Page 18 of Possession

Not making it out.

When I committed to this, I knew it was going to be a long haul. Playing the end game is never easy or quick. But then again, nothing in life is. It’s worked until today—all of it. I haven’t taken one step that wasn’t well thought out, planned, or where I didn’t know what the five steps following it would be.

Until just now.

This is not me. Working against who you are is hard. The only way I’ve been able to manage this life—this operation—is discipline over my true nature, one that never shows restraint or control.

Today, I not only threw that out the window, I shattered the glass and am left as figuratively bloody as I am literally.

Fucking Damian. I’m not sorry he’s dead. None of us would be in this situation if he hadn’t insisted on the payment standing barefoot and terrified in front of me.

Nicolas Decker is Alamandos’ nephew—his sister’s son. If Damian was a sneaky, evil bastard, then Nic is a plain evil one who lays his shit out for the world to see. In the matter of twenty-four hours, I’ve stopped them both from getting what they want.

And this is where it got me.

Talk about taking one for the team.

But I was the one who dragged her back here for the sole purpose of getting her back to San Diego to wrap this shit up quickly. I never thought I’d be standing right here to make it happen.

“The quick version, Father. She’s a reminder of my son’s murder. I want her the fuck out of my house.”

“Wait, do we have to do this right now?” Landyn’s petrified blue eyes flare in desperation. They’re begging me to give her a break. She has no fucking clue. “I don’t even know who you are.”

I claim her arm again and turn her to face me as the priest takes his place at our sides. “I was Damian’s right hand in everything. I’m taking over his duties with the family and managing his interests. And since you were his main interest, that makes you mine. You’re paying the same debt you were earlier today, just to a different man. The sooner you realize this isn’t about you, but about your old man, the better. Nothing has changed, and you’re expected to cooperate.”

She sucks in a breath. “Cooperate?”

I narrow my eyes on her. “You know the consequences, chica.”

“For fuck’s sake, shut up,” Alamandos bites. He hobbles to us on his cane and comes to a halt next to me, never shifting his glare from the woman who’s about to become my wife. “No one was as loyal to my son as this man. You’ll marry him in honor of Damian, and be fucking happy to do it.”

I do my best to ignore Landyn’s glassy eyes before turning to Alamandos. I need to cement myself as deep as I can. “My first son will be named Damian. We might not share blood, but he was my brother. I’m sorry I couldn’t save him twice.”

Alamandos brings a shaky hand to grip my shoulder but turns to the priest and gives him a nod. “Deliver the sacrament so we can be done.”

I turn to the woman I have no fucking idea what I’m going to do with. Her tits rise and fall in her stained dress quicker than what should be natural for a twenty-three-year-old healthy woman. She’s white as a ghost.

The priest opens his Bible, and I dip my hand deep into my pocket. Without looking away from Landyn to make sure she doesn’t fall over sideways from anxiety or lack of food, I produce the rings Damian gave me first thing this morning for safe keeping. After I toss them onto the open Book, I grab her hand just in time. She was about to take a step back.

Alamandos wasn’t wrong. We need to get this shit done and get the fuck out of here.

I pull her body to mine and wrap an arm around her narrow waist. Her arms are pinned between us as her hands land on my bloody shirt.

I’ll never forget this moment or the look on her face. Maybe, someday, when this shit is over, and I’ve done what I needed to do, she’ll realize this is for her own good.

“Dearly beloved,” the priest starts. “We have gathered today to join these two in marriage. We ask you, oh Lord, to strengthen them with your sacred seal.”

I feel every swell of her body pressed to mine.

“Brian Torres and Landyn Alba, do you come here today to enter into marriage without coercion, freely, and wholeheartedly?”

“I have,” I answer.

Landyn trembles but says nothing.

I narrow my eyes.

Silence.

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