“I thought I knew my path in life. A life designed for the pursuit of power and wealth.” I pulled her up from her seat and slipped my hands around her waist. “But you make me want to stop counting completely and just… live. With you. I love you, Laney. More than a thousand kisses. More than a million. More than anything. Thank you for becoming my wife.”
Laney stared at me, glistening eyes wide with shock, and for a moment, I thought she might run. Maybe she would see through my shadow of a life and realize she could do so much better than my sorry carcass and all the sins I’d committed.
Maybe I’d finally learn what it meant to have a broken heart, just as I’d found mine.
Then her arms were around my neck, and she was kissing me as the three hundred members of Boston’s elite clapped andwhistled and cheered for our joy. I picked her up off her feet to deepen the kiss, swaying her back and forth as both of us vibrated with joy.
“Ronan,” she whispered between kisses. “Ronan, I love you too. Do you hear me? I love you too.”
This. This was what true happiness felt like.
No wonder the poets struggled to record it again and again. It was better than anyone could ever imagine.
We finally sank back into our seats, still grasping for each other as the applause died down.
I leaned over. “We’re leaving early, by the way.”
She bit her lip. “Won’t that be rude to skip out on our own party?”
I nibbled her ear, enjoying the way she shivered. “You either walk out with me, or I’m carrying you over my shoulder, Ari. I need my wife naked within the hour. I need to makeloveto her properly.”
She shivered again, her whole body erupting in goosebumps of delight. “I—me too.”
Before I could make good on my promise, though, another voice cut through our reverie.
“Ronan.” My father’s voice was as brusque as ever. Deep and ragged, like a lion on the precipice of a roar. “Everyone.”
Once again, the room went quiet. Because that’s what people did when Niall Black wanted to speak.
“Thank you all for coming,” he began, “to celebrate yet another of my sons finding a beautiful bride. At least this one actually made it down the altar.”
There was some uncomfortable laughter, and at the far end of the table, Brendan scowled while Simone looked mortified. God, the old bastard just couldn’t resist a dig, could he?
“Because of that,” Dad continued, “I have a special announcement to make.”
I glanced at Brendan, Liam, and Liza. All of them shook their heads minutely. No one knew what the hell was going on.
Owen, however, avoided my glance.
Fuck.
A hotel employee wheeled a large flat-screen television onto the stage and turned it on.
“As a wedding present,” Dad went on, “I’m pleased to announce that Blackguard Holdings has officially acquired Meráki Fashion, the design label of my new daughter-in-law’s late mother.”
The room erupted in more applause. Beside me, however, Laney froze, and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the arms of her chair.
“Ronan…” she murmured.
“I didn’t know,” I said. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on.”
“As a part of the Blackguard family, Meráki will be guaranteed to succeed, and Delaney’s mother’s legacy will live on. Success is a requirement of this family, not an option. Laney, welcome to Blackguard.”
The screen flickered to life, and I immediately recognized the sales counter of Laney’s shop, in front of which stood an unfamiliar man with light brown hair and another I recognized as Carl Giffords.
“Dad?” Laney’s voice was small and slightly broken.
Shit.
