Page 152 of Pride

“The attic?”

She nods and leads me up the main flight of stairs and then to the next flight that leads to the attic space.

She opens the door to a beautiful, characterful room with exposed beams and a large bay window at the front.

“This is a lovely room,” I say.

She purses her lips together. “I used to come up here when it was unconverted and paint until my father banned me.”

“How are you feeling?” I ask, wondering if she regrets allowing me to kill my dad.

“Guilty but thankful that he’s gone, if that makes any sense.”

I nod, sitting down on the edge of the bed and loosening my tie. “I’m exhausted.”

Bella ditches her clothes and climbs into bed. “Me too. Let’s try to get some sleep.”

I sigh, feeling a little lost as it’s all over. I’m not sure it’s sunk in yet. Getting undressed, I climb under the sheets with her.

“What’s on your mind?” She asks.

I run a hand through my hair. “It feels so surreal that it’s finally all over.”

“Your revenge plan?”

“Yes, it’s all I’ve thought about for fifteen years.”

“That must feel strange,” she agrees.

I pull her close so her head rests on my chest, my arm around her. “It feels good, though. It makes me feel lighter.”

A contemplative silence falls between us as we lie together.

Bella glances up at me. “I know it’s crazy, but I really disliked you when we met.”

I laugh. “You made that very clear, love.”

“And somehow now I can’t imagine living without you.”

“Well, I do recall warning you.”

“Warning me of what?” she asks.

“I told you once we got married that you wouldn’t be able to help but fall for me.”

She laughs. “I bet at the time you didn’t believe it would have worked the other way around. That you would’ve fallen for me first.”

I rub a hand across my chin because she has a point. “But did I really, or did you just fight it longer?”

“Who knows? And who cares? All that matters is that we’re together now, properly. Not just because we were forced to marry.”

“Agreed.” I kiss the top of her head. “Sleep now,” I breath, shutting my eyes and holding her tightly against me. I fall asleep fast, comforted by the notion that it’s all over and I’ve found my soulmate in the process, even if it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

* * *

Cathal standsby my side in Dumbarton Oaks Park. He wanted to visit Aiden’s resting place, and I obliged. We’ve been standing here for a few minutes and ever since I killed Gio, it’s like the floodgates have opened. Tears streak down my face as, even fifteen years later, I find it hard to believe he’s gone.

“This isn’t what he deserved, but I got something to commemorate his resting place,” Cathal says, pulling out a small brass plaque with Aiden’s birth date and date of death on and his full name, Aiden Isaiah Dalton. “I’ve got permission from the guy who runs the park to attach it to the tree. No one will remove it.”

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