Page 74 of Niall

“Tell me.”

I told her what I could recall. Some things were blurry. Some things too painful to relive, but I got them out. Una listened, letting me get all the words out in the open. She understood.

“Do you know what she called Niall?” I asked after we’d been quiet for a few moments.

“What?”

“Doughy.”

Una frowned. “Doughy? What, compared to her stick of a wannabe man?”

“Exactly. I told her off.”

“Bitch.”

“She hit me.”

“Finn killed her.” She grinned. “He’d have killed her again if he’d heard that. He and Niall are a bit vain about their physique.”

“As they should be.”

We started to laugh, and it felt good.

She sighed. “Niall was beside himself. He loves you the way Finn loves me.”

“I know.”

“We’re postponing the wedding.”

“No, you can’t. I’m fine. I can stand up for you—just maybe no pictures.”

I had seen myself in the mirror. I was bruised, and I had a cut on my cheek where the bracelet had hit me. Another one by my mouth. A long one on my neck from the knife, which luckily was only surface, not a deep cut. But I wouldn’t be camera-ready in a few days.

“We decided to go to Ireland first. See Roisin and let her have her party. Get married there unofficially, then come home and do it here. You’ll have recovered more.”

“I hate that you’re putting it off for me.”

“I realized I don’t have to be married for Finn to be mine. He already is. So, whatever date the piece of paper says is just that. A date.”

Then she smiled and winked. “And soon, we’ll be planning yours.”

I shrugged. “We haven’t discussed that yet.”

“You will.”

NIALL

I glanced across at Anna who slept on the sofa. She was bundled up with blankets, warm and safe. Close. I needed her close at all times. Luckily, she felt the same way.

There was a knock at the door, and I hurried over, smiling when I saw it was Una.

“Come in. She’s napping.”

“Good. Finn needs you in the office. Roman is here with Aldo.”

I looked over to Anna, hesitant.

“She’ll be fine. I’ll stay with her.”