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Tomorrow, I’m getting married.

The thought had followed me everywhere today.

It had been there when I woke up, hovering at the edge of my consciousness. It had followed me through breakfast, through every conversation, through every task. And it was only midday.

It felt surreal considering I hadn’t done anything for the wedding. Tyran procured a wedding dress, set up the details with the local church, and got Joseph and his wife to coordinate catering with some fancy Dublin startup that specialized in world cuisine.

The only thing that seemed to be up in the air was the guest list. He said whoever could attend would attend from his side, whatever that meant. I supposed the same was true for me.

And despite everything—the circumstances, the uncertainty, the questions I still hadn’t found answers to—I couldn’t seem to decide whether the thought of getting married terrified me or thrilled me.

Perhaps it was both.

Before I could dwell on it further, a loud commotion drifted up the stairs. The shouts of men. The crash of furniture.

I rushed out of the bathroom and the bedroom. I recognized one of the angry men’s voices and my stomach dropped as I ran out of the hallway and to the top of the stairs, only to freeze.

My stepfather and Kai stood among the Callahan brothers in the foyer, anger permeating the air and extinguishing all oxygen. Kristoff looked just as dominating and sharp as I remembered, except for his hair, which had slightly more grays.

And my best friend… He looked older too, harsher somehow. I felt a pang in my chest for him, knowing everything he’d gone through. I was there for some of it, but then I disappeared. It made me feel like such a shitty friend, but I thought it was the safest thing not only for me, but also for him. It was the reason my own mom and siblings didn’t have my exact location either.

My pulse tripped over itself while I watched Tyran get into Kai’s face, grabbing him by the collar and shoving him hard against the wall.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Kai pushed back, looking slightly disheveled. “She’s my best friend. I’m going to be here for her big day.”

“She’s your nothing,” Tyran growled, pulling out his gun.

“Now that’s not true,” Kristoff interjected, looking furiously at my future husband. “Sienna needs her family and her friends in her life.”

“She doesn’t need this fucking friend.” Tyran pressed his gun against Kai’s temple before I could blink.

My heart iced over and I stared wide-eyed.

“Next thing you’re going to say is that she doesn’t need her family either,” Kristoff snapped, producing his own gun. Since when did he carry a weapon? “You and your kind are parasites on society.”

Tyran’s brothers stepped in, pulling their own guns and pointing them at my stepfather and best friend.

This is going to be a bloody wedding.

“I’m going to give you a chance to rethink your words,” Kyran said calmly, but there were hard edges to his words. “Only because you’re Sienna’s father and about to be our family.”

Judging by Kristoff’s expression, he didn’t seem to give a fuck. It was a pure storm as he gestured at him with his gun.

“I know you’re forcing her to marry you,” he spat. “Even your older brother agrees… She shouldn’t be in your world.”

“I did, but I no longer do,” Aiden said calmly. He seemed to be the only one who wasn’t worked up over guns pointed all over the place. I guess it was just another day for him.

Kristoff’s gaze lifted and he paused, spotting me. His expression softened and he smiled.

“Come, Sienna. Your mom, brothers, and sisters are at the hotel close by.”

My hands were clammy. I took a step forward, eager to hug my stepfather and go see my family, but Tyran’s next words stopped me.

“Over. My. Dead. Body.”

Tyran’s voice was laced with darkness as he stepped in front of Kristoff, ignoring the fact he was now in the direct line of my stepfather’s pointed gun.