Page 38 of Reckless Hands

This is what I wanted, right? For him to not want me. I’m getting my way. So why is there a dull ache at the thought of him not wanting me?

“So, it seems we have to talk.” I spin at the sound of Keir’s voice as he shuts the door behind him.

My hands squeeze shut as I wait for him to speak.

Is he out here to kill me?

He is known to take a life as easy as he takes one breath.

“Joey left.” I nod solemnly, already knowing this. “He is a good man, and he will follow orders. It’s one of the reasons he is my second-in-command. Not because he is my brother, but because he is loyal. Extremely loyal…” He pauses, then steps closer to me, and my heart stutters. “You may not agree with our ways, and I may not even agree with them much of the time, but he does. He trusts in the old ways, and he expects this marriage to work. So why are you fighting him at every turn? Is it because you want that woman?”

I’m stunned.

I don’t know what to say.

“No, I don’t know him.”

“Have you even given him a chance?” he asks. “Or are you just fighting everything to be stubborn? Because if there is one of us who would make a great husband and be loyal, it’s Joey. So either get your shit together or… I’ll kill you. It’s that simple.” When he pulls the door open to go back inside, Sailor is standing there. She offers me a small wave and reaches for her husband.

“Hey, Adora, we’re gonna head home. You look beautiful.” I wave at her.

Keir turns back to look at me. “You understand what I said?” he asks, and I’m nodding before I can get myself to speak. “Yes.”

He nods once, and they walk off.

I wait a few minutes before I go inside. And when I do, Becca is standing there, Troy next to her. He seems uneasy.

“You came,” I say, surprised, a flicker of happiness shining through me. But it’s quickly wiped away as Keir looks back before they disappear around the corner, and I know without him saying anything, it’s a warning. He may be known as heartless, but he clearly wants good things for his brother.

“I wasn’t sure if I should. I couldn’t watch the ceremony.” She pulls her hands in tight to herself. I look to Troy to see him side-eyeing me.

“I have to find him. I have to find a way to make this work.”

“I think you should,” Troy agrees, and Becca stares down at the floor. I step up closer to her and pull her arm free from her chest. Gripping it, I give it a squeeze.

“I do wish I met you at a different time, different place…” I smile. It’s soft and sad. “But, Becca, you are amazing. Someone is going to love every piece of you. You will get to have every part of someone soon. It’s just not going to be me. I have to give pieces to him, even if I don’t want to. I have to try at least. You get it, right?”

“I’m not going to lie and say I do because I don’t. This whole world…” she waves her hands around, “… is so out of the realm I live in.”

“I grew up in it, tried to escape it once, and it brought me right back. And I think no matter what, that’s what it’s going to do until the day I die.” She nods, tears pooling in her pretty eyes, before silently walking away. I go to follow her, but Troy reaches for my arm, stopping me.

“Don’t chase her, Adora. She isn’t the one you just married.”

Don’t I know that.

The ‘Nice’ Brother

It seems the bride has an eye for the ladies and not just her husband.

Do you think this new marriage will work?

Or will it end in destruction?

FIFTEEN

JOEY

There’s no way I planned to come here. It’s just kind of where I ended up.

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