“Are you sure about this?”
I tuck my arm through Shay’s.“It’s a little late to ask me that.”
“It’s not like I had an opportunity before! There’s still time to get it annulled.”
“Why would I want that? I’m the one who asked for this to happen tonight. I’m the one who insisted.”
“I’ll never understand you.”
“You don’t have to. You just have to accept me.”
“I did that the first time you told me lover boy gave you a head and that you didn’t automatically sign up for lifetime therapy sessions.” He wrinkles his nose. “I just thought you’d grow out of your crush.”
“Like you’ve grown out of crushing on Katina?”
“We don’t speak her name!”
I pat his cheek.
“What do I tell the family?”
“That I’ll call them tomorrow.”
“You’re going to tell them you’re married, right?”
“Of course. The whole point of being his wife is for New York to know.”
When he frowns at me, I shake my head, not in the mood to deal with censure, but slowly, he murmurs, “I never wanted you to join the Veronians.”
“I know you didn’t. But I chose to.”
“It’s one thing to get into bed with them, but the Russian Mob too?”
“I’m back where I’m supposed to be.”
“Lies. You were out of that world?—”
“I wasn’t. I was Irish Mob-associated, Shay. That’s no protection.” And didn’t I just experience that first-fucking-hand?
I’m not my sisters. The world knows who they belong to.
Me? I was alone.
Not anymore.
The Veronians won’t dare touch me after what Maxim will put them through for their audacity.
“You do love him, right?” he asks in a quiet voice.“This isn’t about… protection? Because if it comes to that, we can get this marriage annulled and you and I can?—”
Touched, I hold up a hand to stop him from finishing that sentence. “You already know the answer to that.” I meet his gaze and enjoy the sharp inhalation as he correctly interprets my expression.
But that right there is why he’s my best friend. I know he loves Katina. I know he’s waiting for her to grow up, yet he’d throw it aside for me.
“You’re exhausted.”
“Yes, Dad. I know. Exhausted but I didn’t have a heart transplant. You know how I’ve felt. For the longest time.”
Of course, being a boy, he ignores that. “He better let you sleep. Do you think I should talk to him? Man to man?”
