Henry folds his arms across his chest. “But I do want to know what the fuck your intentions are with her. I feel like that’s my job to ask. I always knew that I’d have to deal with this—but I never thought it’d be you.”

“Ouch, but...” I look Henry dead in the eye. “I love your sister.”

He nods. “Yeah, I kind of thought that much. How’d it feel to kill someone for the first time?” He lets out a chuckle. “I know you’re the one who did the mutilation. I’m as shocked as I am proud. I never knew you had it in you. Well, not to this extent.”

“I’ve always known it was there.” I slap Henry’s shoulder and give it a squeeze. “Some people just have really fucking great self-control.”

“I’ll remember that. I told Luca what happened, and he convinced me you shouldn’t die for loving my sister.”

“Great,” I shoot back at him. “We good then?”

Henry nods. “Yeah, just one more thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Hurt my sister, and I have no problem doing the same as you did to that bastard.”

Chuckling, I grin. “The only tears I’ll make your sister cry is when I’m—”

Henry cuts me off with a disgusted face. “Get out.”

I wink at him. “Gladly.”

Epilogue

Cher

Two years later...

“You’re stunning,” Lydia tells me, smiling at me in the full-length mirror. “Jude will be in tears over you. I just know it.”

I nervously wring my hands in front of me, taking in the floor length white gown. “What if he changes his mind? What if he decides that he doesn’t want to marry me?”

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