Page 105 of The Devil's Wrath

“My baby boy!” she exclaimed, pulling Theo into a tight embrace. “And Wrenly. Oh, let me look at you.” She held me at arm’s length, her gaze appraising. “You’re even more beautiful than I remember! Come in, come in!”

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks at her compliment. “Thank you, Mrs. West.”

“Please, call me Jolie,” she insisted, ushering us inside. “And this is my husband, Thane.”

Thane West extended his hand, his grip firm as he shook mine. “Welcome to our home, Wrenly.”

I had seen Thane around my father a few times at events. He’d always struck me as a no-nonsense kind of man, and my father had trusted him to handle legal affairs.

I followed Theo and his parents into the foyer, my heels clickingagainst the polished marble floor. The interior was just as grand as the exterior, with high ceilings, ornate chandeliers, and expensive artwork lining the walls.

“Please make yourselves comfortable,” Jolie said, gesturing toward the plush velvet sofas in the living room. “Marta should be out soon with refreshments.”

As we settled onto the couch, Thane and Jolie sat across from us, Thane’s keen gaze assessing. “Theo tells us you two have some news to share.”

Theo intertwined his fingers with mine reassuringly. “Yes, we do.” He looked at me for approval. I nodded and squeezed his hand. “Wrenly and I are engaged.”

Jolie let out a delighted squeal, clasping her hands together. “Oh, how wonderful! I can’t tell you how happy this news makes me! I have been wondering when Theo was going to settle down. And when Theo told me he was seeing the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Morgan, I couldn’t think of a more perfect match for our baby boy. A West and a Morgan, finally united! Your parents would be so proud.”

Thane nodded, a rare smile gracing his usually stoic features. “Indeed they would. Thomas always hoped our families would join through marriage one day. He saw the potential in you two, even when you were just teenagers.”

I blinked in surprise. “He did?”

“Of course,” Jolie chimed in. “Margaret and I used to joke about planning your wedding. We had it all figured out—the venue, the flowers, even your dress. I mean, it wasn’t something concrete, but we cherished each other’s friendships. Having our children marry each other would have been a beautiful coupling. But then . . .” Her smile faltered, a flicker of sadness passing over her face.

I felt the regret emanating from her. My mother’s death had had that effect on a lot of people, I was learning. Now wasn’t the time, but I wanted to explore the friendship she’d had with my mother. To have a piece of her back with me through the memories of another. My stomach felt sick as I thought about her, the pain of her loss still heavy on my soul.

Thane cleared his throat, steering the conversation back on track,and I was grateful for it. “Well, what’s done is done. Congratulations to both of you.”

“I know we are thrilled!” Jolie gushed. “Thomas and Margaret would be so happy. We must celebrate! When’s the wedding? Do you have a date set?”

Thane, ever the pragmatist, interjected, “I trust you two have thought this through carefully. Marriage is a big step.”

“We have, Dad,” Theo assured him. “There’s more.” He glanced at me, love and pride shining in his eyes. He was more confident and assured than I was right now, and god, I was grateful. “Wrenly is pregnant. You’re going to be grandparents.”

Jolie’s eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth. “A baby? Oh my goodness! This is the most wonderful news!” She jumped up and pulled me into a tight embrace. “My first grandchild! I can’t wait to spoil the little darling rotten!”

Thane stood and clapped Theo on the shoulder, another rare smile gracing his usually stern features. “Well done, son. A child is a blessing. And with your union, it solidifies the future of The Brotherhood.”

I tensed slightly when The Brotherhood was mentioned. It was a part of our lives, our legacy, but it was also the reason my parents were dead, and I was still coming to terms with the legacy in my blood. Theo sensed my unease and changed the subject.

“We’re thinking of a summer wedding,” he said. “Something intimate and elegant.”

Liar.We hadn’t even talked about it. But I appreciated his protectiveness right now.

“Leave all the planning to me,” Jolie insisted.

Her excitement was contagious, and soon, we were all swept up in discussions of venues, guest lists, and color schemes. She insisted on taking me shopping for a wedding dress as soon as possible.

“Only the best for my daughter-in-law.” She winked.

As the conversation flowed, I found myself relaxing and enjoying his parents’ company. They were welcoming and genuinely happy for us. Even Thane, with his intimidating presence, seemed to soften as he talked about the future and his hopes for his grandchild.

“You have a strong legacy to uphold,” he told us solemnly. “TheBrotherhood will look to your marriage as a symbol of hope and unity. It’s a great responsibility, but I have no doubt you two will rise to the challenge.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling on my shoulders.

“We understand,” Theo promised. “But for now, we just want to focus on our little family and our love for each other.”

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