Page 51 of The Devil We Know

“But you didn’t fucking do anything,” he barks.

“That won’t matter. No one cares about what women did and didn’t do when it comes to a man feeling disrespected. No one cares about the truth when they’re out to gain so much more from their duplicity.”

“She’s right,” Marieka whispers beside me, her voice sad yet firm. “That’s exactly what will happen. And leaving would insinuate to anyone looking for culpability that she has something to hide.”

Matt turns to Kaian, his hands in front of him as he says, “Help me out, man. There has to be a way.”

Kaian looks at me and then back to Matt, but he says nothing. He just shakes his head. Matt deflates, his eyes going to the ceiling, muttering curses before turning back to me. “So, you stay here and what? Tell the truth and get punished for my sins?”

“No,” I reply hesitantly. “There’s only one way this won’t blow up in our faces.”

Matt stands there staring at me expectantly, and after a few beats, I turn my gaze to the ground, muttering, “I have to marry someone else.”

I could hear a pin drop in the room if someone dropped it.

Holding my breath, I chance a glance at Matt.

His expression, at first, is unreadable. But then, he frowns slightly and shakes his head. “What? No.”

I jerk back as if he has physically slapped me, for a moment, stunned into silence. He’s scowling at me now, his jaw set in a stubborn line I know quite well. I narrow my eyes, my hands moving to my hips as I retort, “If you find the idea of being married to me so reprehensible you’d rather see me punished by a bunch of crusty old men, then forget it.”

“Forget it?”

“Yeah,” I snarl. “You can just forget it. I’ll find someone else to take the old marriage bullet in your stead."

Matt’s expression turns thunderous, but his words are eerily calm as he asks, “Oh, really? And who are you gonna even ask at this point?”

I grit my teeth, my eyes flitting around the room wildly as if there’s suddenly going to be a horde of eligible men for me to choose from. Realizing I’m out of options, I point at Kaian. “Him. He’ll have to do it.”

Kaian’s eyes widen comically, and Marieka giggles briefly before slapping her hands over her mouth. Then Kaian’s lips twitch, and he steps forward with a swagger. “I mean, this is kind of sudden, but I’m not one to leave a lady in distress.”

“Over my dead fucking body.”

“If you don’t get your shit together, then that can be arranged,” I spit out through gritted teeth. “Lord knows I’d rather not drag you to the altar kicking and screaming.”

His expression changes instantly, his eyes softening as he whispers, “I’m not kicking and screaming.”

I purse my lips, tilting my head as I reply sulkily, “Could’ve fooled me.”

He steps into me, wraps his arms around me, and pulls me close. Then he drops his head, pressing his face into my neck. “This is gonna sound fucking stupid, but I’m gonna say it anyway.” He pauses, lifting his head as his hands move to my cheeks, and he looks me in the eyes. “I’d marry you a thousand times over for no other reason than the fact I fucking want you. But I don’t wantyouto marrymejust because you have no other choice.”

I smile sheepishly, poking him in the gut. “I do have another choice. Kaian said he’d do it, remember.”

His eyes narrow at the mention of Kaian, and I laugh, enjoying his annoyance.

The corners of his lips twitch, and I see that familiar sparkle in his eyes that has me breathing a touch easier. Then henods, releasing his grip on my head, his hands sliding down my shoulders and along my arms until he’s holding my hands. He turns to the priest and says, “Make it quick. We’re out of time.”

“Dearly beloved…”

22

A Moment, Please

Matt

Figuring he’s the bestfirst responder we can get at this point, we send Marieka to fetch Jessica’s father with instructions to give him the cliff notes on what happened.

When he first enters the room, he stops just inside the doorway, scanning around wide-eyed. He says nothing at first, his eyes jumping from one body to another before finally settling on me. He raises his brows and asks, “This was your plan?”

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