Page 50 of Deny Thy Name


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“I’m serious. We’re not leaving here until you marry us.”

I felt Jolie’s tension drain from her. She smiled up at me and I knew she wanted me as much as I wanted her. Enzo was right, I’d never been someone who ever saw marriage on the cards but Jolie…I couldn’t understand it, but I knew she needed to be mine. In name and by law.

“If we’re going down, we go down together,” she said. “Marry us, Father.”

Enzo sighed. “You’ll need witnesses.”

“Call Ben and one of the boys.”

“What if I witness it?”

We both turned around to see my mother standing in the doorway. I had thought her long gone by now but here she stood, the woman I had grown up with, thankful she’d been the go between me and my father.

“You’re here?”

“Yes, I came back and have been staying with Lorenzo.”

“Lorenzo?” I turned back to the Father who was desperate to look anywhere but at us. “Aren’t you supposed to be celibate and shit?”

“Mind your tongue,” my mother chided me. “You’re in the house of God here and you will pay respect where it is due.”

I turned back to her. “Well, I see you’ve been paying respect in all new ways I never thought possible.”

“Roman,” Jolie pulled on my arm. I looked down into her sweet eyes and realized she didn’t know my mom.

“Oh, Jolie, this is my mother Beth,” I said. Jolie moved forward and held her hand out. My mother looked down at it before she pulled Jolie in for a hug. “Oh yeah, my mother’s a hugger. Don’t try and pull away sooner than she’s ready to let go, or she’ll go tighter like a snake.”

My mother rolled her eyes and let Jolie go. “I’ll be happy to stand as a witness with Bennett for you two. I’ve wanted to see you settle for years, Romy.”

“Well, if that’s all sorted, someone call Bennett and I’ll set the altar up.”

“Come with me,” my mother grabbed Jolie’s hand. “I have something for you to wear.”

I wanted to stop her but I knew it would be useless. My mother always got what she wanted. A side effect of having Marshall as a husband who would rather give you things than his time and affection.

I sat down in the office, realizing just how big of a step this was. I didn’t have Gunnar, the one man I always imagined would be standing beside me if I ever did anything as crazy as get married. He was always the one I knew would have my back with taking over. He’d been the one who had kept me on track, kept me focused. Gunnar knew exactly what this city needed. And in his memory, I was going to do it.

I was going to burn this city to the ground.

Bennett appeared in the office and looked at me as if I were crazy. “Why haven’t you fled yet?”

The panic on his face was evident.

“Just get in here,” I said. “We’re going…but you remember the plan Gunnar said needed to happen?”

Bennett nodded quickly then his eyes became wide. “You can’t.”

“Why not?” I asked him, honestly. “I’ve thought it out, cuz. There’s no way me and Jolie can get out of this alive. But the people can be free to go. Verona is done.”

Bennett sighed. “The people, Rome.”

“That’s what I need you and the boys to help with after this.”

“After?” he questioned. “After what?”

I straightened, waiting for the blow back when I told him what I needed him for right now. “I’m getting married and I need you to be my witness.”

Bennett’s face changed. “No way. You only just met her.”

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