Page 48 of Vengeful Union

I freeze as he walks out the door, looking at myself in the mirror. I can’t put it off any longer. I have to officially meet Niall Murphy.

The man who tried to kill my father.

And I’m marrying his son. What has happened to my life?

Another knock startles me, and I whirl around to tell Rory that I’m coming, dammit, when I see an older, fatter version of Rory walk in the door.

Niall.

Terror rockets through me, making my blood run cold.

“Hello, Lara.”

“H-hello,” I stutter, keeping my eyes on him like he might stab me in the back.

“I thought I’d take over and walk you down the aisle,” he says with a cruel smirk, and some manner of anger dulls the fear.

I’m still as scared as I’ve ever been, but I can’t believe his audacity, offering to walk me down the aisle.

“I didn’t get to do it with my Bree, after all.”

I don’t know what to do but nod, and Niall opens the door wider, gesturing for me to walk out first.

I take a deep breath as I walk out onto the back terrace, where arches are set up along with flowers.

It’s actually a beautiful scene, out on the Murphy grounds with all the flowers everywhere.

Niall’s palm light on my lower back and revulsion crawls across my skin, but I don’t pull away.

Then he sticks out his arm, and I wrap my hand around his flabby bicep, forcing a smile under my veil.

There are people sitting on both the bride and groom’s side, but no one that I really know is at the wedding.

It’s all Murphys and Murphy sympathizers, all snakes in my opinion.

Except for Rory.

I still don’t trust him fully, but I truly think that he wants to keep Bree safe and keeping me safe is just a means to that end.

It’s not like he cares about me, but he can use me to help his sister.

And it isn’t like I’m not getting anything out of the deal. I’ll finally be free.

So, I have to grin and bear walking down the aisle with my father’s greatest enemy.

I try my best to ignore Niall, but it’s like ignoring an elephant in the middle of the room.

My heart pounds with fear and some manner of excitement.

I look up at Rory when we reach the end of the walk, and he looks sharp in a tuxedo that’s tailored to him perfectly.

He looks great, honestly, and I must admit I look pretty good, too.

The dress he’s picked out for me suits me well, and I’ve put my hair up in a curly bun with some tendrils hanging down to frame my face.

Rory smiles as he lifts my veil, and the priest starts to drone on, thanking everyone for coming before asking us to exchange our vows.

We’ve picked the standard ones, of course. It’s not like we have anything heartfelt to say to each other.

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