Page 90 of Sins of the Hidden

Perfect.

Wearing my usual black jeans, black long-sleeved top, and cut, I shifted on my feet. The material stretched across my muscular frame, my shoulder-length black hair tied back for the ceremony. Not good enough for her, but I wore it anyway. She deserved a ceremony. Even if I was the filth walking her down the metaphorical aisle.

The scene was set. We were ready. Picking up my phone, I dialed the next part of my plan.

"Did you kill someone?"Tyrant's voice is flat with resignation, not surprise.

"Come to Oakley's."

"Did she bake some Basbousa?"I heard that fucking smile in his voice making me wish I could tear his lips off through the phone."She told me she'd try making some for me?—"

Blood rushed hot and violent through veins that suddenly felt too narrow, too fragile to contain the rage surging inside me.

"No." And she never fucking would. "Bring Knight and someone else."

"I might be too busy icing my knee since someone hit it with their fucking bat."He grumbled. I hit him hours ago, he needed to get the fuck over it."What's your psycho ass up to now?"

"Just get here," I growled before ending the call, my thumb pressing the screen hard enough to fracture glass. I unlocked Oakley's phone using her face, the screen glowing blue against her sleeping features. It would take Tyrant around thirty minutes to arrive. That gave me time. Time to make sure everything was perfect for her. For us.

Opening the camera, I lay down next to Oakley, making sure to have our heads close together, her cheek against mine. She looked so peaceful, so unaware of the vows about to bind us. I snapped the picture and checked to make sure it was perfect. Anything with Oakley was perfect.

"Even in sleep, you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," I whispered against her ear, lips brushing the delicate shell through my mask. "I knew you'd say yes."

I set the picture as her lock and home screen. I found my name in her contacts, V. How fucking boring. In the editing section, I removed the letter and typed husband, followed by a black heart emoji. She would smile when she saw it.

The sound of the front door opening alerted me, wood groaning against hinges. Two large bodies appeared in the doorway, battling for who could look in first. Both sets of eyes went from Oakley on the bed to me standing in the middle of the room, a predator caught in his den.

Knight's gaze flickered to Oakley—a gesture so quick it was almost subliminal. I caught it though. My vision tunneled, rage building so quickly that my ears rang with it. I imagined plucking his eyes from their sockets with my bare hands, feeling the wet pop as the optic nerve severed, squeezing until vitreous humor ran between my fingers.

"Look at her again and I'll skin you alive." My eyes snapped to his best friend. "I'll make you fucking watch while I do it."

Knight's eyes snapped to mine, then to the floor, a nervous chuckle escaping his throat. "Jesus, man. Chill the fuck out. We're here to help, remember?"

"What freaky thing are you planning?" Tyrant asked, voice thick with curiosity and something darker, more excited. His blue eyes sparked with that familiar sadistic glee—the same look he got before he carved someone up.

"Marry us."

Tyrant choked on nothing, blinking rapidly. "I'm sorry. I swore you just asked us to marry you."

"I did."

"Like, marry marry? With the whole I do bullshit and rings and pledging eternal love to someone?" Tyrant's voice rose with each word, a hysterical edge creeping in. "You want me to officiate a wedding where the bride is fucking asleep?"

"Yes."

Knight and Tyrant exchanged a glance, words without sound passing between them. Knight let out a low whistle, running a hand through his hair as they stepped closer. I held Oakley tighter, he wouldn't take her away from me. No one fucking would.

"How're you going to pull this off?" Knight’s eyes went to Oakley. "She's not even awake!"

I reached for the bedside table, opening the drawer. The papers rustled as I picked them up. "I know what I'm doing."

"I don't think you do." Knight grabbed the paper from me, his fingers leaving creases in the corners. "You need an ordained minister and two witnesses."

My attention turned to Tyrant. "How the hell did you know I was an ordained minister?" I knew everything. "If I agree to do this, what do I get?"

"What do you want?"

He pursed his lips. "Give me a marker."

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