Page 107 of Pitiful Lies

And it is okay with me. Truly, one hundred percent, okay.

EPILOGUE ONE-ANGEL

It takes an hour and a half to clean up the garage and make it like nothing bad ever happened there.

Nico and Luc stayed behind to get Margaret O’Doyle’s full story, but I heard enough to agree she’s not a hundred percent to blame.

But some of it is her fault, and she needs to be punished. Liam, her kid brother, is just out of high school. He’s young, but apparently gifted with computers and technology.

He’s going to work for us as payment for his sister’s misdeeds. She fucked up by not coming to us when Ghost started making demands.

But I get it.

She thought Chen was behind everything, when really, she was being manipulated by her lover. Giovanna was actually Giovanna DeMarco, the daughter of a former mafia hitman who ran to China after giving up his crew to the feds.

Snitching ain’t good for anyone in this business.

Apparently, old man DeMarco led his daughter to believe his family had betrayed him by giving territory to the Vipers.

That was her beef.

She thought we bamboozled her father and got him sent up the river.

But that’s not how it went down.

The DeMarcos were already losing ground when Nico, Luc, and I were up and coming. Sure, we took over their business, but that was after he ratted out his players and ran off.

I had to hand it to her though, I never suspected Ghost was a woman, much less Giovanna.

When I think about how she kidnapped my woman, I get so mad.

It’s more than anger. More than rage. Fury is the only word to describe it.

I wish I was the one to end that bitch’s life. But I can’t say I’m not proud of my Koukla for her fast thinking. Proud and terrified.

If we hadn’t gotten there, Buffy might have bitten her as well. And that is not something I want to dwell on.

Seems my Little Doll is a snake charmer, and I don’t just mean Buffy. She’s charmed the fuck out of me, and I am hers.

Solely and completely hers.

I just need to get this ring on her finger.

“Stop fidgeting, bro,” Nico says, grinning as he fixes the collar of my tux.

Giselle likes me dressed up. So, instead of running away to Vegas like I wanted, we’re all dressed up like a bunch of fucking penguins, waiting in this enormous old church for my Koukla to walk down the aisle.

“Is it hot in here?” I mutter.

The AC is on, but I am starting to sweat.

“Take it easy. Maria said she is on her way,” Luc tells me.

I grunt and nod my head. I look around the church. It’s nowhere near full, but that is because of me. My one stipulation was that the crowd be small for security purposes.

I don’t have much family left. Just Nico and Luc and their wives, and the baby. But they are all in the wedding party, so they aren’t sitting down.

I wonder if Delia is pleased with the gift I sent her. My new mother-in-law is something else.

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