Page 140 of Fallen Rook

“You deserve it.”

She squeezed my hand back. For a moment, we stared at each other mischievously, like two children who’d skipped school and managed to get away with it unscathed. It wasn’t the end of anything—it was the beginning of a bloody war. But it was a form of freedom, and we both needed it.

“You really didn’t want to marry me, huh?” I said finally.

She shook her head, stifling a laugh. “Not even a little. You are way too handsome and way too lovable. Now, Achilles was another story. I did take interest in him, briefly.”

“I’m sorry.” I scrunched up my nose.

“I’m not.” She wiped invisible sweat from her forehead. “If I’d married him, he would still be with Tierney today. Only I would be the laughingstock of the underworld, discarded somewhere if I were lucky, or worse—dead.”

“I don’t think he’d have killed you,” I said.

“Maybe not, but Tierney would have.”

I laughed. She grinned.

“I don’t like love stories, either, by the way,” I told her.

I kissed her mouth chastely, letting go of her hand.

And it was over, our love story, before it ever began.

Chapter Forty-One

Enzo

It was one in the morning by the time I arrived at Lila and Tiernan’s house. All the lights were on, with four luxury cars parked out front. I added the Lamborghini to the assortment of McLarens and Range Rovers and hopped out, showing myself inside.

I proceeded straight to the kitchen, the heart of the manor, to find Lila, Tiernan, Achilles, Tierney, Tristan, and Sofia sitting at the table like it was two in the fucking afternoon on Thanksgiving Day.

At the sight of my sister-in-law, I lit up. She looked great. Slim as always, even with her pregnant belly, which was rounding nicely. I don’t think anyone realized just how pretty Sofia was. Sure, she didn’t have Tierney’s distinct vermilion hair and emerald eyes that awarded her otherworldly exquisiteness, the kind that demanded a second and third look. And she didn’t look like a human Barbie like Lila—molded to the exact proportions of some perverse, manufactured ideal from the fifties.

But, if you looked closely, she was just as pretty as her friends. Her beauty was quiet, but it was there.

Still, no one talked about the slope of her nose, which was so small, so flawlessly symmetrical, it looked hand-drawn by an artist.

Nor did anyone discuss her heavy, curly lashes that fringed her fawn-like, dewy eyes resembling those of a cute Disney animal.

No one spoke of her elegant limbs, athletic bone structure, or the way she carried herself with effortless grace. Her hair was the longest, the thickest, the shiniest. And she had that gummy Julia Roberts’ smile. The kind that lights up the entire face and opens it completely, and which I hadn’t seen in a very long time.

While Lila and Tierney were starkly different in personalities, in many other ways, they were two different sides of the same coin. Feminine, fashionable, and fanciful to a fault. They tied scarves to their hair when they drove their vintage cars with the tops down. They wore high heels, designer dresses, enjoyed sophisticated cocktails, and nested like there was no tomorrow.

Sofia was a tomboy. She was wild, curious, bold, and not even a little bit concerned about her femininity. She did not wear makeup, nor did she need to. She never felt the urge to compete with anyone—another thing she and her husband never had in common.

“Sofi.” I collected her into a hug, rubbing her back. “How are you doing?”

“I’m doing well, Enzo. And you?”

I’m falling the fuck apart, about to announce that I’m gay to everyone I care about, canceled my wedding, and will likely go to prison for life in the next month or so. If the Bratva doesn’t kill me first, that is.

Instead of giving her an unfiltered answer, I simply said, “Never been better.”

“I managed to make her visit me.” Lila laced her arm through Sofia’s.

“That’s great. Where’s Luca?” I looked around.

“Should be here any minute—I just got a notification from the front gate that he arrived.” Tiernan held up his phone.