Page 70 of Forgive Me For I Have Sinned

I sit and unbutton my suit jacket as he taught me as a formality. My grandfather preferred to teach me how to be a ruthless businessman. He didn't let my father teach me because he considered me his apprentice. The oldest Riodrick-Riordan had to set an unprecedented example for this family. One person to look up to, including my cousins and the other families.

"What do we need to discuss?"

I watch the ash fall in the ashtray from his cigar as it burns. The smell permeates everything it meets. Cigars in my grandfather's world signify power, success, and wealth. The more expensive, the better.

"I trust you went and did your research because I have found that you have terminated contracts. Tara called her father, and her father called, but I wasn't surprised since Reid refused to marry her because he grew a conscience and fell for Prey. The other," he smiles with the cigar between his teeth, "disappeared."

"He did."

He means I killed him, and he fell from the face of the earth.

"Did this have to do with Miss Devlin?"

"I would prefer you not address her by that name, but yes, sir. With all due respect."

He chuckles. Takes a sip of his scotch, setting the glass on his desk. "They think you are fucking her under the pretense of her belonging to the Order for some time before she marries Dorian Black."

I blink. "I am."

"She's your whore."

"She's mine. Period."

The glass clinks when he slams his hand on his desk. "Do you know what you're doing, Alaric! You took an oath to not have a wife. You can't keep her."

"I am, and I will. Whore, wife, slave, or whatever the fuck they want to think of her as. She's mine. Besides," I undo the buttons on my wrists and roll my sleeves up, "they broke the rules. She was mine to begin with. Before."

"You figured it out."

"I did."

He rolls the cigar between his fingers, lost in thought. "Then I have to give you something that arrived today from the Riordan estate under Alicia's last wishes before she died."

I take a deep swallow because out of all of us, Alicia was the most doted on by my grandfather. She was the apple of his eye. The one that could do no wrong, and like all of us in our family, we couldn't save her.

He takes out a folder and slides it across his desk. "Open it."

I open it, pulling out two sheets of paper addressed to me and one to Veronica Devlin in Alicia's handwriting.

Alaric,

Every language is silent.

Every prayer is heard.

Love, Alicia

Confused, I turn the sheet of paper over. Nothing, that is all. Two fucking lines.

I read the second one, not caring that it’s addressed to Veronica, and it isn't for my eyes. Still, I read it before giving it to her because I want to know everything.

Veronica,

If you are reading this, I am dead. I gave specific instructions to have this delivered to you before your graduation. You entrusted me with your secrets and gave me your love unconditionally. I am forever indebted to you for always keeping mine and giving me your promises. The world needs more people like you. Strong, full of love, and witty. You are the best friend I could have ever wished for. The greatest love I have ever seen and felt in someone's heart was yours. It was a shame having to watch something so precious not be embraced by others around you. They judged when what they needed to do was save you.

I'm so sorry for failing you and for not telling my promises to you when I should have. I wrote you this letter to be handed to you before your graduation because we both knew what would happen. What they did to you. I'm sorry for not letting you leave with me when you begged me to, but I want to remind you that I love you more than you would ever know, and please don't cut that pretty skin when you feel nothing. I bet you have a grave all picked out next to mine because I know you. You believe in love when others think you believe in hate. That's because they don't see the beautiful person you are. The one screaming on the inside to be loved. To be saved.

I promise to keep a petal for every flower you leave on my grave in my magic garden. I know you want to lie beside me, but there is someone who needs you more. He just doesn't know it yet, but he will. I promise. He will see what I see, and when he does, God help them.

---