Page 95 of No Promises, No Lies

“I know,” she concedes, sighing softly.

“There are few things the Mafia respects, loyalty, power and family. If you become family—their claim on you dies. You’ll be Irish. One of us. They will have to respect that. Marriage is sacred in the Mafia.”

“They won’t just let it lie…”

“No, they won’t,” I admit, because she deserves the truth. “They’ll still come for me, but we’ll have the full weight of the Irish mob at our backs. Their claim on you will die. No one can touch you once you belong to me.”Her steely gray eyes soften for the first time, but she shakes her head.

“I can’t be the reason for a war between our families. What if something happens to one of your brothers because of me? What if something happens to you?” The anxiety and distress melts what’s left of the ice wall around my heart.She’s worried about me.My family. Wanting to put us first, even if it compromises her own safety.

I cup her chin, bringing her head back up. “The war is already here. They’re coming for us either way. It’s time to choose a side princess. Will you stay the Russian Angel? Or will you trade in your halo for the Irish Devil?” I smile softly.

Rory still looks undecided, so I change tactics, ignoring the fact I’m trying to convince her tomarryme.

“You want to skate.”

Rory looks up, confused by the subject change. “Of course I want to skate, obviously! What does that have to do with?—”

“I want to play hockey,” I cut her off, “Keep playing in the league… A nice,longcareer. You want the Olympics. Neither of us wants this life. I was already out, I was—” My jaw clicks as I think about how many more timesthe Irish will draw me back in.And what it might cost me…

I reach out, taking her hand in mine, running my thumb over the little silver scar she has across the back of her left hand.

“Marry me, and I will keep you safe. I will get you out. And when we’re free and clear and past this, we can go our separate ways, get a divorce—” Her eyes widen in shock. “—If that’s what you want. I’ll give you that.”

“But amademarriage is forever…” She repeats the words quietly, words I’m sure she’s been told a thousand times. ’Til death do us part.

“The Irish… we do things a little bit differently.”I’mlyingand I wonder if she can tell. I don’t even realize it until the words are out of my mouth. But that’s only when I realize once I make this girl mine—I don’t know if I can ever let her go. I might also be lying when I tell her I can let her go. I’ll divorce her—if that’s what she wants… but even if we’re living apart, I’ll always look out for her. She’ll always bemine.

Rory chews on her bottom lip, her eyes conflicted.

I release her hand and stand, backing away, toward the door. “Think on it. Stay the night. The guest room is yours, though I think you know where I’d prefer you.” My eyes flicker over the bed she’s still sitting on. I can’t overlook the fact that when she ran, she ran tomy room.

“You don’t have to decide anything right now.”

She nods, hearing me, but she’s deep in her thoughts.

When I reappear in the living room, everyone is exactly as I’d left them.I crash back down on the sofa, my hands locked over my head, staring up at the ceiling.

“Well?” Koen asks after several minutes of silence passes. I can feel the weight of all of their eyes on me.

I blow out a breath, slowly dropping my gaze to his. “She’s going to think about it overnight.”

Koen works his jaw and slides a look over to Liam, whose jaw tightens but remains shut. “I want you to know, no matter what, we’re here for you, but if she doesn’t marry you…” He shakes his head, concern flickering in his eyes as he runs them over Reagan. “It’s going to get ugly. We should take some extra measures…”

I nod. Extra measures like securing our sister, so should anything happen to us, they won’t be able to get to her. “We’ll do what we have to.”

“That won’t be necessary.” The sound of Rory’s voice has everyone on edge. I twist in my seat to find her standing at the entrance to the living room, her eyes on mine.

“I’ll do it. It’s the best chance we have… I will marry Aidan.”

Shouts and excited cheers rise around us from everyone but Koen.Ideas for the wedding ceremony come tumbling out of Reagan’s mouth and it’s clear why she’s been so quiet this whole time. She’s been busy making plans.

Liam stands, sweeping Rory up into a crushing hug, swinging her around before setting her feet back on the floor. “Welcome to the family, little Kostalova.”

Alex finds her next, her eyes watering a little as the two come face to face. Her former bodyguard nearly fully healed from what he suffered at the hands of her family. He smiles at her reassuringly, “You’re making the right choice Ro. Aidan—the O’Rourkes…” he trails off, but Rory nods in understanding, wrapping her arms around him.

“I know.” She lets out a breath, putting on a brave face, though I know she’s terrified. She steels her spine, releases Alex and looks around at all of us. “What now?”

With his phone already pressed to his ear, Koen is halfway out of the room as he says, “I’m ringing Father Lucent, he’ll be here within the hour.”

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