Page 161 of Forbidden Protector

“I never asked for it,” Roisin fires back in exasperation.

“That’s because you have norespectfor our family traditions. I see your whore sister has been rubbing off on you,” he snarls.

Roisin takes an angry breath and stalks forward. I close my eyes in frustration.

“Excuse me?”

Jack Duffy brushes the imaginary dust from his pristine suit as he joins his fiancee in the aisle.

I take the opportunity to turn to the officiant quietly. “I’m so sorry about this. Would you mind holding onto my jacket for me?”

It’s in his hands before he can object.

“Bastard,” Connor roars, drawing my attention back to the unfolding drama. He looks like he’s about to erupt.

With a glance at Ray, the two of us silently approach the Maguire Don and restrain him—just before he tries to hurl himself at Jack. Connor thrashes against us like a wild animal.

“You’re a dead man, Jack Duffy!”

Jack prioritizes a quiet check-in with his fiance before deigning to address his rival.

“If you’re after a rematch, Maguire. I’d prefer to keep it in the ring,” Jack presents as the very picture of boredom, but I see the malice in his eyes. He won’t quickly forgive Connor for the insult he paid his fiance.

“I will beat you into the dirt,” Connor snarls.

For a moment, I struggle to hold him back. “No, you fucking won’t,” I say through my teeth.

“Traitors, the lot of you!!”

“This is whatyouwanted, Connor,” I hiss in his ear. “But you couldn’t help yourself, could you? You just had to storm in and make yourself the center of attention.”

Connor wrestles against my grasp. “You’re onhisside now?”

“See?” I bark out the driest laugh. “Did it ever cross your conceited mind that this might not be about you or your ridiculous obsession with Jack? It is mywedding day.It’s yoursister’swedding day.”

“You chose to celebrate with Maguire’s oldest enemy instead ofme.” Connor snaps back.

“Use your fucking eyes, Connor. Does helooklike a Maguire enemy?” I turn him to face the couple before us—Jack standing protectively in front of Aimee, Aimee holding on to him fearlessly. The very picture of a united front.

“Connor.” It’s Roisin who speaks up now.

We all look at her on the risen stage, a fallen angel with devilish hair.

“If you don’t leave, I will never forgive you.”

Connor thrashes around to get a good look at his youngest sibling. “What about me? What about my forgiveness? Does that mean anything to you?”

“No,” she replies simply. “I don’t need it.”

“This ismyfamily. These aremyrules,” Connor challenges.

Roisin offers him a sad smile. “I make my own rules.”

Pheewwweeww.

A loud whistle echoes throughout the room from behind us.

Both Ray and I drop Connor to cover our ears, while the Don angrily turns to confront the noise.