Page 53 of Between Dusk and Dawn

Enzo gazed over the sheet a few times. He cracked his neck side to side, then stared back up at me. "Okay."

"Okay?" If I was being honest, I was not expecting him to agree to this so quickly. I thought I would need to do more groveling.

"Listen…" He straightened, then leaned on his elbows. "I want this as much as you do. I have the same thirst for blood as you. As much as I appreciated you trusting me to watch her in Isles, I want to be where the action is."

"You want to be a part of the meetings?" He nodded.

"Good." It was decided, then. He would marry her, and I would be the one to tell the Irish.

Enzo leaned back in the velvet chair. "Now, your sister? That is not something I can help you with. She’s going to be pissed and rightfully so."

I ran my hands through my hair and swallowed. "I know."

"I don't know what you see in her, Solis. She fucked your sister over and was a bitch to her."

"She was only doing it to get back at me," I added. "It was all part of some plan she tried to conjure but failed miserably."

"Yeah, but in the midst of it, she ruined any relationship she’d ever have with Ember."

I paused, letting his words sink in. "I disagree. She’s my sister and loves me. I did a lot for her when Ash died, so I think she will come around."

He laughed as if he didn’t believe me, but I had to believe my words, because Ember would have no choice. Madison was my wife whether any of us liked it.

"So, in the morning?" Enzo asked.

"Yeah. We will go to my father’s together in the morning. See you here at eight." I nodded.

Walking over to the floor-to-ceiling window, I stared out toward the pool, with the barn in the background.

"I don’t ask many questions," Enzo said from behind me. His tone was hesitant. "But, you know what you’re doing with her at least…right?"

I hesitated. No. Truthfully, I had no idea what I was doing or why I was doing it. "Yes."

It had been the easiest lie to ever come out of my mouth. "I’ll see you in the morning."

I waved him off before heading out the back door, knowing Enzo would lock up behind him. He was one of the few people on the accepted list at the gate along with my father, sister, and my beautiful wife.

When I knew I wanted to bring her back to Dansport, I had the barn outfitted with everything she liked. I wanted to make sure she had a place to feel safe, separate from the rest of the house.

Truthfully, I was half expecting to have to drag her kicking and screaming, and her coming on her own accord, or somewhat, was a surprise. I needed to figure shit out, and I needed to protect her.

As I walked outside toward the barn, the grass crunched beneath my shoes. Thinking about her waiting for me made my cock twitch.

The barn didn’t stand far from the main house. In the absence of daylight, the only guiding light was from the distant hot tub. My steps, each laden with a weight of expectation and introspection, echoed in the quiet night.

After opening the creaking door of the big barn, I ascended the stairs to the little door leading to the apartment above. The climb felt like an eternity. I approached the door with a mix of apprehension and desire, hesitating before I touched the handle. Ever so slowly, I turned it. My lungs stopped for a moment. I was desperate to see if she’d left it open.

For me.

But it stopped.

"Fuck," I muttered. It was locked. She’d shut me out.

"Fuck…" I needed to repair so much shit with so many people because of the selfish decision I’d made. This was what I got for trying to follow my own fucking heart.

The one person who could unfreeze everything I’d worked hard for had shut me out. I thought about kicking the door down or using the spare key I had stashed away in the house, but she didn’t want me in there.

Repairing this with her was necessary; I needed my wife on my side. She’d have to brag about being mine. I couldn’t have the Irish believing I’d coerced Madison to marry me because I didn’t want to marry their girl.

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