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Not that it’s been difficult. The baby is wreaking havoc on her insides, and it’s just one more thing I have to worry about in the middle of the most inconvenient war in mafia history. It doesn’t help that we don’t have a lock on Leo, but I have Rhys and Aldis tagged, so if that little fucker shows up, we’ll know.
But he’s also working with someone too clever, so there’s every chance he’s already spoken to Rhys and they’re working together to blindside us.
It’s all the more reason to get the fuck out.
Alice is at the breakfast table, looking a little green and sipping some tea concoction that James looked up online and had the kitchen make. It smells like chamomile, which always makes me nauseous since it’s what my mother used to give me when I was sick as a child, but she’s sipping it like she needs it to live.
I drop a kiss on her head, then set my cane against my chair and take my seat, pulling a plate of croissants toward me. I’m not hungry at all. I was up half the night dealing with raging phantom pain in my stump, which has now gone down to a dull throb inside my prosthetic. I would have left it off today, but if everything goes to plan, we won’t be staying long.
Phoenix has given me the go-ahead with the decoys, who are currently not far from the house waiting for the car exchange. I haven’t met them, but Ari gave them the seal of approval, and with the massive amount of money they’re being paid—and the trackers to ensure they can’t escape us if they double-cross me—I’m putting trust in their hands.
Ari’s already set up our escape, which will happen as soon as we can get the fuck out.
I just need to upset my sweet little goddess first.
I sip my coffee, then look at her. “We need to talk.”
She blinks slowly and leans her chin on her hand, elbow propped up at the edge of the table. She looks sleepy and sweet and young, and I hate myself a little for twisting her up inside instead of letting her go. But I can’t take it back now.
“Did you need an invitation?” she asks when I let the silence drag.
Normally her mood would put me off, but it’s exactly what I need. I want her already pissed. I just smile and take a bite, then sip my coffee again. “The wedding is being postponed.”
She sets her cup down with a clink just shy of too hard, and she fixes me with a fierce stare. “No.”
I laugh and watch the fire rise in her eyes. “You’re not in the position to tell me no, sweetheart. There’s too much going on, and I think it’s better that we hold off for a little while. If we try to have a wedding now—”
“No,” she says again.
I set my own cup down and fold my hands on the table. I wish one of the boys were with me, but Phoenix is busy making sure the route to the safe house is clear and that he has a brand-new, secure channel for us to communicate on. Ari’s busy packing, and James is sleeping off his last morphine dose.
“Again, you don’t get a say in this.”
She scoffs. “Last time I checked, it was our wedding, not yours.”
“And last time I checked, little goddess, your cousin was able to get to you at our last event. I’m not taking the risk this time.”
Her jaw twitches. “Or you’ve changed your mind.”
Ah, those precious hormones. I want to drag her in my lap and show her exactly how much I haven’t changed my mind about making her my wife. Instead, I let the silence make her uneasy before I sigh. “I’m not going to have this argument with you, Alice. We’re postponing the wedding.”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m sorry, but fuck you, okay? Everything’s gone to shit, I feel terrible, and now you’re…” Her voice cracks, and I hate myself for it, though my poker face cannot be rivaled. “It’s now or never, Kane. I’m not playing games anymore.”
I shake my head. “Do you understand how impossible that is, Alice? How much risk we’ll be taking if we have some huge event right now?”
She worries her bottom lip, and I can see her coming to the exact conclusion I need her to. Oh, my precious darling, yes. Just say it.
“We can elope.”
I force myself to choke on a mouthful of coffee. “Elope?”
She shrugs and meets my gaze without blinking. “Yeah. I’m sure you have some judge in your pocket. I don’t give a shit about some big event. I can’t stop puking anyway, and that’s not how I want to spend my wedding.”
I soften just a bit. “Alice…”
She cuts me off. “You want to make me your wife, so do it. Make me your wife. I don’t care how it happens.”
I sit back and pull out my phone, opening my email, though she won’t know that. She’s watching my face, not the screen. I scroll through a few, then open a text from Phoenix, and I tap out that Alice wants to elope.
