Breaking away from the party takes longer than I imagine. Drunken aunties want to dance, and family friends want the gossip on Roman.
I’m relieved when I finally escape with a bottle of champagne in hand, threading my way through to the restricted area of the house where wedding guests aren’t welcome. Kicking off my heels, I groan as my feet touch the cold floor. Between dancing with Roman and the drinks, I’m feeling warm and fuzzy, my mind drifting to things that I know are out of reach. Curling up in Roman’s arms somewhere a million miles from everyone, pets at our feet. No one to demand a single thing from either of us.
A cocoon of calm. Just love and sex and giving a home to creatures who never quite fit into a world they couldn’t say no to. To be a family of sorts without any of the violence that goes with it.
Heaven.
Not that Roman would want that. The city guy with the secret life and the bachelor pad would hardly want a simple life of darned socks and home-baked dog treats.
The music from the ballroom thrums in the distance, and it’s like being underwater. Like my ears are stuffed.
‘Roman?’ I call as I near the stairs.
No answer.
I’m met with screeching and grunting. I make it around the corner and see Roman sprawled across the floor, with Eddie on top of him.
Fucking Eddie.
For a split second, my brain refuses to process the full scene. They are both coated in blood, whose I can’t tell. But there is a flash of silver in Eddie’s hand.
Coffin is screaming above us. Not cawing. Full-blown screaming like a banshee.
No no no no no.
I drop the bottle, my ankles soaking as it explodes behind me in a loud crash.
‘Get off him!’ My voice is raw as I throw myself into the fray.
I grab Eddie’s shoulder with both hands and haul as hard as I can. Which isn’t hard enough. He turns on me without hesitation. A flash of motion and pain bursts across my face. My head snaps to the side, and I stagger back.
Warmth slides over my lip with an acrid iron taste.
Blood.
Coffin’s screeching gets louder.
‘Maggie!’ Roman pants. ‘Get help?—’
Eddie stands, levelling a kick into Roman’s stomach, and grins at me. ‘You see? This is what happens when you bring outsiders into our world.’
I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, staring at the red streak that appears. Cold fury uncoils deep in my stomach.I hate him.
‘You’re mine. I’m going to kill this pathetic fucker, and then I’m going to marry you before the weekend’s through.’
‘Over my dead body,’ I spit.
‘No, overhis. But if necessary, I’ll take Eliza.’
I can’t help but laugh. ‘Eliza wouldn’t touch you if you were the last prick alive.’
Roman rolls and pushes to his knees. Eddie notices and turns back to him, fingers gripping the handle of his blade. A flurry to my left catches my eye.
Coffin perches on a baseball bat. Clever bird.
I inch closer, mouthing thank you to the one-eyed crow as my hands close around the smooth wood. It’s heavy as I pick it up, my pulse hammering in my throat.
Dashing forward, I swing.
