Page 136 of Ruthless Savage

I grin, extending a hand for his. “I’ll take that bet.”

He confidently shakes hands with me. “Hope you like losing money.”

“I like making it.”

Everyone starts to rise, and both of us immediately stop talking.

Before I can respond, she’s there, her father beside her, tears in her eyes as she catches my stare.

The room disappears, and all I know is this breathtaking woman—a true piece of my heart, the only way it beats right.

She marches closer, and my feet are already moving, needing to be near her. Through the thick emotions veiled in her gaze, her smile grows, and my heartbeats echo in my ears, never having known a feeling like this. It’s big enough to consume me. My love for her. My devotion. There’s no end to what I feel for her.

I make it to her before she even reaches the end, and I take her hand in mine. “Hi.”

My face splits, and she bites that lip.

My Lord, this woman.

“Hi,” she whispers, her eyes glimmering. “We’re getting married.”

“It looks like it, lass.”

Beside us, her father chuckles. “Can you let me give my daughter away properly, son?”

A few of the guests laugh as he takes both of her hands and kisses each one before he kisses her cheek.

“I love you both very much.”

He looks at me for a moment, and I incline my chin in gratitude. Because I’ve finally found people I belong with.

“You take good care of each other, will ya?” He slaps me across my back before he heads to sit in the front row next to Fernanda.

“Let’s get married, mo stoirín.”

Hand in hand, we stand before the priest, who’s reciting his part while I grow insanely impatient, needing this to be over.

“Can we get the CliffsNotes version?” I say. “Wanna get to the part where I kiss my wife.”

Eriu elbows me, fighting a smile, while a few cheers from the crowd have the priest smiling too. He finishes his part, and it’s her turn to say her vows, then it’s mine.

Taking both her hands, I lock eyes with her as I recite them.

“I, Donny Devlin McHale, take you, Eriu Charlotte Quinn, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. I promise to love and cherish you for all the days of my life.”

Tears well in her eyes, and she fights not to let them free. I can’t believe we are finally here. I can’t believe she’s mine.

We exchange rings, and the priest recites some other shite I’m barely listening to, unable to peel my gaze off of her. It’s like I won the damn lottery. Wish my brother was alive to meet her. He would’ve loved her.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

“Feckin’ finally.”

Grabbing her face with both hands, I kiss her with every drenching ounce of love I possess, knowing for her, I’d do anything, kill anyone, die a thousand deaths just to keep her safe.

CHAPTER 32

ERIU

---