Page 68 of Soul Of A Villain

“Let’s not look back anymore, Oliver. We have the rest of our lives together. And I’m ready to live it with you.”

His blue eyes sparkled like the rare diamond on her finger. “I’m ready, too.”

Two weekslater

The Den, Upstate New York

It was the day of Paris’s funeral.

Londyn slipped her hand into Oliver’s as he pulled her closer. For the past two nights, she’d cried herself to sleep, and her husband had comforted her the best he could. He’d held her as she sobbed, murmured soothing words into her hair, and stroked her back with his large, capable hands. The huge, scary man she was married to even drew her a warm bath, washed her hair, and brought her so many cups of hot tea that she was practically sick of the beverage.

Her sister’s death was not unexpected, of course. The specialists Oliver hired all expressed the same opinion when Paris was transported to a facility thirty minutes away from The Den. Her injuries were so complicated that there was no hope for recovery.

Londyn was glad she was there at the end, holding Paris’s hand as she slipped away following a second massive stroke. She watched as Oliver grieved alongside her for a woman he did not know. He felt her sorrow as if it were his own, the depths of his devotion bringing Londyn joy even in the midst of terrible sadness.

“I’m so sorry, Londyn,” Ava Blue said, leaning in to kiss Londyn on the cheek. A soft autumn breeze ruffled Londyn’s dark hair as they stood beneath a towering oak tree in the private cemetery. The Winter brothers had recently purchased a family plot here, and Kingston insisted Paris be buried there so Londyn could visit whenever she wanted.

Over the past two weeks, Londyn and Ava had become extremely close. The fact they would soon be true sisters in the eyes of the law only cemented their relationship. Watching the tiny, blonde Ava boss Kingston Winter around was quite entertaining, but Londyn knew her own relationship with Oliver was a mystery to his older brother and Ava.

The attentiveness he showed toward her, his obvious love and adoration had many of those living at The Den mesmerized. One night, Ava confessed how utterly astounding she found Oliver’s transformation to be, especially regarding his relationship with Kingston. It was as if the strained hatred and mistrust over the years had never occurred. The two men spent a lot of time together, working on business deals, watching football, and playing friendly yet competitive pool games where expensive bottles of scotch were the prize.

Londyn had overheard a conversation between the two men just the day before. And her heart nearly burst with emotion at the conviction in Oliver’s tone. Kingston, with a broad smile on his face, had asked him, “Now do you believe me when I told you how different life can be when the right woman loves you, O? Everything is brighter. Shinier. Nothing else matters except the way she smiles at you.”

For a long moment, Oliver was quiet, then in a surprising gesture, he embraced the older man. His voice was gruff when he finally replied, “It is more than I ever hoped for a sinner like me, King. She’s banished my nightmares and shown me how to love. How to live. I don’t deserve her, but I can’t be sorry that Londyn loves me. Because I love her more than life itself.”

Kingston smiled in understanding. “We all deserve happiness, Oliver. And to share this as brothers… it is a gift I never thought we would have together. Having been so cursed in this life, we somehow ended up blessed with unimaginable riches. We found the love of our lives, O. True love. And there’s no price you can place on that.”

Oliver’s response was to simply embrace his brother. No words were necessary.

Ava’s sweet voice brought Londyn back to the present. “I want to tell you how much I admire you for what you did for your sister, Londyn. It was very brave of you to go through that. I’m sure she was very proud of you, too.”

“Thank you, Ava. I wish you could have met her. Paris would have adored you as much as I do,” Londyn replied, returning the young woman’s embrace with a tearful smile. Kingston, waiting his turn, bent down and gave his new sister-in-law a quick, brotherly kiss on the cheek before slipping an arm around his fiancée’s waist.

“We all wish we could have met her,” Kingston said, nodding at the minister to begin the service.

Ava dipped her head toward Londyn, her beautiful features somber. “I know I cannot take Paris’s place, but I already consider you a sister, Londyn, if that’s okay. I feel so very close to you, even in the short time we’ve known one another. And I would love to have you stand with me at the wedding, as a true sister would.”

Londyn grabbed Ava’s hand and gave it a squeeze that said volumes. The other girl’s kindness was a balm to her wounded soul. “I would like that very much, Ava,” she whispered as Oliver pulled her closer alongside his body. Turning to him, she released Ava’s hand and took his so she could mesh their fingers together.

He brushed his lips across the top of Londyn’s head. “You are so brave, little wife. And while they say the pain will ease one day, I will always be here to hold you on those days when the sadness overwhelms you. You know that, right?”

Londyn squeezed his hand tightly, tears springing to her eyes at the sweetness of his words. “Having you beside me makes this easier to bear, Oliver. Your brother… and Ava… everyone has been so kind to me. Paris wanted me to grab everything life has to offer, and I will. The best part of it is having you beside me to face whatever comes next. I love you.”

Oliver’s smile was tender, his full lips curving upward with devotion for her.

“And I love you, little dove. In this life and the next, I will always love you.”

ChapterThirty-Nine

Oliver

“What a beautiful wedding,”Londyn sighed, twirling dreamily. The elegant, formal gown of silvery blue clung to her delicious body when she came to a stop and leaned against the low stone wall. This part of the terrace overlooked the gardens where Kingston and Ava had exchanged their vows earlier that evening.

Oliver found it hard to look away. The moonlight reflected off his wife as if jealous of her inner glow. It dipped over her skin, caressing the hollows and highlighting the curves.

Oliver smiled, appreciating that Londyn had already downed two glasses of champagne and was a little tipsy. After giving the toasts as best man and matron of honor, he’d led her to this corner of the expansive terrace. The strains of the band playing in the great hall were barely audible here. Sweeping Londyn into his arms, he spun her about as she laughed in delight.

“I want to give you the same experience, Londyn. I want to see you in a beautiful wedding dress. I want the world to watch me take you as my wife. To hear me say the words that bind me to you forever. Will you let me do that?” Oliver asked with deadly seriousness. His little wife was so damned gorgeous that sometimes it hurt to look at her. It made him feel unhinged and crazy, knowing this girl was his. “I want to give you that moment of walking down the aisle and hearing the whispers of everyone admiring how stunning you look in white. I stole that from you. I wish I could go back and do it differently so you would have a memory you can always cherish. But I can’t. So, I’ll give you a new memory. If you let me.”

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