Page 77 of Rebellion of a Kingdom

“It’s going to be fucking crawling with guards.” Ash snaps and we both nod in agreement. He’s right, it will be. But that's my girl in there, my brother. What would they do if they were us? That’s when it hits me.

“Wanna smoke them out?” I ask and they both look at me as I pull the bag from my back. When Max told us to pack supplies, I thought about what extra stuff I would want on me. The only thing I could think about is how many girls have been hurt here, have died here. This place needs to go. I show them what’s inside and when they don’t say anything, I add, “it’s what Jace would do. What Elle would do.”

Linc is the first to react, his slight smirk tugging on the side of his mouth. “Let’s burn this place to the fucking ground.”

I look at Asher to see what he thinks and he’s staring at the building up ahead of us. His fists clenched and shoulders tense, no doubt remembering all the terrible things he has seen happen here.

He turns to me slowly, before nodding in agreement, his stare burns into me as he tightens the grip on his gun once more. “This ends today. No matter what.”

Chapter 46

ELLE

Ihave never thought much about the composition of the wedding march, but as I put one foot in front of the other and force myself to move, it’s all I can think about. Who composed it? Why did it become such a staple piece of wedding music? Why do you even walk down an aisle at all? Stupid, pointless questions, but I’d think of anything right now that isn’t about becoming Mrs. Greg Donovan. I think of my beautiful daughter and whether she will walk down the aisle to the same piece of music. I think of how it should be Zack walking by my side right now to give me away. I think about how it should be Marcus waiting for me and not the Devil.

I picture how this day would be if I had my freedom. My hair would be pinned up, my dress white lace, my ring a simple, platinum band. Marcus would wear gray to match the shades of us. Jace, Lincoln and Asher would stand by his side and Helen, Logan, and Lily by mine. Cassie would walk ahead of me in a dress to match mine, no doubt throwing rose petals everywhere. Arthur would officiate and we would all have a family party afterwards. Max and his guys would be there and so would the Rebels. It would be small, simple, and utterly perfect.

This is nothing like that. Inside is exactly how I expect it. Dingy, dirty, and completely Donovan. There is a makeshift altar up ahead with a large table covered in a white cloth. On top there is a bible, cream candles burning, and a large silver pointed crucifix. There are brown, run down pews lined up on either side that could have only been taken from a church. What did they do, fucking steal them? The thought seems ridiculous, but this is the Donovan’s we are talking about. Nothing is beneath them. Unexpectedly there are flowers hanging off the pews and again I almost laugh. Just like a real wedding.

The priest is standing at the end of the ‘aisle’ with Greg off to one side, leaving a space on the other for me. I don’t so much as walk towards them but get dragged.

Jace is forced ahead of me until he is placed to the left of the waiting priest, just behind Greg. He turns smiling wildly at him, patting his shoulder like they are buddies. Jace looks up at him with such animosity that I know he’s probably imagining ripping off his arm and beating him to death with it. If only.

Guards have filtered in to line the walls, all armed and looking both bored and excited at the same time. I cast my eyes to the couple of guests standing at the front. I find Elliot Donovan's gaze blazing back at me, but what I don’t expect when I move to the next person is my mother! Sarah King’s void eyes stare back at mine and I can’t hide my frown. What the hell is she doing here?

She looks at me with unshed tears ready to pour and I can’t look away from her. I want to look her in the eye and let her see my broken expression. I don’t turn away until I make it to the end of the aisle and the security guard releases me, pushing me towards Greg. He is already staring at me with the most genuine smile I’ve ever seen from him. Not sadistic or smug, just purely gleeful. He genuinely wants this and that scares me more than anything else.

The priest starts to speak, and I can’t bear the crazy look in Greg’s eyes any longer. I peer over his shoulder and find Jace glaring back at me with an unwavering intensity. It gives me the strength to take a breath, he’s here with me, I can do this, I’m not alone. I want to smile at him, to thank him for the friendship he gave me without thought. For how he just accepted me, protected me, loved me.

When I made the decision to come back to Black Hallows, I never saw the South Side Rebels coming. Yeah, Marcus and I had our history, but it was tainted in lies and blood. He’d found himself a new family, and never did I think they would welcome me with open arms. They’ve had my back, killed for me, and even saved me. I will forever be in their debt. I hope the look on my face can convey my gratitude as I offer him the only smile, I can manage. The slight tip of his lips assures me he understands.

Greg gripping my hand, drags me from my moment with Jace and I hear the priest confirm that it’s time for vows.

“Greg, if you will repeat after me.”

“I, Greg Donovan, take you, Elle King, to be my wife...” Greg repeats his words in a tone that makes my skin crawl and I try to ignore them as he plays his role as dutiful husband to be. Forcing a diamond encrusted band onto my ring finger. “...till death do us part.”

The priest turns to me and follows the same suit, asking me to repeat after him and when I open my mouth to speak, nothing comes out. I can feel the fear and despair clawing up the back of my throat as I try to force myself to submit to him. To say the words and become Mrs. Elle Donovan.

“Don’t disappoint me, wifey.” Greg grits out through his teeth, crunching my knuckles between his fist, where he still grips my fingers. When the words still don’t come, he nods, and the click of the gun grabs my attention. A guard pushes it into Jace’s temple, watching me, waiting. I close my eyes, breathing in deeply before I open my mouth.

“I, Elle…” My words mix with a rumbling sound in the distance and Greg's grip tightens once more. The sound gets louder, it’s hard to decipher and the guards ready themselves, until Elliot speaks.

“Don’t worry, it’s probably just the Crows.” His tone is patronizing, and I can tell just from his words, how much he looks down on them. He nods at the guards to check out the impending interruption and Greg’s hand tightens even more on mine. I can feel my bones cracking within his fist and I fight against the grimace of pain.

“Vows.” He spits at me and I can tell that smug resolve is starting to crack. If I continue my vows, it doesn’t matter who is coming, I will still be married to him. I take in the gun at Jace’s head once more and I see a savage sort of smile on his face. He honestly doesn’t care, he is willing to risk it all to save me and so am I for him.

I look around for something, anything, that could be used against Greg, but I see nothing. How the fuck am I supposed to get us out of this. Just as I have that thought, gunfire breaks out in the distance, and I smile.

The cavalry has arrived.

Greg uses his grip on my hand to drag me towards him, spinning me so my back is against his front. A gun digs into my side, keeping me from moving. The guard still has a gun to Jace’s head and the rest of them move towards the doors we came through. Gunfire continues to rain outside, getting closer and closer.

Greg nuzzles into my hair as he pushes his mouth to my ear. “When your little boyfriend gets here, I’m gonna make him watch as I fuck you. Then I’m gonna make you watch as I kill him.” He bites the words out and I can feel him hardening in his slacks. I swallow down the bile in my throat, looking towards Jace again. He is staring back at me and then he nods ever so slightly. It’s now or never. Just as I am about to try to escape his hold, a small explosion goes off behind us and we are all thrown to the floor.

Smoke pours into the room and I hear guards shouting and more gunfire approaching. Shattered glass from the windows above us, covers the ground and I roll over in pain, registering that I am now free from Greg’s grip. The table we stood at before is on its side and I crawl behind it, trying to find some cover in the chaos as I get my bearings.

“Elle!” Jace’s voice cuts through me, “Elle!” He screams again, but the smoke is coming in thick and fast, I can barely see anything.

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